What is a…
calf

A calf is the young of a cow or ox.

Calves were commonly used in sacrifices, and are therefore frequently mentioned in Scripture.

A “fattened calf” was regarded as the choicest of animal meats; it was frequently also offered as a special sacrifice (1 Samuel 28:24; Amos 6:4).

…bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; —Luke 15:23 excerpt

The words used in Jeremiah 34:18-19 KJV, “cut the calf in twain,” alludes to the custom of dividing a sacrifice into two parts, between which the parties ratifying a covenant symbolically passed (Genesis 15:9-10, 17-18).

The sacrifice of the lips, i.e., praise, is called “the calves of our lips” (Hos. 14:2, R.V., “as bullocks the offering of our lips.” Compare Hebrews 13:15; Psalm 116:7; Jeremiah 33:11).

Idolatry

The ancient Egyptians worshipped the false god Apis (aka Hapis) who took the form of a bull or bull calf. The bull was also widely worshipped as the Lunar Bull and as the creature of the false god El (Baal).

After being rescued from slavery in Egypt, many Israelites (including Moses’ brother Aaron) worshipped a golden calf at the foot of Mount Sinai.

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Article Version: October 23, 2025