5695. egel

Lexical Summary

egel: Calf

Original Word: עֵגֶל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: `egel
Pronunciation: ay'-ghel
Phonetic Spelling: (ay-ghel)
KJV: bullock, calf
NASB: calf, calves, calf's
Word Origin: [from the same as H5696 (עָגוֹל עָגוֹל - circular)]

1. a (male) calf (as frisking round), especially one nearly grown (i.e. a steer)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

bullock, calf

From the same as agol; a (male) calf (as frisking round), especially one nearly grown (i.e. A steer) -- bullock, calf.

see HEBREW agol

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
a calf
NASB Translation
calf (22), calf's (1), calves (12).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

עֵ֫גֶל noun masculine^{Exodus 32:24} calf (as rolling or circling about ? compare כַּר from כָּרַר; Late Hebrew id.; Phoenician (Punic) עגל id. Lzb³³⁶; ענילו Palmyrene proper name id. Cook⁸⁹; Aramaic , , עִיגְלָא, עֲגַלְתָּא, id.; Assyrian [agalu], plural agalê probably calves Dl^{HWB 16} (compare against this Jen^Kosmol.110, but see also Jäger^{BAS ii. 2, 286}); Arabic id.; Ethiopic image u%navailable, compare also Hom^{NS 226}); — ׳ע absolute Exodus 32:19 +; construct 1 Samuel 28:24 +; suffix עֶגְלֵךְ Hosea 8:5; plural עֲגָלִים Hosea 13:2 +; construct עֶגְלֵי 1 Kings 12:28 +; — calf Isaiah 11:6; Isaiah 27:10 in simile of leaping mountains Psalm 29:6; in simile of foot-sole of cherubim Ezekiel 1:7; מַרְבֵּק ׳ע i.e. a stall-fed (fatted) calf 1 Samuel 28:24, in simile Jeremiah 46:21; Malachi 3:20, compare מִתּוֺךְ מַרְבֵּק ׳ע Amos 6:4; לֹא לֻמָּ֑ד ׳ע Jeremiah 31:18 an untrained calf; עֶגְלֵי עַמִּים Psalm 68:31 calves of peoples, i.e. peoples like calves, so most; perhaps read ׳בַּעֲלֵי עמ Matthes Che Gunk^{Schöf. 66 f.} compare Bae; calf as sacrifice victim Micah 6:6; Leviticus 9:2,3,8 (P); cut in two, in ratifying covenant Jeremiah 34:18,19 (compare עֶגְלָה Genesis 15:9); elsewhere image of calf: made at Horeb, מַסֵּכָה ׳ע Exodus 32:4,8; Deuteronomy 9:16; Nehemiah 9:18; ׳ע alone Exodus 32:19,20,24,35; Deuteronomy 9:21; Psalm 106:19; two set up by Jeroboam I in Northern Israel, 1 Kings 12:28,32; 2 Kings 10:29; 2 Kings 17:16; 2Chronicles 11:15; 13:8, compare Hosea 8:5,6 (עגְלֵךְ, שֹׁמְרוֺן ׳ע), Hosea 13:2; also Hosea 10:5 (see I. עֶגְלָה near the end).

Topical Lexicon

General Scope and Symbolism

עֵגֶל denotes the male calf, normally from birth up to its first year, a stage valued for tenderness of flesh, economic promise, and ritual suitability. In everyday life it symbolized strength in potential, fertility, and festive abundance (compare 1 Samuel 28:24). In worship it became either a legitimate sacrificial victim or, tragically, a counterfeit representation of deity.

Sanctioned Use in Sacrifice

• The Torah repeatedly assigns the calf to priestly service, especially for sin and burnt offerings (Leviticus 9:2-8; Leviticus 16:3). Its youth underscored the need for purity, while its vigor anticipated full-grown strength transferred to the worshiper through atonement.
• Twelve tribal leaders each presented “one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb a year old for a burnt offering” during the dedication of the altar (Numbers 7:16-88). The list’s symmetry stresses corporate solidarity—every tribe needed identical cleansing.
• Genesis 15:9 contains the earliest sacrificial reference, where the calf stands among the five animals that seal the covenant with Abram, foreshadowing a redemptive lineage secured by substitutionary blood.

Through these passages Scripture exhibits coherent sacrificial theology: the calf is a divinely authorized means to portray holiness, guilt removal, and covenant fidelity, all truths ultimately consummated in the atoning work of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9).

