Topical Bible: Cows

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Cows, also referred to as cattle or kine in various translations, hold significant agricultural and symbolic importance throughout the Bible. They are often associated with wealth, sustenance, and divine provision, reflecting their central role in the agrarian society of ancient Israel.

Agricultural Significance:

Cows were vital to the economy and daily life in biblical times. They provided milk, meat, and hides, and were used as beasts of burden. The possession of cattle was a sign of wealth and prosperity. In Genesis 13:2, we read about Abram's wealth: "And Abram had become extremely wealthy in livestock and silver and gold." The abundance of cattle was a blessing from God, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:4, "The fruit of your womb will be blessed, as well as the produce of your land and the offspring of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks."

Sacrificial System:

Cows also played a crucial role in the sacrificial system established by God for the Israelites. The offering of cattle was a common practice, as seen in Leviticus 1:3, "If one's 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, that he may be accepted by the LORD." The sacrifice of cattle was a means of atonement and worship, symbolizing the surrender of one's best to God.

Symbolism and Imagery:

Cows are used symbolically in various biblical passages. In Genesis 41, Pharaoh's dream of seven fat cows and seven lean cows, interpreted by Joseph, symbolized seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine. This imagery underscores the themes of divine revelation and providence.

In the prophetic literature, cows are sometimes used to depict nations or peoples. For example, in Amos 4:1, the "cows of Bashan" are a metaphor for the wealthy women of Samaria who oppress the poor and crush the needy.

Moral and Spiritual Lessons:

The Bible also uses cows to teach moral and spiritual lessons. In the account of the golden calf (Exodus 32), the Israelites' idolatry is starkly contrasted with their covenant relationship with God. This incident serves as a warning against the worship of false gods and the consequences of turning away from the LORD.

Cultural Context:

Understanding the role of cows in the biblical narrative requires an appreciation of the cultural and historical context of the ancient Near East. Cattle were integral to the pastoral lifestyle, and their care and management were essential skills for survival and prosperity. The biblical text reflects this reality, using cows as a lens through which to view human relationships with God, community, and the land.

In summary, cows in the Bible are more than mere livestock; they are symbols of God's provision, instruments of worship, and vehicles for teaching profound spiritual truths. Their presence in the biblical narrative highlights the interconnectedness of faith, economy, and daily life in the ancient world.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) Plural of Cow.

Strong's Hebrew

6510. parah -- a heifer, cow
... 6509, 6510. parah. 6511 . a heifer, cow. Transliteration: parah Phonetic
Spelling: (paw-raw') Short Definition: cows. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/6510.htm - 6k

1241. baqar -- cattle, herd, an ox
... Definition cattle, herd, an ox NASB Word Usage bull (1), bull* (21), bulls (9),
bulls* (5), calf* (2), calves* (1), cattle (13), cow's (1), cows (1), herd (20 ...
/hebrew/1241.htm - 6k

Library

A Prisoner who Became a Mighty Ruler
... Two years later Pharaoh had a dream: as he stood by the river Nile, he saw coming
up from the water seven cows, well fed and fat, for they had been feeding in ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/a prisoner who became a.htm

Lost in the Woods.
... LOST IN THE WOODS. As Leroy was too young to drive the cows home in the
evening, Bessie enjoyed many a long walk in search of them. ...
/.../byrum/the value of a praying mother/chapter xix lost in the.htm

Joseph, a Servant, a Prisoner, and a Saint.
... He thought he stood by the river of Egypt, and saw seven cows looking well
kept and fat, came up out of the river. Behind them came ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter vii joseph a servant.htm

On the Holy Ghost and his Descent Upon the Apostles
... (Gen.41). He saw in the dream seven fat cows coming up out of a river, followed
by seven lean cows; and the lean cows ate up the fat cows. ...
/.../kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/lesson 9 on the holy.htm

The Ark among the Philistines
... Now therefore prepare a new cart and two milch cows that have never worn a yoke,
and fasten the cows to the cart, but leave their calves behind them at home. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/the ark among the philistines.htm

