Bull

Holman Bible Dictionary

abbir par shor

The bull was the symbol of great productivity in the ancient world and was a sign of great strength. Moses portrayed the future strength of Joseph with the term “ shor ” ( Deuteronomy 33:17 ). The king of Assyria boasted of his great strength with the term “ abbir ” ( Isaiah 10:13 ). The most frequent use of the bull in the Old Testament was as a sacrificial animal. Leviticus specifies that no castrated animal could be so used and that the animal must be at least eight days old ( Leviticus 22:17-28 ). The bull is specified as the sacrificial animal for a peace offering ( Exodus 24:5 ), a burnt offering ( Judges 6:26 ), and as a sin offering ( Ezekiel 43:19 ). On the other hand, the sacrificial animal is not so restricted in other passages ( Leviticus 22:23;  Numbers 23:14 ). The bull was used most frequently in connection with the inauguration of the sacrificial system or with sacrifices on special days. It was used in connection with the consecration of the priests ( Exodus 29:1-37 ); at the dedication of the altar of the tabernacle ( Numbers 7:1 ); for the purification of the Levites ( Numbers 8:5-22 ); at the beginning of the month (New Moon [  Numbers 28:11-15 ]); the Feast of Weeks ( Numbers 28:26-31 ). The Feast of Booths had the distinction of requiring the largest numbers of bulls (seventy-one [  Numbers 29:12-40 ]).

The bull may have been introduced into the cultic system of Israel from the practice of her neighbors. It was a widespread practice in the region in which Israel resided. In the Canaanite religion, the chief of the assembly was called “father bull El.” The bull was closely associated with Baal and may have influenced Jeroboam to set up the golden bulls at Bethel and Dan ( 1 Kings 12:28 ). The bronze sea in the courtyard of the temple in Jerusalem was resting on the back of twelve bronze bulls.

Bryce Sandlin

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

the male of the beeve kind; and it is to be recollected that the Hebrews never castrated animals. There are several words translated "bull" in Scripture, of which the following is a list, with the meaning of each:

שור , a bove, or cow, of any age. תאו , the wild bull, oryx, or buffalo, occurs only  Deuteronomy 14:5; and in  Isaiah 51:20 , תוא , with the interchange of the two last letters. אבירי , a word implying strength, translated "bulls,"   Psalms 22:12;  Psalms 50:13;  Psalms 68:30;  Isaiah 34:7;  Jeremiah 46:15 . בקר , herds, horned cattle of full age. פר , a full grown bull, or cow, fit for propagating. עגל , a full grown, plump young bull; and in the feminine, a heifer. תור , Chaldee taur, and Latin taurus; the ox accustomed to the yoke: occurs only in   Ezra 6:9;  Ezra 6:17;  Ezra 7:17; Daniel 4:25, 32, 33; 22:29, 30.

This animal was reputed by the Hebrews to be clean, and was generally made use of by them for sacrifices. The Egyptians had a particular veneration for it, and paid divine honours to it; and the Jews imitated them in the worship of the golden calves or bulls, in the wilderness, and in the kingdom of Israel. The wild bull is found in the Syrian and Arabian deserts. It is frequently mentioned by the Arabian poets, who are copious in their descriptions of hunting it, and borrow many images from its beauty, strength, swiftness, and the loftiness of its horns. They represent it as fierce and untameable; as being white on the back, and having large shining eyes.

Bulls, in a figurative and allegorical sense, are taken for powerful, fierce, and insolent enemies,  Psalms 22:12;  Psalms 68:30 .

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Used as synonymous with ox in the KJV. Βaaqaar is the Hebrew for horned cattle fit for the plow. Τor is one head of horned cattle, akin to our steer. Εgel , a calf, properly of the first year; specially one offered in sacrifice.  Hosea 14:2; "so shall we render the calves of our lips;" instead of sacrifices of calves, which we cannot offer to Thee in exile, we present the praises of our lips. The exile, by its enforced cessation of sacrifices during Israel's separation from the temple, the only lawful place of offering them, prepared the people for the superseding of all sacrifices by the one great antitypical sacrifice; henceforth "the sacrifice of praise continually, the fruit of our lips," is what God requires ( Hebrews 13:15).

The Abriym express "strong bulls" ( Psalms 22:12;  Psalms 50:13;  Psalms 68:30). Caesar describes wild bulls of the Hercynian forest, strong and swift, almost as large as elephants, and savage. The Assyrian remains depict similarly the wild urns. The ancient forest round London was infested with them. The wild bull ( Toh ) in  Isaiah 51:20, "thy sons lie at the head of all the streets as a wild bull in a net," seems to be of the antelope kind, Αntilope Bubalis , the "wild ox" of the Arabs; often depicted in Egyptian remains as chased not for slaughter, but for capture, it being easily domesticated.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): (n.) A constellation of the zodiac between Aries and Gemini. It contains the Pleiades.