Idolatrous Perversion

1. Sinai. Exodus 32 chronicles Israel’s first national apostasy. Aaron fashioned “a molten calf” and proclaimed, “These, O Israel, are your gods, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” (Exodus 32:4). Six verses employ עֵגֶל, emphasizing how quickly the redeemed people exchanged the living God for a fabricated image that mimicked Egyptian Apis-bull worship. Moses’ grinding the idol to powder and forcing Israel to drink it (32:20) dramatized the worthlessness of false worship.
2. Samaria. Jeroboam replicated the sin by setting up calves at Dan and Bethel (1 Kings 12:28-32; 2 Chronicles 11:15). His political strategy became spiritual treason, creating a counterfeit cult that infected Northern Israel for two centuries. Hosea repeatedly calls it “the calf of Samaria” and warns, “He has rejected your calf, O Samaria… the calf of Samaria will be broken to pieces” (Hosea 8:5-6; 10:5-6; 13:2).
3. Prophetic Reproof. The prophets treat the calf as shorthand for idolatry’s folly. Psalm 106:19 contrasts Sinai’s golden calf with the glory of God; Jeremiah 34:18 uses the dissected calf of covenant ratification to condemn Judah’s breach of oath. Thus the same animal that could signify atonement became a symbol of rebellion when misused.

Agricultural and Economic Background

Cattle breeding formed a pillar of agrarian Israel. A well-fed calf represented family wealth and festive hospitality (cf. the “fattened calf” of Luke 15 in the New Testament). Jeremiah 46:21 pictures Egypt’s elite soldiers as “well-fed calves,” highlighting complacency before divine judgment. The ordinary familiarity of calves made idolatry with their image especially seductive, yet equally inexcusable.

Eschatological and Prophetic Imagery

Malachi 4:2 promises the righteous, “You will go out and leap like calves released from the stall”. The joyful, liberated calf becomes a metaphor for resurrection life and covenant renewal. Scripture thereby redeems the image of the calf from idolatrous misuse, projecting it into messianic hope.

Ministry and Discipleship Lessons

• Right worship matters. The same creature can aid devotion or become an idol, reminding believers to guard purity of heart and doctrine.
• Spiritual leadership bears weighty responsibility; Aaron’s and Jeroboam’s compromises led multitudes astray.
• God’s redemptive plan is consistent: from Abraham’s covenant calf to Levitical offerings to the prophetic vision of freedom, Scripture unfolds one unified account culminating in Christ, the true and final sacrifice.

Key References

Genesis 15:9; Exodus 32:4-35; Leviticus 9:2-8; Leviticus 16:3; Numbers 7:16-88; Deuteronomy 9:16-21; 1 Kings 12:28-32; 2 Chronicles 11:15; Psalm 106:19; Jeremiah 34:18; Jeremiah 46:21; Hosea 8:5-6; Hosea 10:5-6; Hosea 13:2; Malachi 4:2.

Forms and Transliterations

בְּעֶגְלֵ֬י בַּעֲגָלִ֖ים בעגלי בעגלים הָעֵ֔גֶל הָעֵ֖גֶל הָעֵ֗גֶל הָעֵ֙גֶל֙ הָעֵ֥גֶל הָעֵ֨גֶל הָעֵֽגֶל׃ העגל העגל׃ וְלָעֲגָלִ֖ים וְעֵ֨גֶל וַעֲגָלִ֖ים ולעגלים ועגל ועגלים כְּעֵ֖גֶל כְּעֶגְלֵ֣י כְּעֶגְלֵ֥י כעגל כעגלי לָעֲגָלִ֣ים לעגלים עֲגָלִ֑ים עֲגָלִ֖ים עֵ֑גֶל עֵ֔גֶל עֵ֖גֶל עֵ֛גֶל עֵ֣גֶל עֵ֥גֶל עֵֽגֶל־ עֶגְלֵ֣י עֶגְלֵ֣ךְ עֶגְלֵי֙ עגל עגל־ עגלי עגלים עגלך ‘ă·ḡā·lîm ‘ăḡālîm ‘ê·ḡel ‘ê·ḡel- ‘eḡ·lê ‘eḡ·lêḵ ‘êḡel ‘êḡel- ‘eḡlê ‘eḡlêḵ agaLim ba‘ăḡālîm ba·‘ă·ḡā·lîm baagaLim bə‘eḡlê bə·‘eḡ·lê beegLei Egel egLech egLei hā‘êḡel hā·‘ê·ḡel haEgel kə‘êḡel kə‘eḡlê kə·‘ê·ḡel kə·‘eḡ·lê keEgel keegLei lā‘ăḡālîm lā·‘ă·ḡā·lîm laagaLim vaagaLim veEgel velaagaLim wa‘ăḡālîm wa·‘ă·ḡā·lîm wə‘êḡel wə·‘ê·ḡel wə·lā·‘ă·ḡā·lîm wəlā‘ăḡālîm

