30 Bible Verses about Calves

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Exodus 32:2-8

Aaron told them, "Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters and bring them to me." All the people tore off the gold rings that were in their ears and brought them to him. He took them from them and, using a tool, fashioned them into a molten calf. The people said, "This, Israel, is your god who brought you out of the land of Egypt."read more.
When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of it, and then he proclaimed, "Tomorrow is to be a festival to the LORD." They got up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. Then the people sat down to eat and drink, and then they got up to play. The LORD told Moses, "Go down immediately, because your people whom you led out of Egypt have behaved corruptly. They have been quick to turn aside from the way I commanded them, and they have made for themselves a molten calf. They have bowed down to it in worship, they have offered sacrifices to it, and they have said, "This, Israel, is your god who brought you out of the land of Egypt.'"

1 Kings 12:28-29

So the king sought some advice and then built two golden calves and announced, "It's too difficult for you to travel to Jerusalem. So here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!" He set one of them in Bethel and placed the other one in Dan.

Exodus 32:19-24

As Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, he became angry. He threw the tablets from his hands and shattered them at the base of the mountain. He took the calf that they had made, burned it with fire, and ground it into powder. He scattered it on the water and made the Israelis drink it. Then Moses asked Aaron, "What did this people do to you that you brought such great sin upon them?"read more.
Aaron said, "Sir, don't be angry. You know the people that they're intent on evil. They told me, "Make a god for us who will go before us because, as for this fellow Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we don't know what has become of him.' So I told them, "Whoever has gold ornaments, tear them off.' When they gave it to me, I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf."

Deuteronomy 9:16-21

Then I saw how you had really sinned against the LORD your God! You had made for yourselves a calf, a cast idol. You had turned aside quickly from the way that the LORD your God had commanded. So I grabbed the two tablets and then threw them out of my hands, breaking them before your eyes. I fell down in the LORD's presence, just as I had the first 40 days and nights. I did not eat food or drink water because of your sin. You had sinned by committing this evil in the sight of the LORD, thereby provoking him to anger. read more.
I feared the anger and wrath of the LORD against you, because he was irate enough to destroy you. But the LORD also listened to me at that time. It was as had been the case with Aaron, the LORD was very angry and about to destroy him, but I prayed for Aaron at that time. Now, when you made the calf that made you sin, I grabbed it, burned it with fire, crushed it, and ground it thoroughly until it was pulverized to powder. Then I threw the powder into the river that was flowing from the mountain."

2 Kings 10:28-29

That's how Jehu eradicated Baal from Israel. Even so, Jehu never abandoned the sins of Nebat's son Jeroboam, who caused Israel to sin, regarding the golden calves that were at Bethel and Dan.

2 Kings 17:16

They abandoned all of the commands given by the LORD their God, crafted for themselves cast images of two calves, constructed an Asherah, worshipped all of the stars in heaven, and served Baal.

2 Chronicles 11:15

Jeroboam had appointed his own priests to serve at the high places and to serve the satyrs and calves that he had made.

Nehemiah 9:16-18

"But they our ancestors became arrogant and stubborn, refusing to listen to your commands. They would not listen, and did not remember the miracles you did among them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return them to their slavery. "But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and rich in gracious love; therefore you did not abandon them. Moreover, after they had cast a golden calf for themselves, they said, "This is your god who brought you out of Egypt!" and committed terrible blasphemies.

Psalm 106:19-20

They fashioned a calf at Horeb and worshipped a carved image. They exchanged their glory with the image of a grass-eating bull.

Hosea 8:5-6

Your calf, Samaria, has been thrown away. My anger is burning against them. How long until they become pure again? Because from Israel it was fashioned by craftsmen, it is not God; therefore Samaria's calf will be broken in pieces.

Hosea 10:5

"The residents of Samaria will be terrified because of the cows of Beth-aven. Its people will mourn over Beth-aven, along with the priests who will mourn its glory, because that glory has departed.

Hosea 13:2

but now they are sinning more and more, crafting idols from melted silver. Their idols are made with the most exacting skill, all of it the work of craftsmen. People say about them, "They offer human sacrifice, and kiss calf-shaped idols.'

Acts 7:41

"At that time they even made a calf to be their idol, offered a sacrifice to it, and delighted in what they had made with their hands.

Micah 6:6

How am I to present myself in the LORD's presence and bow in the presence of the High God? Should I present myself with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?

Leviticus 9:1-4

Eight days later, Moses called Aaron, his sons, and the elders of Israel. He told Aaron, "Take a young calf for a sin offering and a ram without defect for a whole burnt offering and bring them into the LORD's presence." He also told the Israelis, "Bring a male goat for a sin offering, a calf, a year old lamb without defect for a whole burnt offering, read more.
an ox, a ram for a peace offering to sacrifice in the LORD's presence, and a grain offering with olive oil, because on that day the LORD will appear to you."

2 Samuel 6:12-13

Later on, David was informed, "The LORD has blessed the home of Obed-edom and everything he has since he's in possession of the Ark of God." So David went out joyfully and brought up the Ark of God to the City of David from Obed-edom's home. After those who were carrying the ark of the LORD had taken six steps, he sacrificed oxen and fattened animals,

1 Kings 1:9-10

Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fatted cattle by the Serpent Stone near En-rogel, inviting all of his relatives, the king's sons, and all of the men of Judah who worked for the king, but he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, David's personal elite forces, or his brother Solomon.

Hebrews 9:11-12

But when the Messiah came as a high priest of the good things that have come, he went through the greater and more perfect tent that was not made by human hands and that is not a part of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood he went into the Most Holy Place once for all and secured our eternal redemption.

Proverbs 15:17

A vegetarian meal served with love is better than a big, thick steak with a plateful of animosity.