(2): (n.) One who operates in expectation of a rise in the price of stocks, or in order to effect such a rise. See 4th Bear, n., 5.

(3): (a.) Of or pertaining to a bull; resembling a bull; male; large; fierce.

(4): (v. i.) To be in heat; to manifest sexual desire as cows do.

(5): (n.) Taurus, the second of the twelve signs of the zodiac.

(6): (v. t.) To endeavor to raise the market price of; as, to bull railroad bonds; to bull stocks; to bull Lake Shore; to endeavor to raise prices in; as, to bull the market. See 1st Bull, n., 4.

(7): (v. i.) A seal. See Bulla.

(8): (v. i.) A letter, edict, or respect, of the pope, written in Gothic characters on rough parchment, sealed with a bulla, and dated "a die Incarnationis," i. e., "from the day of the Incarnation." See Apostolical brief, under Brief.

(9): (v. i.) A grotesque blunder in language; an apparent congruity, but real incongruity, of ideas, contained in a form of expression; so called, perhaps, from the apparent incongruity between the dictatorial nature of the pope's bulls and his professions of humility.

(10): (n.) One who, or that which, resembles a bull in character or action.

(11): (n.) The male of any species of cattle (Bovidae); hence, the male of any large quadruped, as the elephant; also, the male of the whale.

King James Dictionary

BULL, n.

1. The male of the Bos, or bovine genus of quadrupeds, of which cow is the female. 2. In a scriptural sense, an enemy,powerful, fierce and violent.

Many bulls have compassed me. Psalms.

3. Taurus, one of the twelve signs of the zodiac.

BULL, n. L. bulla, a boss, and an ornament worn on a child's neck. This name was given to the seal which was appended to the edicts and briefs of the Pope,and in process of time, applied to the edict itself.

1. A letter, edict or rescript of the Pope, published or transmitted to the churches over which he is head, containing some decree, order or decision. It is used chiefly in matters of justice or of grace. If the former, the lead or seal is hung by a hempen cord if the latter,by a silken thread. The lead or bull is impressed on one side with the heads of St. Peter and St. Paul on the other with the name of the Pope and the year of his pontificate. The writing is in the old, round Gothic letter and the instrument has about it a cross with some text of scripture, or religious motto.

The Golden Bull, so called from its golden seal, is an edict or imperial constitution, made by the Emperor Charles V., containing the fundamental law of the German Empire.

Leaden Bulls were sent by the Emperors of Constantinople to patriarchs and princes and by the grandees of the Empire of France, Sicily, &c., and by patriarchs and bishops.

Waxen bulls were in frequent use with the Greek Emperors, who thus sealed letters to their relations.

1. A blunder or contradiction.

BULL, a prefix, signifies a bull, or large, or having a large head.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Bull. A term 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.

The Hebrew word, Kine , is used in the Bible as the plural of cow. In  Isaiah 51:20, the "wild bull" ("wild ox" in  Deuteronomy 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.

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Psalm 22:12 (b) This name is applied by the Saviour to those who in violent hatred surrounded the Cross to kill Him. They acted like infuriated animals. They released their hatred in violence against the precious Son of GOD.

 Psalm 68:30 (b) This is a type used to represent: the strong, active, vicious enemies of Israel. (See also  Isaiah 34:7).

 Isaiah 51:20 (a) The type here is used to present the people of Israel who were furious against GOD because He had poured out His wrath upon Jerusalem.

 Jeremiah 50:11 (a) The enemies of GOD are compared to these violent wild animals who would gloat over Israel in their victorious march through the land.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

as distinguished from "Ox," occurs but once in the Bible ( Job 21:10), as the translation of שׁוֹר ( Shor, from his Strength ) , which elsewhere denotes any animal of the ox species, and is variously translated accordingly. (See Bullock), etc. Other terms occasionally thus rendered are אִבַּיר ( Abbir', Mighty ) ,  Psalms 50:13;  Psalms 68:30;  Isaiah 34:7;  Jeremiah 50:11; בָּקָר ( Bakar', a Beeve ) ,  Jeremiah 52:20; פִּר or פָּר ( Par, a Bullock ) ,  Genesis 32:15;  Psalms 22:12; and in the New Test. Ταῦρος ,  Hebrews 9:13;  Hebrews 10:4; "ox" in  Matthew 22:4;  Acts 14:13. (See Beeve); (See Beast). The תּוֹא ( To ) , or "wild bull" of  Isaiah 51:20, is but another form of תְּאוֹ ( Tea', "wild ox,"  Deuteronomy 14:5), a large species of Oryx or ox-deer. (See Antelope).

