# cow, bull, calf, cattle, heifer, ox

## Definition:

The terms “cow,” “bull,” “heifer,” “ox,” and “cattle” all refer to a kind of large, four-legged bovine animal that eats grass.

* The female of this kind of animal is called a “cow,” the male is a “bull,” and their offspring is a “calf.”
* In the Bible, cattle were among the “clean” animals that the people could eat and use for sacrifice. They were primarily raised for their meat and milk.

A “heifer” is an adult female cow that has not yet given birth to a calf.

An “ox” is a type of cattle that is specifically trained to do agricultural work. The plural of this term is “oxen.” Usually oxen are male and have been castrated.

* Throughout the Bible, oxen were depicted as animals tied together by a yoke to pull a cart or a plow.
* Having oxen work together under a yoke was such a common occurrence in the Bible that the phrase to “be under a yoke” became a metaphor for hard work and labor.
* A bull is also a male type of cattle, but it has not been castrated and has not been trained as a work animal.

(See also: [How to Translate Unknowns](rc://en/ta/man/translate/translate-unknown))

(See also: [yoke](../other/yoke.md))

## Bible References:

* [Genesis 15:9-11](rc://en/tn/help/gen/15/09)
* [Exodus 24:5-6](rc://en/tn/help/exo/24/05)
* [Numbers 19:1-2](rc://en/tn/help/num/19/01)
* [Deuteronomy 21:3-4](rc://en/tn/help/deu/21/03)
* [1 Samuel 1:24-25](rc://en/tn/help/1sa/01/24)
* [1 Samuel 15:3](rc://en/tn/help/1sa/15/03)
* [1 Samuel 16:2-3](rc://en/tn/help/1sa/16/02)
* [1 Kings 1:9](rc://en/tn/help/1ki/01/09)
* [2 Chronicles 11:15](rc://en/tn/help/2ch/11/15)
* [2 Chronicles 15:10-11](rc://en/tn/help/2ch/15/10)
* [Matthew 22:4](rc://en/tn/help/mat/22/4)
* [Luke 13:15](rc://en/tn/help/luk/13/15)
* [Luke 14:5](rc://en/tn/help/luk/14/05)
* [Hebrews 9:13](rc://en/tn/help/heb/09/13)

## Word Data:

* Strong’s: H0047, H0441, H0504, H0929, H1165, H1241, H4399, H4735, H4806, H5695, H5697, H6499, H6510, H6629, H7214, H7716, H7794, H7921, H8377, H8450, G10160, G11510, G23530, G29340, G34470, G34480, G41650, G50220
