Calf, Golden — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Calf-shaped idol fashioned at the Israelites’ request from their own gold jewelry (Ex 32:1-4). Under Aaron’s supervision, the idol was created while Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments on Mt Sinai. Upon seeing the golden calf and the immoral carousing in which the people were engaged, Moses smashed the tablets containing the commandments. He then ground the calf to powder, scattered it on the water, and made the people drink it (vv 15-20). Some of the transgressors were slaughtered (vv 25-29), while others were punished by God himself with a plague (vv 33-35).

Show passage in OET: EXO 32:1–4

OET-RV EXO 32:1

32 Meanwhile, the people had noticed that Mosheh (Moses) had been up on the mountain for a long time, so they gathered themselves around Aharon (Aaron) and told him, “Come on. Make some gods for us that can go ahead of us, because we don’t know what’s happened to that Mosheh—the man who brought us out of Mitsrayim (Egypt).”

OET-RV EXO 32:2

2 Aharon replied, “Go and get the gold earrings off your wives and your sons and daughters, and bring them to me.”

OET-RV EXO 32:3

3 So the people took off all their gold earrings and brought them to Aharon,

OET-RV EXO 32:4

4 and he took them and smelted and crafted the gold into the form of a young bull. Then the people said, “These are your gods, Yisrael (Israel), who brought you out of Mitsrayim.”

OET-LV EXO 32:1

32 And_ the_people _he/it _saw if/because _that Mosheh he _delayed to_come _down from the_mountain and_ the_people _it _assembled to ʼAhₐron and_they _said to_him/it arise make to/for_us gods which they _will _go before_us if/because this Mosheh the_man who he_brought _us _up from_the _land _of Miʦrayim/(Egypt) not we _know what has _it _happened to_him/it.

OET-LV EXO 32:2

2 And_he/it _said to_them ʼAhₐron tear _off the _rings _of the_gold which are_on_the _ears _of your(pl)_wives _of_your(pl) sons _of_your(pl) and_daughters _of_your(pl) and_bring_them to_me.

OET-LV EXO 32:3

3 And_ all _of the_people _they _tore _off _from _themselves DOM the _rings _of the_gold which were_on_ears _of_their and_they _brought_them to ʼAhₐron.

OET-LV EXO 32:4

4 And_he/it _took from_hand _of_their and_he/it _laid _siege DOM_him/it with_tool and_he_made _it a _calf molten _metal and_they _said these gods _of_are_your Oh _Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) who they_brought _you _up from_the _land _of Miʦrayim.

Show passage in OET: EXO 32:15–20

OET-RV EXO 32:15

15 Then Mosheh turned and went down the mountain carrying the two tablets with the transcript. The tablets were engraved on both sides—front and back.

OET-RV EXO 32:16

16 They were God’s work—it was his writing and he had inscribed it on the tablets.

OET-RV EXO 32:17

17 As they descended, Yehoshua (Joshua) heard the sounds of people shouting and said to Mosheh, “It sounds like a war going on down there in the camp!”

OET-RV EXO 32:18

18 But Mosheh responded, “It’s not a victory march, and it’s not moans of defeat—it’s singing that I can hear!”

OET-RV EXO 32:19

19 Then as they approached the camp, they saw the bull and the dancing, and Mosheh got very angry and threw the tablets down at the bottom of the mountain and they shattered.

OET-RV EXO 32:20

20 He took the bull they had made and burnt it in the fire, then he ground it down until it was powder and sprinkled it on top of pots of water and made the Israelis drink it.

OET-LV EXO 32:15

15 And_he _turned and_ Mosheh _he/it _descended from the_mountain and_the _two _of the _tablets _of the _transcript in_his/its_hand tablets written from_the _two _of sides _of_their from_this and_from_this they were_written.

OET-LV EXO 32:16

16 And_the_tablets were_the _work _of god they and_the_writing was_the _writing _of god it engraved on the_tablets.

OET-LV EXO 32:17

17 And_ Yəhōshūˊa/(Joshua) _he/it _listened DOM the _sound _of the _people in_shouting _of_its and_he/it _said to Mosheh a _sound _of battle is_in_camp.

OET-LV EXO 32:18

18 And_he/it _said it_is_not a _sound _of singing strength and_it_is_not a _sound _of singing weakness a _sound _of singing I am_hearing.