Chapter xli
... that Pharaoh was dreaming, and, lo, he was standing by the side of the Nile; and,
lo, from the Nile there were coming up seven beautiful fat cows, and they ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xli.htm

How Great the Power was of the Name of Jesus in the Old Testament.
... enemies of Ashdod, [2464] and a terrible and incurable malady had broken out among
them, they resolved to place it on a cart to which they yoked cows that had ...
/.../chapter cxxxii how great the power.htm

The Story of Joseph and his Coat of Many Colors
... "In my first dream," said Pharaoh, "I was standing by the river: and I saw seven
fat and handsome cows come up from the river to feed in the grass. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of joseph and.htm

The Prairie Pasture
... Their playground was the vast dooryard extending far out over the prairie. In
time they were given the responsibility of herding the cows. ...
/.../byrum/how john became a man/chapter i the prairie pasture.htm

Joseph and his Brethren.
... He was standing on the banks of a river, and saw seven fat cows come up out of the
water and feed in a meadow; afterwards seven very lean cows came up and ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/joseph and his brethren.htm

Thesaurus

Cows (33 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Cows (33 Occurrences). Genesis 32:15 thirty milk camels
and their colts, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals. ...
/c/cows.htm - 15k

Milch-cows (1 Occurrence)
Milch-cows. Milch, Milch-cows. Milcom . Multi-Version Concordance
Milch-cows (1 Occurrence). 1 Samuel 6:7 Now therefore ...
/m/milch-cows.htm - 6k

Cart (12 Occurrences)
... in a new cart, probably a rude construction, with solid wooden wheels like that
still used in Western Asia, which was drawn by two milch cows, which conveyed ...
/c/cart.htm - 15k

Yoked (10 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 6:7 So now, take and make ready a new cart, and two cows which have never
come under the yoke, and have the cows yoked to the cart, and take their ...
/y/yoked.htm - 9k

Kine (24 Occurrences)
... Here the word denotes "buffaloes," which fed on the reeds and sedge by the
river's brink. Noah Webster's Dictionary. (n. pl.) Cows. Int. ...
/k/kine.htm - 16k

Poor-looking (2 Occurrences)
... Genesis 41:3 And after them seven other cows came out of the Nile, poor-looking
and thin; and they were by the side of the other cows. (BBE). ...
/p/poor-looking.htm - 6k

Calves (34 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 6:7 "Now therefore take and prepare yourselves a new cart, and two milk
cows, on which there has come no yoke; and tie the cows to the cart, and bring ...
/c/calves.htm - 19k

Milk (66 Occurrences)
... 13:5; Joshua 5:6; Isaiah 7:15, 22; Jeremiah 11:5). Sheep (Deuteronomy 32:14) and
goats (Proverbs 27:27) and camels (Genesis 32:15), as well as cows, are made ...
/m/milk.htm - 34k

Meal (288 Occurrences)
... (BBE NAS NIV). Genesis 41:4 And the seven thin cows made a meal of the
seven fat cows. Then Pharaoh came out of his sleep. (BBE). ...
/m/meal.htm - 36k

Nile (37 Occurrences)
... NIV). Genesis 41:2 And out of the Nile came seven cows, good-looking and fat,
and their food was the river-grass. (BBE NAS RSV). Genesis ...
/n/nile.htm - 29k

Resources

What are some biblical examples of dream interpretation? | GotQuestions.org

Why does the Bible say that rabbits chew the cud? Is this an error in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What were the emerods God afflicted the Philistines with in 1 Samuel 5? | GotQuestions.org

Cows: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Cows (33 Occurrences)

Genesis 32:15
thirty milk camels and their colts, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals.
(WEB ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 33:13
Jacob said to him, "My lord knows that the children are tender, and that the flocks and herds with me have their young, and if they overdrive them one day, all the flocks will die.
(See NIV)