Englishman's Concordance

Exodus 32:4
HEB: בַּחֶ֔רֶט וַֽיַּעֲשֵׂ֖הוּ עֵ֣גֶל מַסֵּכָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ
NAS: it into a molten calf; and they said,
KJV: it a molten calf: and they said,
INT: A graving and made calf A molten said

Exodus 32:8
HEB: עָשׂ֣וּ לָהֶ֔ם עֵ֖גֶל מַסֵּכָ֑ה וַיִּשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ־
NAS: for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped
KJV: them a molten calf, and have worshipped
INT: commanded have made calf A molten worshiped

Exodus 32:19
HEB: וַיַּ֥רְא אֶת־ הָעֵ֖גֶל וּמְחֹלֹ֑ת וַיִּֽחַר־
NAS: that he saw the calf and [the] dancing;
KJV: that he saw the calf, and the dancing:
INT: the camp saw the calf and dancing burned

Exodus 32:20
HEB: וַיִּקַּ֞ח אֶת־ הָעֵ֨גֶל אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשׂוּ֙
NAS: He took the calf which they had made
KJV: And he took the calf which they had made,
INT: took the calf which had made

Exodus 32:24
HEB: בָאֵ֔שׁ וַיֵּצֵ֖א הָעֵ֥גֶל הַזֶּֽה׃
NAS: and out came this calf.
KJV: and there came out this calf.
INT: the fire came calf this

Exodus 32:35
HEB: עָשׂ֣וּ אֶת־ הָעֵ֔גֶל אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֖ה
NAS: they did with the calf which
KJV: they made the calf, which
INT: what did the calf which had made

Leviticus 9:2
HEB: קַח־ לְ֠ךָ עֵ֣גֶל בֶּן־ בָּקָ֧ר
NAS: Take for yourself a calf, a bull,
KJV: thee a young calf for a sin offering,
INT: Aaron Take A calf afflicted bull

Leviticus 9:3
HEB: עִזִּים֙ לְחַטָּ֔את וְעֵ֨גֶל וָכֶ֧בֶשׂ בְּנֵי־
NAS: for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb,
KJV: for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb,
INT: goat A sin calf lamb old

Leviticus 9:8
HEB: וַיִּשְׁחַ֛ט אֶת־ עֵ֥גֶל הַחַטָּ֖את אֲשֶׁר־
NAS: and slaughtered the calf of the sin offering
KJV: and slew the calf of the sin offering,
INT: the altar and slaughtered the calf of the sin which

Deuteronomy 9:16
HEB: עֲשִׂיתֶ֣ם לָכֶ֔ם עֵ֖גֶל מַסֵּכָ֑ה סַרְתֶּ֣ם
NAS: for yourselves a molten calf; you had turned aside
KJV: you a molten calf: ye had turned aside
INT: your God had made calf A molten had turned

Deuteronomy 9:21
HEB: עֲשִׂיתֶ֣ם אֶת־ הָעֵ֗גֶל לָקַחְתִּי֮ וָאֶשְׂרֹ֣ף
NAS: your sinful [thing], the calf which
KJV: your sin, the calf which ye had made,
INT: which had made the calf took and burned

1 Samuel 28:24
HEB: וְלָאִשָּׁ֤ה עֵֽגֶל־ מַרְבֵּק֙ בַּבַּ֔יִת
NAS: had a fattened calf in the house,
KJV: had a fat calf in the house;
INT: the woman calf fattened the house

1 Kings 12:28
HEB: וַיַּ֕עַשׂ שְׁנֵ֖י עֶגְלֵ֣י זָהָ֑ב וַיֹּ֣אמֶר
NAS: golden calves, and he said
KJV: two calves [of] gold,
INT: and made two calves golden said