OET-LV EXO 32:19

19 And_he/it _was just_as he _drew _near to the_camp and_he/it _saw DOM the_calf and_the_dancing(s) and_ the _anger of _Mosheh _it _glowed/burnt and_he _threw his DOM the_tablets and_he _broke DOM_them under the_mountain.

OET-LV EXO 32:20

20 And_he/it _took DOM the_calf which they _had _made and_he _burnt_it with_fire and_he _ground_it until that it _was _fine and_he _scattered_it on the _surface _of the_waters and_he _made _drink_it DOM the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel).

Show passage in OET: EXO 32:25–29

OET-RV EXO 32:25

25 Mosheh saw that the people were out of control because Aharon had let them go wild, and now they were subject to mockery from any group that stood up against them.

OET-RV EXO 32:26

26 Then Mosheh stood at the camp entrance and asked, “Anyone who’s for Yahweh, come to me.” And all the men from the clan of Levi gathered around him.

OET-RV EXO 32:27

27 Then he told them, “This is what Yahweh, the god of Yisrael (Israel), says: ‘Each man must strap his sword on his side. Pass through and return from gate to gate in the camp and kill the unfaithful men—even if it’s your brother, or friend, or neighbour.’ ”

OET-RV EXO 32:28

28 The Levite men did what Mosheh ordered and they killed about three thousand Israeli men that day.

OET-RV EXO 32:29

29 Then Mosheh told them, “Consecrate yourselves to Yahweh today, because any man who stood against his son or his brother today has placed a blessing on himself.”

OET-LV EXO 32:25

25 And_ Mosheh _he/it _saw DOM the_people if/because _that it was_running _wild if/because he_had _let _it _run _wild ʼAhₐron for_derision among_those _of_who_rise _against _them.

OET-LV EXO 32:26

26 And_ Mosheh _he _stood at_the _gate _of the _camp and_he/it _said who to/for_YHWH to_me and_they _gathered _themselves to_him/it all _of the _descendants _of Lēvī.

OET-LV EXO 32:27

27 And_he/it _said to/for_them thus YHWH the _god _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) he _says put everyone sword _of_his on thigh _of_his pass and_return from_gate to_gate in_camp and_kill everyone DOM his/its_brother and_everyone DOM his/its_neighbour and_everyone DOM his _of_neighbour.

OET-LV EXO 32:28

28 And_ the _descendants _of Lēvī _they _did according_to _the _message _of Mosheh and_he _fell of the_people in _the_day (the)_that about_three _of thousand(s)_of person[s].

OET-LV EXO 32:29

29 And_ Mosheh _he/it _said fill hand _of_your(pl) the_day to/for_YHWH if/because everyone was_on_son _of_his and_on_brother _of_his and_to_put on_yourselves the_day a _blessing.

Show passage in OET: EXO 32:33–35

OET-RV EXO 32:33

33 But Yahweh said to Mosheh, “It’s anyone who sinned against me that I’ll blot out of my book.

OET-RV EXO 32:34

34 So go now and lead the people to where I’ve spoken to you. See, my angel will go ahead of you, but on the day that I settle accounts, then I’ll punish them for their sin.”

OET-RV EXO 32:35

35 Then Yahweh sent deadly diseases onto the people because they had got Aharon (Aaron) to make the gold bull.

OET-LV EXO 32:33

33 And_ YHWH _he/it _said to Mosheh who is _the _one_who he _has _sinned to_me I_will _wipe _him _out from_book _of_my.

OET-LV EXO 32:34

34 And_now go lead DOM the_people to where I _have _spoken to/for_you(fs) THERE messenger _of_my he _will _go to_your_face and_on_the _day _of visit_I and_I _will _visit on_them sin _of_their.

OET-LV EXO 32:35

35 And_ YHWH _he _struck DOM the_people on that they _had _made DOM the_calf which ʼAhₐron he _had _made.

Jump to OET EXO 32:1–4 section.

Jump to OET EXO 32:15–20 section.

Jump to OET EXO 32:25–29 section.

Jump to OET EXO 32:33–35 section.

