# cow, cows, bull, bulls, calf, calves, cattle, heifer, ox, oxen #

## Definition: ##

The term "cattle" refers to a kind of large, four-legged farm animal that eats grass and is primarily raised for its meat and milk.

* The female of this kind of animal is called a "cow," the male is a "bull," and their offspring is a "calf."
* Sometimes the term "cow" is used in a general way to refer to all kinds of cattle.
* In some cultures, cattle are traded in exchange for goods. Sometimes they are used as gifts given to the parents of a young woman a man desires to marry.
* In the Bible, the Jewish people used cattle for sacrifices, especially a certain type called the red heifer.
* A "heifer" is a cow that has not yet had a baby.
* An "ox" is a special type of bull that is used for agricultural work, like pulling a plow.

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 01:24-25](rc://en/tn/help/1sa/01/24)
* [1 Samuel 15:1-3](rc://en/tn/help/1sa/15/01)
* [1 Samuel 16:2-3](rc://en/tn/help/1sa/16/02)
* [1 Kings 01:9-10](rc://en/tn/help/1ki/01/09)
* [2 Chronicles 11:13-15](rc://en/tn/help/2ch/11/13)
* [2 Chronicles 15:10-11](rc://en/tn/help/2ch/15/10)
* [Matthew 22:4](rc://en/tn/help/mat/22/04)
* [Luke 13:15-16](rc://en/tn/help/luk/13/15)
* [Luke 14:4-6](rc://en/tn/help/luk/14/04)
* [Hebrews 09:13-15](rc://en/tn/help/heb/09/13)

## Word Data:##

* Strong's: H47, H441, H504, H929, H1165, H1241, H1241, H1241, H4399, H4735, H4806, H5695, H5697, H5697, H6499, H6499, H6510, H6510, H6629, H7214, H7716, H7794, H7794, H7921, H8377, H8377, H8450, H8450, G1016, G1151, G2353, G2934, G3447, G3448, G4165, G5022, G5022