Luke 15:22-23

But the father told his servants, "Hurry! Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let's eat and celebrate!

Genesis 18:6-8

Abraham hurried into the tent and told Sarah, "Quick! Take three measures of the best flour, knead it, and make some flat bread." Next, Abraham ran to the herd, found a choice and tender calf, and gave it to the young men, who went off in a hurry to prepare it. Then he took curds, milk, and the calf that had been prepared, placed the food in front of them, and stood near them under the tree while they ate.

1 Samuel 14:31-32

That day they struck down the Philistines from Michmash to Aijalon, and the army was very weary. The army grabbed the spoil, took sheep, oxen, and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground, and then the army ate them with the blood.

1 Samuel 28:24-25

Both his servants and the woman urged him, and so he listened to them. He got up off the ground and sat on the bed. The woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread. She brought it to Saul and to his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and went out that night.

Jeremiah 31:18

"I've certainly heard Ephraim shuddering with grief as they said, "You have disciplined me, and I'm disciplined like an untrained calf. Restore me, and let me return, for you are the LORD my God.

Psalm 29:6

He makes them stagger like a calf, even Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.

Psalm 68:30

Rebuke the wildlife that lives among the reeds, the nations that congregate like bulls and cows, humbling themselves with pieces of silver, for God scatters the nations that delight in battle.

Jeremiah 34:18

I'll give over the men who transgressed my covenant, who haven't fulfilled the terms of the covenant that they made before me when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts

Jeremiah 46:20-21

Egypt is a beautiful calf, but a horsefly from the north is surely coming. Even the mercenary troops in her ranks are like a fattened calf. They too will turn around, and will flee together. They won't stand, for the day of their disaster is coming on them, the time of their punishment.

From Thematic Bible


Animals » Names of » Calves

Genesis 18:7

Next, Abraham ran to the herd, found a choice and tender calf, and gave it to the young men, who went off in a hurry to prepare it.

1 Samuel 28:24

Both his servants and the woman urged him, and so he listened to them. He got up off the ground and sat on the bed. The woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread.

Amos 6:4

lying on ivory beds, stretching out on your couches, eating lambs from the flock, and fattened calves from the stall,

Calves » Illustrative of » Patient endurance

Ezekiel 1:7

and straight legs. Their feet resembled calves' hooves, but they gleamed like polished bronze.

Revelation 4:7

The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature was like an ox, the third living creature had a face like a human, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.

Calves » The young of the herd

Job 21:10

Their bull breeds without fail, and their cows calve without miscarriages.

Jeremiah 31:12

They'll come and cry out with joy on the heights of Zion. They'll be radiant over the LORD's goodness, over the grain, the new wine, the fresh oil, and over the young of the flocks and herds. Their lives will be like a well-watered garden. They'll never again grow faint.

Calves » Illustrative of » Sacrifices of praise

Hosea 14:2

Bring a prepared speech with you as you return to the LORD. Say to him: "Take away all our iniquity, and accept what is good. Then we will present the fruit of our lips.

Calves » Fattened in stalls, &c

1 Samuel 28:24

Both his servants and the woman urged him, and so he listened to them. He got up off the ground and sat on the bed. The woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread.

Amos 6:4

lying on ivory beds, stretching out on your couches, eating lambs from the flock, and fattened calves from the stall,

Calves » When fattened considered a delicacy

1 Samuel 28:24-25

Both his servants and the woman urged him, and so he listened to them. He got up off the ground and sat on the bed. The woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread. She brought it to Saul and to his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and went out that night.

Calves » Offered in sacrifice

Leviticus 9:2-3

He told Aaron, "Take a young calf for a sin offering and a ram without defect for a whole burnt offering and bring them into the LORD's presence." He also told the Israelis, "Bring a male goat for a sin offering, a calf, a year old lamb without defect for a whole burnt offering,

Calves » Eaten in the patriarchal age

Genesis 18:7-8

Next, Abraham ran to the herd, found a choice and tender calf, and gave it to the young men, who went off in a hurry to prepare it. Then he took curds, milk, and the calf that had been prepared, placed the food in front of them, and stood near them under the tree while they ate.

Calves » Fed on » Milk

1 Samuel 6:10

The men did this. They took two milk cows, hitched them to the cart, and penned up their calves in the house.

Calves » If first-born not redeemed

Numbers 18:17

But you are not to redeem the firstborn of a cow, sheep, or a female goat. They are holy. You are to sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat for an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Calves » Fed on » Branches of trees, &c

Isaiah 27:10

For the fortified city stands desolate, a settlement abandoned and forsaken like the desert; calves graze there, and there they lie down and strip bare its branches.

Calves » Illustrative of » Saints nourished by grace

Calves » Playfulness of, alluded to

Psalm 29:6

He makes them stagger like a calf, even Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.

Calves » Of a year old best for sacrifice

Micah 6:6

How am I to present myself in the LORD's presence and bow in the presence of the High God? Should I present myself with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?

Calves » Names of

Genesis 18:7

Next, Abraham ran to the herd, found a choice and tender calf, and gave it to the young men, who went off in a hurry to prepare it.

1 Samuel 28:24

Both his servants and the woman urged him, and so he listened to them. He got up off the ground and sat on the bed. The woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly slaughtered it. She took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread.

Amos 6:4

lying on ivory beds, stretching out on your couches, eating lambs from the flock, and fattened calves from the stall,

Topics on Calves

Golden Calves

Exodus 32:13

Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants to whom you swore by yourself as you told them, "I'll increase the number of your descendants like the stars of the heavens, I'll give your descendants all of this land about which I have spoken, and they are to possess it forever.'"

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