Aaron’s golden calf was probably modeled after Apis, an Egyptian bull god. Apis was connected with another Egyptian god, Osiris. Magnificent bulls worshiped in life as Apis were buried at death as Osiris-Apis, a name that became Serapis during the intertestamental period. The notoriety of Aaron’s golden calf is underscored by several biblical references to it in historical summaries (Dt 9:16, 21 OET DEU 9:16 · OET DEU 9:21; Neh 9:18, Ps 106:19-20; Acts 7:39-41).

Show passage in OET: DEU 9:16; DEU 9:21

OET-RV DEU 9:16

16 Then I looked, and wow, you certainly had disobeyed your god Yahweh. You’d cast a metal calf. You’d turned so quickly from the instructions that Yahweh had given you.

OET-RV DEU 9:21

21 I took that symbol of your disobedience—that calf idol that you all had made—and threw it into the fire, then I crushed it and ground it into dust, and threw the dust into the mountain stream.

OET-LV DEU 9:16

16 And_I _saw and_BEHOLD/LO/SEE you(pl)_had _sinned to/for_YHWH god _of_your(pl) you(pl)_had _made to/for_you(pl) a _calf _of molten _metal you(pl)_had _turned _aside quickly from the_way which YHWH he _had _commanded you(pl).

OET-LV DEU 9:21

21 and_DOM sin _of_your(pl) which you(pl)_had _made DOM the_calf I _took and_I _burnt DOM_him/it with_fire and_I _crushed DOM_him/it I _ground_it thoroughly _(do _well) until that it _was _fine into_dust and_I _threw DOM dust _of_its into the_wadi which_was_coming _down from the_mountain.

Show passage in OET: NEH 9:18

OET-RV NEH 9:18

18 Even when they molded a metal calf for themselves and said, ‘This is your god who brought you out of Mitsrayim’ (Egypt), and they badly insulted you,

OET-LV NEH 9:18

18 Even if/because they _had _made to/for_them a _calf _of molten _metal and_they _said this god _of_is_your who he_brought _you _up from_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) and_they _made blasphemies great.

Show passage in OET: PSA 106:19–20

OET-RV PSA 106:19

⇔  19 They made a gold calf at Horev,
⇔ ≈ and worshipped the metal statue there.

OET-RV PSA 106:20

20 They traded the splendour of their God,
⇔ with a statue image of a bull that eats grass. ☺

OET-LV PSA 106:19

19 They _made a _calf at_Ḩorēⱱ and_they _bowed _down to_a _molten _image.

OET-LV PSA 106:20

20 And_they _exchanged DOM glory _of_their for_an _image _of an _ox which_eats vegetation.

Show passage in OET: ACT 7:39–41

OET-RV ACT 7:39

39 “Yet our ancestors didn’t want to obey that man, so they rejected him and started thinking about Mitsrayim again,

OET-RV ACT 7:40

40 saying to Aharon (Aaron), ‘Make some gods for us to lead us because we’ve got no idea what happened to that Mosheh who led us out of Mitsrayim.’

OET-RV ACT 7:41

41 So together they made a calf as an idol to bring sacrifices to, and they were pleased with what they’d achieved.

OET-LV ACT 7:39

39 to _whom the fathers of _us willed not to _become obedient, but they _pushed _away him and they _were _turned in the hearts of _them to Aiguptos,

OET-LV ACT 7:40

40 having _said to_ the _Aʼarōn/(ʼAhₐron):
Make for _us gods who will _be _going _before before _us.
For/Because the this Mōsaʸs, who led _out us from the_land of _Aiguptos/(Miʦrayim), we _have_ not _known what became to _him.

OET-LV ACT 7:41

41 And they _made _a _calf in the those days, and they _brought _up a_sacrifice to _the idol, and they _were _being _gladdened in the works of _the hands of _them.

Jump to OET DEU 9:16 section. · OET DEU 9:21 section.

Jump to OET NEH 9:18 section.

Jump to OET PSA 106:19–20 section.

Jump to OET ACT 7:39–41 section.

Jeroboam I (930–909 BC), the first king of Israel after the division of the monarchy, set up shrines at Dan in the far north and at Bethel in the south, installing a gold calf in each (1 Kgs 12:26-33; 2 Chr 11:13-15). Israel’s prophets knew that such calves were not the one true God (Hos 8:5-6). Hosea called the calf at Bethel (“house of God”) the calf of “Beth-aven” (“house of wickedness,” Hos 10:5-6). Within two centuries after Jeroboam’s time, people had stooped to kissing calves (13:2), and Jeroboam’s sinful act was listed as one of the main factors leading to the destruction of Samaria, Israel’s capital city, and the northern kingdom’s exile in 722 BC (2 Kgs 17:16).

