In biblical times, the bullock, or young bull, held significant importance both in daily life and religious practices. The Hebrew term often translated as "bullock" is "par" (פַּר), which refers to a young, mature male bovine. Bulls and bullocks were integral to the agrarian society of ancient Israel, serving as essential assets for plowing fields and as a source of meat and hides.

Sacrificial Use:

The bullock was a prominent animal in the sacrificial system outlined in the Old Testament. It was often used in burnt offerings, sin offerings, and peace offerings. The bullock's role in sacrifices underscored its value and the seriousness of the offering being made. In Leviticus 1:3-5 , the instructions for a burnt offering state: "If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer an unblemished male. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, so that he may be accepted by the LORD. He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so that it may be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. Then he shall slaughter the young bull before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall present the blood and sprinkle it on all sides of the altar at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting."

The bullock was also used in the consecration of priests, as seen in Exodus 29:10-14 , where a bull is sacrificed as a sin offering during the ordination of Aaron and his sons.

Symbolism and Significance:

The bullock symbolizes strength, power, and fertility, reflecting its role in agriculture and its status as a valuable possession. In the context of sacrifices, the bullock's strength and value made it a fitting offering to God, representing the offerer's dedication and submission.

In the prophetic literature, the bullock is sometimes used metaphorically. For example, in Hosea 4:16 , Israel is compared to a stubborn heifer, illustrating the nation's obstinacy and rebellion against God: "For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn heifer. Can the LORD now shepherd them like lambs in an open meadow?"

Idolatry and False Worship:

The bullock also appears in narratives of idolatry, most notably in the account of the golden calf in Exodus 32. Here, the Israelites, in Moses' absence, demand that Aaron make them a god, resulting in the creation of a golden calf, a young bull idol, which they worship. This incident highlights the temptation to revert to pagan practices and the consequences of idolatry.

In 1 Kings 12:28-30 , Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel, sets up golden calves in Bethel and Dan, leading the people into sin: "After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves and said to the people, 'Going up to Jerusalem is too much for you. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.' One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves."

Conclusion:

The bullock, as depicted in the Bible, serves as a multifaceted symbol of strength, sacrifice, and, at times, idolatry. Its presence in the sacrificial system underscores the gravity of sin and the need for atonement, while its misuse in idolatry serves as a cautionary tale against turning away from the worship of the one true God.Bullock Bull

terms used synonymously with ox, oxen, and properly a generic name for horned cattle when a full age and fit for the plough. It is variously rendered "bullock," (Isaiah 65:25) "cow," (Ezekiel 4:15) "oxen," (Genesis 12:16) Kine is used in the Bible as the plural of cow. In (Isaiah 51:20) the "wild bull" ("wild ox" in (14:5)) was possibly one of the larger species of antelope, and took its name from its swiftness. Dr. Robinson mentions larger herds of black and almost harmless buffaloes as still existing in Palestine, and these may be the animal indicated.

5022. tauros -- a bull
... bull, ox. Apparently a primary word (compare towr, "steer"); a bullock -- bull,
ox. see HEBREW towr. (tauroi) -- 1 Occurrence. (taurous) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5022.htm - 6k

3448. moschos -- a young shoot, a calf
... Spelling: (mos'-khos) Short Definition: a calf Definition: a calf, heifer, young
bull. ... Probably strengthened for oschos (a shoot); a young bullock -- calf. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3448.htm - 6k

7794. shor -- a head of cattle (bullock, ox, etc.)
... bullock, cow, ox. From shuwr; a bullock (as a traveller) -- bull(-ock), cow, ox,
wall (by mistake for shuwr). see HEBREW shuwr. see HEBREW shuwr. 7793, 7794. ...
/hebrew/7794.htm - 6k

6499. par -- young bull, steer
... Or par {pawr}; from parar; a bullock (apparently as breaking forth in wild strength,
or perhaps as dividing the hoof) -- (+ young) bull(-ock), calf, ox. ...
/hebrew/6499.htm - 6k

8450. tor -- a bullock
... turtle dove. (Aramaic) corresponding (by permutation) to showr; a bull -- bullock,
ox. see HEBREW showr. 8449, 8450. tor. 8451 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/8450.htm - 6k

1121. ben -- son
... 7), bough (2), breed (1), brothers* (1), builders (1), bull* (21), bulls ... Egypt-)
(Grec-)ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf ...
/hebrew/1121.htm - 8k

Concerning the Festivals; and How Each Day of Such Festival is to ...
... With this goat was burnt a bull, not brought by the people, but by the high ... was laid
aside, and then, as we said before, they sacrificed to God a bullock, a ram ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 10 concerning the festivals.htm

The Burnt Offering a Picture and a Prophecy
... for him, to make atonement for him.5. And he shall kill the bullock before the Lord ...
pair of pigeons went up with as sweet an odour as the rich man's young bull. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the burnt offering a picture.htm

The Story of God's Mighty Acts
... the Lord be God, follow him, but if Baal, then follow him." And again: "Choose one
bullock for yourselves ... When the Pope sent his bull to Luther, Luther burned it ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the story of gods mighty.htm

Introduction.
... and the sheep and wild animals, the Messiah appears under the figure of a white
Bull. ... and I saw that a white Bullock was born, having great horns, and all the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/introduction.htm

This HomilyWas Delivered in the Old Church of Antioch
... For even as a young bullock [1012] linked to a bull, so he drew the yoke along with
him, to whatever part of the world he went: and did not draw it the less on ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily i this homily was.htm

Of the Priesthood of Aaron.
... sacrifices in the open court of the tabernacle, as God commanded him; a bull, a
ram ... They brought also a young bullock, and a ram, with a lamb of a year old, for ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 of the priesthood.htm

La Brea
... The explanation savoured somewhat of a 'bull'; for what a volcano could do to pitch ...
A bullock-cart, laden with pitch, came jolting down past us; and we observed ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter viii la brea.htm

The Battle of the Books, 1749-1755.
... entitled, "Acta Fratrum Unitatis in Anglia." In this volume he took the bull by
the ... In Bullock Smithy is a row of cottages named "Chapel Houses," where now the ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter xiii the battle of.htm

The Saints' Privilege and Profit;
... they are represented. What is a sheep, a bull, an ox, or calf, to Christ,
or their blood to the blood of Christ? What is Jerusalem ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the saints privilege and profit.htm

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