μόσχος G3448
Calf, young bull; a young bovine used in sacrifice or celebration.
Moschos refers to a young bovine animal, whether a calf or young bull, appearing in both celebratory and sacrificial contexts in the New Testament. The most memorable occurrence is in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, where the father orders the fatted calf to be slaughtered for the homecoming feast (Luke 15:23, 27, 30), a vivid image of lavish, joyful welcome. In Hebrews, the term shifts to the sacrificial register: the blood of calves and goats was the means of Old Covenant purification (Hebrews 9:12, 19), now surpassed by Christ's own blood.
Senses
1. calf, young bull — A young bovine animal, a calf or young bull, used in the NT for both festive slaughter and ritual sacrifice. In Luke 15:23, 27, and 30, the fatted moschos is killed to celebrate the prodigal son's return, representing extravagant generosity and joy at restoration. In Hebrews 9:12 and 9:19, calves appear in the sacrificial context of the old covenant's blood rituals, which the author contrasts with Christ's superior offering. Spanish 'becerro' and French 'veau' both denote a young calf, while German 'Kalb' carries the same meaning. The grammatical variation between singular and plural across the occurrences reflects the difference between the single celebratory calf of Luke and the multiple sacrificial animals of Hebrews. 6×
AR["العِجْلَ", "بِـ-عِجْلٍ", "عُجولٍ"]·ben["বাছুর", "বাছুরটি", "বাছুরের", "বাছুরের;"]·DE["Kalb", "μόσχον"]·EN["a-calf", "calf", "calves"]·FR["veau"]·heb["לְ-עֵגֶל", "עֲגָלִים", "עֵגֶל"]·HI["बछड़ा", "बछड़ा!", "बछड़े-को;", "बछड़ों", "बछड़ों,"]·ID["anak-anak-lembu", "anak-lembu", "anak-lembu;"]·IT["moschon", "moschō", "moschōn"]·jav["pedhet", "pedhet!", "sapi", "sapi-anom"]·KO["송아지", "송아지들의", "송아지를"]·PT["a-bezerro", "bezerro", "bezerros"]·RU["тельца", "тельцов", "тельцу;"]·ES["a-becerro", "becerro", "becerros"]·SW["ndama", "ndama;"]·TR["bozmaya", "buzagıların", "dananı"]·urd["بچھڑوں-کا", "بچھڑوں-کے", "بچھڑے", "بچھڑے-کے"]
Related Senses
H6629 1. flock, sheep/goats (small livestock) (274×)H1241 1. cattle, herd (bovine livestock) (183×)H0352a 1. ram (male sheep) (156×)H6499 1. young bull, bullock (130×)H3532 1. lamb, young male sheep (105×)H2543 1. donkey (male ass) (96×)H7794 1. ox, bull (79×)H7462b 1. shepherd (agent noun) (76×)H5795 1. she-goat(s), female goat(s) (68×)H7462b 2. to shepherd, tend, pasture (60×)H1581 1. camel (domestic animal) (54×)H0738b 1. lion (46×)G4263 1. sheep (39×)H5739 1. flock or herd of livestock (38×)H5695 1. calf, young bull (35×)H0738a 1. lion (large predatory feline) (34×)H0860 1. female donkey (34×)H3611 1. dog (animal) (32×)H3715a 1. young lion, lion cub (31×)G0721 1. Lamb (29×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
μόσχος, ὁ, ἡ, __B calf, young bull, which form the god Apis was believed to assume, Refs 5th c.BC+: as feminine, heifer, young cow, μόσχους ἀμέλγειν Refs 5th c.BC+; πεζαὶ μ., ={ἑταῖραι}, Refs 5th c.BC+; ᾄδειν ἐπὶ μόσχῳ for the prize of a calf (nisi to be read ἐπὶ Μόσχῳ), Refs 5th c.BC+ __B.2 metaphorically, boy, Refs 5th c.BC+: as feminine, girl, maid, Refs __B.3 any young animal, Refs; even of birds, μ. χελιδόνος Refs 5th c.BC+ __B.4 μ. θαλάσσιος seal, Refs