1 Kings 12:32
HEB: אֵ֔ל לְזַבֵּ֖חַ לָעֲגָלִ֣ים אֲשֶׁר־ עָשָׂ֑ה
NAS: sacrificing to the calves which
KJV: sacrificing unto the calves that he had made:
INT: Bethel sacrificing to the calves which had made

2 Kings 10:29
HEB: יֵה֖וּא מֵאַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם עֶגְלֵי֙ הַזָּהָ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֥ר
NAS: [even] the golden calves that [were] at Bethel
KJV: them, [to wit], the golden calves that [were] in Bethel,
INT: Jehu after calves the golden which

2 Kings 17:16
HEB: (שְׁנֵ֣י ק) עֲגָלִ֑ים וַיַּעֲשׂ֣וּ אֲשֵׁירָ֗ה
NAS: [even] two calves, and made
KJV: [even] two calves, and made
INT: molten both calves and made an Asherah

2 Chronicles 11:15
HEB: לַבָּמ֖וֹת וְלַשְּׂעִירִ֑ים וְלָעֲגָלִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֽׂה׃
NAS: for the satyrs and for the calves which
KJV: and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.
INT: the high the satyrs the calves which had made

2 Chronicles 13:8
HEB: רָ֔ב וְעִמָּכֶם֙ עֶגְלֵ֣י זָהָ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֨ר
NAS: and [having] with you the golden calves which
KJV: and [there are] with you golden calves, which Jeroboam
INT: A great with calves the golden which

Nehemiah 9:18
HEB: עָשׂ֤וּ לָהֶם֙ עֵ֣גֶל מַסֵּכָ֔ה וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ
NAS: they made for themselves A calf of molten metal
KJV: them a molten calf, and said,
INT: when made A calf of molten and said

Psalm 29:6
HEB: וַיַּרְקִידֵ֥ם כְּמוֹ־ עֵ֑גֶל לְבָנ֥וֹן וְ֝שִׂרְיֹ֗ן
NAS: skip like a calf, And Sirion like
KJV: He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon
INT: skip like A calf Lebanon and Sirion

Psalm 68:30
HEB: עֲדַ֤ת אַבִּירִ֨ים ׀ בְּעֶגְלֵ֬י עַמִּ֗ים מִתְרַפֵּ֥ס
NAS: of bulls with the calves of the peoples,
KJV: of the bulls, with the calves of the people,
INT: the herd of bulls the calves of the peoples Trampling

Psalm 106:19
HEB: יַעֲשׂוּ־ עֵ֥גֶל בְּחֹרֵ֑ב וַ֝יִּשְׁתַּחֲו֗וּ
NAS: They made a calf in Horeb
KJV: They made a calf in Horeb,
INT: made A calf Horeb and worshiped

Isaiah 11:6
HEB: גְּדִ֣י יִרְבָּ֑ץ וְעֵ֨גֶל וּכְפִ֤יר וּמְרִיא֙
NAS: with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion
KJV: with the kid; and the calf and the young lion
INT: the young will lie and the calf and the young and the fatling

Isaiah 27:10
HEB: שָׁ֣ם יִרְעֶ֥ה עֵ֛גֶל וְשָׁ֥ם יִרְבָּ֖ץ
NAS: There the calf will graze,
KJV: like a wilderness: there shall the calf feed,
INT: There will graze the calf and there will lie

Jeremiah 31:18
HEB: יִסַּרְתַּ֙נִי֙ וָֽאִוָּסֵ֔ר כְּעֵ֖גֶל לֹ֣א לֻמָּ֑ד
NAS: Like an untrained calf; Bring
KJV: me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed
INT: have chastised was chastised calf not to teach

35 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5695
35 Occurrences

‘ă·ḡā·lîm — 2 Occ.
ba·‘ă·ḡā·lîm — 1 Occ.
bə·‘eḡ·lê — 1 Occ.
‘ê·ḡel — 12 Occ.
‘eḡ·lêḵ — 1 Occ.
‘eḡ·lê — 3 Occ.
hā·‘ê·ḡel — 7 Occ.
kə·‘ê·ḡel — 1 Occ.
kə·‘eḡ·lê — 2 Occ.
lā·‘ă·ḡā·lîm — 1 Occ.
wa·‘ă·ḡā·lîm — 1 Occ.
wə·‘ê·ḡel — 2 Occ.
wə·lā·‘ă·ḡā·lîm — 1 Occ.