עֵ֫גֶל (e.gel)
e.gel
calf
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 32 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun egel refers to a young male bovine, typically a calf or a steer that is nearly grown. While it can denote a very young animal, as seen in sacrificial contexts like Leviticus 9:3, the word frequently describes older cattle used for labor or food. This range allows it to cover everything from a nursing calf to a mature bull prepared for the plow, reflecting its practical importance in ancient agrarian life.
The term carries significant theological weight due to its association with idolatry. It appears prominently in Exodus 32, where the Israelites fashion a molten egel as a visible representation of God during Moses’ absence. This incident establishes the egel as a symbol of rebellion and false worship, a theme echoed later when kings like Jeroboam set up golden calves in Bethel and Dan (1 Kings 12:28). The prophets also use the image to condemn Israel’s spiritual infidelity, recalling how the people traded their covenant God for a manufactured object.
Despite its negative connotations in narratives of sin, the egel remains a standard part of legitimate worship and daily sustenance. It is listed among acceptable offerings in Leviticus and Micah 6:6, and Isaian prophecy envisions a future peace where a young calf plays alongside a lion (Isaiah 11:6). The word thus bridges the mundane reality of livestock management with the profound spiritual dangers of replacing the invisible God with tangible idols.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word egel appears in Scripture with a striking range of meanings, moving from the mundane to the deeply spiritual. In daily life, it represented sustenance and labor, serving as a standard offering for sin or a source of food for guests. Yet in the narrative of Exodus 32, the same term describes the golden calf, an idol that symbolized Israel’s quick turn away from God. This contrast reminds us that material things are not evil in themselves; they become dangerous only when we try to use them to replace our trust in the invisible Creator.
For your faith, this word invites a gentle examination of what you rely on for security. When life feels uncertain, it is natural to seek visible proofs of help or control. The biblical witness warns that creating such substitutes leads to brokenness, as seen when Moses broke the tablets upon seeing the calf. Instead, Scripture points toward a God who hears our grief and offers restoration, like the untrained calf in Jeremiah 31:18 who turns back to its Master.
Ultimately, egel teaches us about the danger of substituting the tangible for the true. Whether it is a calf offered in peace or one crafted in rebellion, the focus remains on where our hearts place their ultimate trust. We are invited to look beyond what we can manufacture and rest in the faithful character of God, who alone brings us up from the depths of our struggles.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 32 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ calf7×
- a calf of5×
- a calf3×
- calves of2×
- calves2×
- with/ calves1×
- to the/ calves1×
- like/ a calf1×
- calf/ your1×
- and/ for the/ calves1×
- and/ calves1×
- and/ calf1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֵ֣גֶל3×
- עֵ֖גֶל3×
- עֶגְלֵ֣י2×
- עֵ֥גֶל2×
- וְ/עֵ֨גֶל2×
- עֶגְלֵי֙1×
- עֶגְלֵ֣/ךְ1×
- עֵֽגֶל\־1×
- עֵ֛גֶל1×
- עֵ֑גֶל1×
- עֲגָלִ֖ים1×
- עֲגָלִ֑ים1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 32:4
He received what they handed him, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it a molded calf. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, which brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”
This verse marks the moment the calf shifts from a simple animal to a fabricated idol, establishing the word’s primary association with rebellion against God.
-
Leviticus 9:3
You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both a year old, without defect, for a burnt offering;
Here the calf is part of a legitimate burnt offering, showing that the same word can denote holy worship when used according to God's command.
-
Jeremiah 31:18
“I have surely heard Ephraim grieving thus, ‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as an untrained calf. Turn me, and I will be turned, for you are Yahweh my God.
Ephraim compares himself to an untrained calf to express raw grief and a desire for correction, highlighting the word’s use in describing human vulnerability before God.
-
Isaiah 11:6
The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, the calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf together; and a little child will lead them.
The calf appears in a prophecy of future peace, lying down with predators to symbolize the restoration of creation and harmony under God's rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does egel mean in the Bible?
Why is the calf associated with idolatry?
Is egel always used negatively?
Every Occurrence (32 verses across 14 books)
Exodus 6 verses
He received what they handed him, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made it a molded calf. Then they said,…
Exodus 32:8They have turned away quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and have…
Exodus 32:19As soon as he came near to the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing. Then Moses’ anger grew hot, and he threw the…
Exodus 32:20He took the calf which they had made, and burned it with fire, ground it to powder, and scattered it on the water, and…
Exodus 32:24I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them take it off.’ So they gave it to me; and I threw it into the fire, and…
Exodus 32:35Yahweh struck the people, because of what they did with the calf, which Aaron made.