Show passage in OET: KI1 12:26–33

OET-RV KI1 12:26

26 After that, he worried that the entire country might want to go back under David’s dynasty.

OET-RV KI1 12:27

27 He worried that if the people went down to Yerushalem (Jerusalem) to offer sacrifices in Yahweh’s temple, they might shift their allegiance to King Rehav’am (Rehoboam) in Yehudah (Judah) and then his life might be in danger.

OET-RV KI1 12:28

28 So after getting advice, the king made two gold calves, and he told his people, “Going all the way down to Yerushalem is too far for you. Look, these can be your gods, Yisrael (Israel), who brought you out from Mitsrayim (Egypt).”

OET-RV KI1 12:29

29 He set one up at Beyt-El (Bethel) (in the south) and the other one at Dan (in the north).

OET-RV KI1 12:30

30 This caused the people to sin, and some people went up as far as the one in Dan.

OET-RV KI1 12:31

31 He built temples on hills and appointed priests from various tribes—not just from the tribe of Levi.

OET-RV KI1 12:32

32 In the eighth month on the 15th, Yarov’am (Jeroboam) put on a celebration like the one in Yehudah (Judah). He’d made an altar at Beyt-El (Bethel) and he got the priests from the hill temples he’d made to come and stand there, then he offered a sacrifice on that altar to the calves that he’d made.

OET-RV KI1 12:33

33 That date of the 15th day of the eighth month was one that he’d just decided for himself, and he instituted a new celebration for the Israelis and he burnt incense on the altar as a sacrifice.

OET-LV KI1 12:26

26 And_ Yāroⱱˊām _he/it _said in_heart _of_his now the_kingdom it _will _return to_the _house _of Dāvid.

OET-LV KI1 12:27

27 If it _will _go _up the_people the_this for_doing sacrifices in_house _of YHWH in_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) and_ the _heart _of the _people the_this _it _will _return to their _master(s)_of_to to Rəḩaⱱˊām the _king _of Yəhūdāh and_they_will _kill _me and_they _will _return to Rəḩaⱱˊām the _king _of Yəhūdāh.

OET-LV KI1 12:28

28 And_ the_king _he _took _counsel and_he/it _made two _of calves _of gold and_he/it _said to_them is_enough to/for_you(pl) for_going _up Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) HERE gods _of_your Oh _Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) which they_brought _you _up from_the _land _of Miʦrayim/(Egypt).

OET-LV KI1 12:29

29 And_he/it _assigned DOM the_one in_house _of ^ʼēl and_DOM the_one he _put in_Dān.

OET-LV KI1 12:30

30 And_ the_thing the_this _he/it _was (into)_sin and_ the_people _they _went to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before the_one to Dān.

OET-LV KI1 12:31

31 And_he/it _made DOM a _house _of high _places and_he/it _made priests from_the _ends _of the _people who not they _were from_(the)_sons of _Levi.

OET-LV KI1 12:32

32 And_ Yāroⱱˊām/(Jeroboam) _he/it _made a _festival in_month (the)_eighth on_the_fif- teen day of_month like_festival which was_in_Yəhūdāh/(Judah) and_he/it _ascended on the_altar so he _did in_house _of ^ʼēl to_sacrifice to_calves which he _had _made and_he _stationed in_house _of ^ʼēl DOM the _priests _of the _high _places which he _had _made.

OET-LV KI1 12:33

33 And_he/it _ascended on the_altar which he _had _made in_house _of ^ʼēl on_the_fif- teen day in_month (the)_eighth in_month which he _had _devised mmm and_he/it _made a _festival for_the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_he/it _ascended on the_altar to_make _smoke.

Show passage in OET: CH2 11:13–15

OET-RV CH2 11:13

13 The priests and Levites throughout all of Yisrael (Israel) supported Rehav’am (Rehoboam) from every part of the country.

OET-RV CH2 11:14

14 The Levites abandoned their property and their pastureland and moved to Yerushalem (Jerusalem) and across the rest of Yehudah (Judah), because Yarov’am (Jeroboam) and his sons stopped them from serving as Yahweh’s priests.

