Greek word · G3448

μόσχος

moschos

calf

A young animal of the cattle kind: a calf, a young bull, a bullock. In the Greek Old Testament it often translates Hebrew words for sacrificial bulls and calves (par, ʿēgel).

Appears 6 times in 6 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

μόσχος, -ου, ὁ

[in LXX chiefly for פַּר, also for שׁוֹר, עֵגֶל. etc. ;]

1. a young shoot or twig.

2. ὁ, ἡ, μ., offspring;

(a) of men;

(b) of animals; most frequently (as always in LXX), a calf, bullock, heifer: Luke 15:23, 27 15:30, Hebrews 9:12, 19 Revelation 4:7.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Revelation 4:7

Range of meaning

A young animal of the cattle kind: a calf, a young bull, a bullock. In the Greek Old Testament it often translates Hebrew words for sacrificial bulls and calves (par, ʿēgel).

Against the English

KJV, NASB, BSB, WEB and YLT have 'calf'. NIV, ESV and NLT have 'ox'.

How it drifted

In modern English 'calf' suggests a small, soft newborn. The Greek word covers a young bull in its full strength, and in this setting it renders Ezekiel's 'ox'.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Ezekiel 1:10 the Hebrew 'face of an ox' (shôr) becomes prosōpon moschou. In Leviticus 4 the Greek uses moschos for the bull of the sin offering. In Luke 15:23 it is the 'fattened calf'.

From the study of Luke 15:23

Range of meaning

Moschos means a young animal, usually of cattle: a calf, heifer or young bull. Siteutos (from siteuō, 'to feed with grain') describes an animal fattened in a stall on grain rather than left to graze, and so kept for a special meal.

Against the English

'Fatted calf' (KJV) and 'fattened calf' (most modern versions) are accurate. What English readers may miss is the scale. 'Calf' can suggest something small, but a grain-fed young bovine gave a great deal of meat. It was the biggest meal a well-off farmer could put on.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint), moschos is a common word for a young bull, including sacrificial bulls (e.g. Lev 4). Abraham hurries to prepare 'a calf, tender and good' for his honoured guests (Gen 18:7). Jer 46:21 (LXX 26:21) uses the same phrase, 'fattened calves' (moschoi siteutoi). Prov 15:17 sets a 'stall-fed ox' against a dinner of vegetables, the stall-fed animal standing for luxury. Amos 6:4 condemns the rich who eat 'calves from the stall'. Outside the Bible, Greek writers use siteutos for animals fattened for the table.

Similar words

Where it appears

Luke · 3

  1. Luke 15:23 μόσχον calf

    Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate.

    Here: A young bovine, a calf or yearling bull. In a village, slaughtering cattle meant a very large amount of meat. It was far more than a family could eat, and much grander than the young goat the older brother complains he never got (v. 29).

  2. Luke 15:27 μόσχον calf

    ‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’

  3. Luke 15:30 μόσχον.¶ calf.

    But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

    Here: A calf. Its meat would feed a whole village. It contrasts with the 'young goat' (eriphos) of v29, a far smaller animal, enough for a few friends.

Hebrews · 2

  1. Hebrews 9:12 μόσχων calves

    He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.

    Here: The Greek Old Testament's word for the bull the high priest offered for his own sins and his household's (Lev 16:3, 6, 11). It means a young bull in its prime, not a baby calf.

  2. Hebrews 9:19 μόσχων of calves

    For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people,

    Here: Young bulls. Exodus 24:5 says young men offered bulls (Greek Old Testament: moscharia) as burnt offerings and peace offerings. Hebrews uses the same word for the Day of Atonement victims in 9:12.

Revelation · 1

  1. Revelation 4:7 μόσχῳ, as a calf,

    The first living creature was like a lion, the second like a calf, the third had a face like a man, and the fourth was like an eagle in flight.

    Here: A young bull or bullock, not a small baby animal. The Greek Ezekiel uses this word for the 'ox' face (Hebrew shôr) in Ezekiel 1:10. The animal stands for strength among the domestic animals and was the most valuable animal offered in sacrifice.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.