μόσχος (G3448) — Greek Lexicon

μόσχος

móschos

G3448 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A young bovine, especially a calf or young bull; primarily denotes a young male domestic cow, usually not yet mature, and often used with cultic, sacrificial, or agricultural connotations. In some contexts can generically denote a young animal (as calf) of the ox species, but typically a male.

Semantic Range

calf, young bull, youthful bovine animal, sacrificial calf, metaphorically (rarely in later Greek) a youthful figure

Root / Etymology

Root: μοσχ-; possibly related to the more general Greek mōs (shoot, sprout, sucker, especially of a plant) or Semitic origin (compare Hebrew מִשְׁחָה for ointment, though this is uncertain); the etymology points to the idea of something young or sprouting, but the precise root connection remains debated.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, μόσχος referred to a young bull or calf, of either gender but typically male, often used in agricultural or ritual contexts. In the Septuagint, the term commonly translates Hebrew עֵגֶל (eg̱el, calf), especially in passages related to sacrifice (Exodus, Leviticus) or idolatry (e.g., the golden calf incident). In the New Testament (e.g., Luke 15:23, 27, 30; Hebrews 9:12-13), μόσχος is used for the 'calf' in the parable of the prodigal son and for sacrificial animals, with sacrificial overtones strongly foregrounded. Over time, μόσχος rarely applied to wild bovine animals and was distinct from related words such as ταῦρος (adult bull) and δάμαλις (heifer/female calf). English translations typically render μόσχος as 'calf' or 'young bull,' often obscuring nuance of age, gender, or cultic use. Later Greek sometimes used μόσχος metaphorically, but in Koine and the biblical era, the word retained its primary, concrete meaning.

Translation Consistency

primary "calf" 4 occurrences

μόσχος overwhelmingly denotes a young bovine (usually a young bull or sacrificial young ox). "Calf" is the natural, concise English noun that best captures the typical semantic range (sacrificial and agricultural contexts) and will render consistently across forms.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):

"young bulls" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably strengthened for (a shoot); a young bullock:--calf.

Root Family

μόσχος (moschos) — young bovine, calf, young bull

Root μοσχ- young bovine, calf, young bull

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G3448-02`	μόσχον	moschon	`N ACC M SG`	calf	a young bull	a calf	5
`G3448-01`	μόσχῳ	moscho	`N DAT M SG`	a calf	to a young bull	a calf	1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G3448-02`	Luke 15:23	μόσχον	moschon	`N ACC M SG`	calf	a young bull	a calf
`G3448-02`	Luke 15:27	μόσχον	moschon	`N ACC M SG`	calf	a young bull	a calf
`G3448-02`	Luke 15:30	μόσχον	moschon	`N ACC M SG`	calf	a young bull	a calf
`G3448-02`	Hebrews 9:12	μόσχων	moschon	`N GEN M PL`	calves	a young bull	of young bulls
`G3448-02`	Hebrews 9:19	μόσχων	moschon	`N GEN M PL`	calves	a young bull	young bulls
`G3448-01`	Revelation 4:7	μόσχῳ	moscho	`N DAT M SG`	a calf	to a young bull	a calf

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