The rearing of horned cattle was encouraged by the people of Israel. These animals were protected in some cases by express provisions of the law; they were held clean, being the usual sacrifice of consideration, and the chief article of flesh diet of the population. (See Food). It is contended that the castration of no animal was practiced among the Hebrews (Josephus, Ant. 4, 8, 40). If that was the case, other methods than those generally alluded to must have been adopted to break oxen to labor; for the mere application of a metal ring through the cartilage of the nostrils, although it might have greatly restrained the ferocity of the beasts, would not assuredly have rendered them sufficiently docile to the yoke and goad of a people whose chief dependence for food was in the produce of the plough. (See Ox).

Judging from Egyptian remains, there were two great breeds of straight- backed cattle, the long-horned and the short-horned; and in Upper Egypt at least, there was one without horns. Another hunched species existed, which served to draw chariots, yoked in the same manner as the Brahminee bulls of India are at present. It is still abundant in Nubia, and, under the name of Bos sacer, or Indicus, notwithstanding it breeds with the common species, is yet considered distinct. Its calf is born with teeth; and, although in Central Africa, India, and China it is mixed with the other species, and when low in flesh is almost deprived of its hunch, the natural characteristics nevertheless continue; and from the evidence of ancient Egyptian pictures and written documents it must have been propagated for above 3000 years. In Egypt the straight-backed or common cattle appear, from the same evidence, to have formed a very handsome breed with lunate horns. They were generally spotted black or red upon a white ground, and there were, besides, others white, red, or black. They all served for common use, but those without red were selected when new sacred bulls, Apis or Mnevis, were to be supplied; for they alone had the colors which could show the marks made by chance or by art, and required to fit the animal for the purpose intended. See APIS. In Palestine the breed of cattle was most likely in ancient times, as it still is, inferior in size to the Egyptian; and provender must have been abundant indeed if the number of beasts sacrificed at the great Jewish festivals, mentioned in Josephus, be correct, and could be sustained for a succession of years. (See Sacrifice).

Unless the name be taken synonymously with that of other species, there is not in the Bible any clear indication of the buffalo. (See Unicorn). The Asiatic species was not known in Greece till the time of Aristotle, who first speaks of it by the name of the Arachosian ox. No species of Bos Bubalus is known even at this day in Arabia, although travelers speak of meeting them in Palestine in a domesticated state (See Buffalo); but in Egypt the Asiatic species has been introduced in consequence of the Mohammedan conquests in the East. The indigenous buffaloes of Africa, amounting, at least, to two very distinct species, appear to have belonged to the south and west of that continent, and only at a later period to have approached Egypt as far as the present Bornou; for none are figured on any known monument in either Upper or Lower Egypt. With regard, however, to wild oxen of the true Taurine genus, some may, at a very remote period, have been found in Bashan, evidently the origin of the name, a region where mountain, wood, and water, all connecting the Syrian Libanus with Taurus, were favorable to their existence; but the wild bulls of the district, mentioned in  Psalms 22:12, and in various other passages, appear, nevertheless, to refer to domestic species, probably left to propagate without much human superintendence, except annually marking the increase and selecting a portion for consumption, in the same manner as is still practiced in some parts of Europe. For although the words "fat bulls of Bashan close me in on every side" are an indication of wild manners, the word "fat" somewhat weakens the impression; and we know that the half- wild white breed of Scotland likewise retains the character of encompassing objects that excite their distrust. It was therefore natural that in Palestine wild gregarious instincts should have still remained in operation, where real dangers beset herds, which in the time of David were still exposed to lions in the hills around them. (See Calf). Baal (q.v.) is said to have been worshipped in the form of a beeve, and Moloch to have had a calf's or steer's head.

Bull, in a figurative sense, is taken for powerful, fierce, insolent enemies. " ‘ Fat bulls (bulls of Bashan) surrounded me on every side," says the Psalmist ( Psalms 22:12;  Psalms 68:30). "Rebuke the beast of the reeds (Auth. Vers. "spearmen"), the multitude of the bulls;" Lord, smite in thy wrath these animals which feed in large pastures, these herds of bulls (Psalm 63:30). Isaiah says ( Isaiah 34:7), "The Lord shall cause his victims to be slain in the land of Edom; a terrible slaughter will he make; he will kill the unicorns and the lulls," meaning those proud and cruel princes who oppressed the weak. (See Cattle).

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

An edict of the Pope, so called from a leaden seal attached to it.