OET-RV CH2 11:15

15 Instead Yarov’am established his own priests for his hilltop shrines and for the goat and calf idols that he’d made.

OET-LV CH2 11:13

13 And_the_priests and_the_Lēviyyiy who in_all Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) they _took _their _stand on/upon/above_him/it from_all territory _of_their.

OET-LV CH2 11:14

14 If/because the_Lēviyyiy they _abandoned DOM lands _of_their _pasture and_property _of_their and_they _went to_Yəhūdāh and_to_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) if/because he_had _rejected _them Yāroⱱˊām and_sons _of_his from_serving _as _priests to/for_YHWH.

OET-LV CH2 11:15

15 And_he _appointed to_him/it priests for_places and_for_idols and_for_calves which he _had _made.

Show passage in OET: HOS 8:5–6

OET-RV HOS 8:5

5 “Your calf has been rejected, Shomron (Samaria).
⇔ My anger burns against them.
⇔ For how long will they be incapable of innocence,

OET-RV HOS 8:6

6 because it came from Yisrael (Israel)—a craftsman made it.
⇔ It’s not God.
⇔ That calf in Shomron will end up in pieces,

OET-LV HOS 8:5

5 He _has _rejected calf _of_your Oh _Shomrōn anger _of_my it _has _burnt on_them until when not will _they _be _able innocence.

OET-LV HOS 8:6

6 If/because it_is_from _Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_he a _craftsman he_made _it and_not is_god it if/because fragments it _will _become the _calf _of Shomrōn.

Show passage in OET: HOS 10:5–6

OET-RV HOS 10:5

5 The inhabitants of Shomron (Samaria) will be afraid about what will happen to the calf of Beyt -Aven.
⇔ Indeed, its people will mourn over it, as will its idolatrous priests who had rejoiced over it
⇔ and over its splendour because it’s departed from them.

OET-RV HOS 10:6

6 The thing itself will be carried to Ashur (Assyria) as tribute for the great king.
⇔ Yisrael (Israel; Heb. Efrayim) will receive shame,
⇔ ≈ and Yisrael (Israel) will be ashamed of its idol.

OET-LV HOS 10:5

5 For_the _heifers _of Bēyt Aven the _inhabitant[s]_of Shomrōn they _will _be _afraid if/because it _will _mourn on/upon/above_him/it people _of_its and_its _pagan _of_priests on/upon/above_him/it they _will _tremble on glory _of_its if/because it _has _gone _into _exile from_it.

OET-LV HOS 10:6

6 Also it to_ʼAshshūr it _will _be _carried tribute to_the_king great shame ʼEfrayim it _will _receive and_ Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _it _will _be _ashamed from_its _own _of_counsel.

Show passage in OET: HOS 13:2

OET-RV HOS 13:2

2 Now they disobey God more and more,
⇔ and they make cast metal images for themselves—
⇔ idols skillfully made from their silver—
⇔ ≈ all of them the work of craftsmen.
⇔ They say about them, ‘Those who sacrifice people, kiss calves.’

OET-LV HOS 13:2

2 And_now they _increase to_sin and_they _have _made to/for_them a _molten _image from_silver _of_their according_to _of_their _skill idols is_the_work _of craftsmen of _it _of_all to/for_them they are_saying those _who_offer _sacrifice _of humankind calves they_kiss.

Show passage in OET: KI2 17:16

OET-RV KI2 17:16

16 They disobeyed the instructions given to them by their god Yahweh by molding two metal calves for themselves and making an Asherah pole. Then they bowed down and worshipped the sun, moon, and stars, and they served Ba’al.

OET-LV KI2 17:16

16 And_they _abandoned DOM all _of the _commands _of YHWH god _of_their and_they _made to/for_them a _molten _image two _of calves and_they _made an _ʼAshērāh _pole and_they _bowed _down to/from_all/each/any/every the _soldier/messenger _of the_heavens and_they _served DOM (the)_Baˊal.

Jump to OET KI1 12:26–33 section.

Jump to OET CH2 11:13–15 section.

Jump to OET HOS 8:5–6 section.

Jump to OET HOS 10:5–6 section.

Jump to OET HOS 13:2 section.

Jump to OET KI2 17:16 section.