Genesis 41:2
And out of the Nile came seven cows, good-looking and fat, and their food was the river-grass.
(BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:3
And after them seven other cows came out of the Nile, poor-looking and thin; and they were by the side of the other cows.
(BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:4
And the seven thin cows made a meal of the seven fat cows. Then Pharaoh came out of his sleep.
(BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:18
And out of the Nile came seven cows, fat and good-looking, and their food was the river-grass;
(BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:19
Then after them came seven other cows, very thin and poor-looking, worse than any I ever saw in the land of Egypt;
(BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:20
And the thin cows made a meal of the seven fat cows who came up first;
(BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:21
And even with the fat cows inside them they seemed as bad as before. And so I came out of my sleep.
(BBE)

Genesis 41:26
The seven fat cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years: the two have the same sense.
(BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:27
The seven thin and poor-looking cows who came up after them are seven years; and the seven heads of grain, dry and wasted by the east wind, are seven years when there will be no food.
(BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 25:5
rams' skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
(See NIV)

Exodus 26:14
You shall make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
(See NIV)

Exodus 35:7
rams' skins dyed red, sea cow hides, acacia wood,
(See NIV)

Exodus 35:23
Everyone, with whom was found blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goats' hair, rams' skins dyed red, and sea cow hides, brought them.
(See NIV)

Exodus 36:19
He made a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of sea cow hides above.
(See NIV)

Exodus 39:34
the covering of rams' skins dyed red, the covering of sea cow hides, the veil of the screen,
(See NIV)

Numbers 4:6
and shall put a covering of sealskin on it, and shall spread over it a cloth all of blue, and shall put in its poles.
(See NIV)

Numbers 4:8
They shall spread on them a scarlet cloth, and cover the same with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles.
(See NIV)

Numbers 4:10
They shall put it and all its vessels within a covering of sealskin, and shall put it on the frame.
(See NIV)

Numbers 4:11
"On the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth, and cover it with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles.
(See NIV)

Numbers 4:12
"They shall take all the vessels of ministry, with which they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a blue cloth, and cover them with a covering of sealskin, and shall put them on the frame.
(See NIV)

Numbers 4:14
They shall put on it all its vessels, with which they minister about it, the fire pans, the flesh hooks, the shovels, and the basins; all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread on it a covering of sealskin, and put in its poles.
(See NIV)

Numbers 4:25
they shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle, and the Tent of Meeting, its covering, and the covering of sealskin that is above on it, and the screen for the door of the Tent of Meeting,
(See NIV)

Deuteronomy 32:14
Butter from his cows and milk from his sheep, with fat of lambs and sheep of Bashan, and goats, and the heart of the grain; and for your drink, wine from the blood of the grape.
(BBE WBS NAS)

1 Samuel 6:7
"Now therefore take and prepare yourselves a new cart, and two milk cows, on which there has come no yoke; and tie the cows to the cart, and bring their calves home from them;
(WEB BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 6:10
The men did so, and took two milk cows, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home;
(WEB BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 6:12
The cows took the straight way by the way to Beth Shemesh; they went along the highway, lowing as they went, and didn't turn aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.
(WEB BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 6:14
The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they split the wood of the cart, and offered up the cows for a burnt offering to Yahweh.
(WEB BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 17:29
And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of cows, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people are hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.
(WBS NIV)

Job 21:10
Their bulls breed without fail. Their cows calve, and don't miscarry.
(WEB NIV)

Psalms 144:14
Our oxen are well weighted down; our cows give birth safely; there is no going out, and there is no cry of sorrow in our open places.
(BBE)

Amos 4:1
Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husbands, "Bring us drinks!"
(WEB BBE NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Cows

Related Terms

Cows (33 Occurrences)

Excrement (3 Occurrences)

Coyly (1 Occurrence)

Cattle (277 Occurrences)

Trumpets (52 Occurrences)

Feast (209 Occurrences)

Dung (27 Occurrences)

Therewith (53 Occurrences)

Thereon (90 Occurrences)