Original Word: בָּקָר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: baqar
Pronunciation: baw-KAR
Phonetic Spelling: (baw-kawr')
KJV: beeve, bull (+ -ock), + calf, + cow, great (cattle), + heifer, herd, kine, ox
NASB: oxen, herds, herd, cattle, bulls, ox, bull
Word Origin: [from H1239 (בָּקַר - seek)]

1. beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing)
2. collectively, a herd

bull, calf, cow, great cattle, heifer, herd,

From baqar; beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd -- beeve, bull (+ -ock), + calf, + cow, great (cattle), + heifer, herd, kine, ox.

see HEBREW baqar

Word Origin
from baqar
Definition
cattle, herd, an ox
NASB Translation
bull (1), bull* (21), bulls (9), bulls* (5), calf* (2), calves* (1), cattle (13), cow's (1), cows (1), herd (20), herds (27), ox (3), oxen (68).

בָּקָר₁₈₂ noun masculine^{1Ki 5:3} + (feminine^{Genesis 33:16; Job 1:14} compare Deuteronomy 32:14 2 Samuel 17:29) cattle, herd, ox (Arabic , Aramaic בַּקְרָא, בַּקְרְתָא, (compare also Hom^{NS 222 ff.}); name from ploughing, so Thes Lag^{BN 51} and others) — absolute ׳בּ Genesis 12:16 +; construct בְּקַר Numbers 7:88; suffix בְּקָֽרְךָ Genesis 45:10 +; בְּקָרֶ֑ךָ Exodus 20:24; Jeremiah 5:17; בְּקָרוֺ 1 Samuel 11:7; 2 Samuel 12:4; בְּקַרְכֶם Deuteronomy 12:6; בְּקָרָם Jeremiah 3:24 +; plural בְּקָרִים Amos 6:12 (al. read בקר ים) 2 Chronicles 4:3 (but read מְּקָעִים see "" 1 Kings 7:24 below); suffix בְּקָרֵינוּ Nehemiah 10:37; read בקריכם for בחוריכם 1 Samuel 8:16 ᵐ5 We Dr; —

1 mostly coll.

a. cattle, Generic (never plural in form) Genesis 12:6; Genesis 13:5; Genesis 20:14; Genesis 21:27; Genesis 24:35; Leviticus 1:2; Deuteronomy 8:13; 1 Samuel 11:5; Hosea 5:6; Joel 1:18; 1 Chronicles 27:29 (twice in verse) + often (frequently "" צאֹן); as grazing, 1 Chronicles 27:29 +; in simile ׳כַּבּ Job 40:15; Isaiah 11:7; Isaiah 65:25; as lowing (׳קוֺל הַבּ) 1 Samuel 15:14; מִקְנֵה בָקָרpossession of (i.e. property in) cattle Genesis 6:14; Genesis 47:17 (both J); ׳עֶדְרֵי ב Joel 1:18 herds of cattle; especially בֶּןבָּֿקָר son of cattle (i.e. belonging to the בקר), to denote a single ox, calf, etc.; as used for food Genesis 18:7 compare Genesis 18:8 (J); — in these probably = calf (see also 1 Samuel 14:32 בָּקָר וּבְנֵי בָקָר); usually for sacrifice (Hexateuch only P) Numbers 15:8,9; ׳בֶּןהַֿבּ Leviticus 1:5; appositive עֵגֶל Leviticus 9:2; — compare עֶגְלַת בָּקָר Deuteronomy 21:3; 1 Samuel 16:2; Isaiah 7:21; — mostly appositive מַּר Exodus 29:1 27t.; also plural מָּרִים בני בקר Numbers 28:11,19,27; Numbers 29:13,17 (on all these compare בֵּן); also indefinite cattle, oxen, of a number not specified Numbers 7:87,88 (in both enumerated as מָּרִים); Numbers 22:40; 1 Samuel 14:32; 1 Samuel 15:21; 1 Kings 1:9; 1 Kings 7:29 (twice in verse) (here of graven work) 1 Kings 8:5; 1 Chronicles 12:40; 2Chronicles 5:6; 18:2; Isaiah 22:13; Psalm 66:15; also as beasts of burden 1 Chronicles 12:40.

b. a particulur herd of cattle Genesis 18:7 (J); compare plural בְּקָרֵינוּ, our herds, only Nehemiah 10:37.

2 more individually, head of cattle, — yet always of more than one (Hexateuch mostly P; plural only Amos 6:12 2Chronicles 4:3 see above); of two Numbers 7:17 11t. Numbers 7; compare also ׳צֶמֶד ב yoke (pair) of oxen 1 Samuel 11:7 compare 1 Samuel 11:7, 1 Kings 19:21 compare 1 Kings 19:21 (ploughing, compare 1 Kings 19:19); also 2 Samuel 6:6 = 1 Chronicles 13:9 (drawing a cart, compare Numbers 7:3f.; 1 Samuel 6:7f.), 2 Samuel 24:22 = 1 Chronicles 21:33, 2 Samuel 24:22,24; 1 Kings 19:20; Amos 6:12 (plural); 500 yoke of oxen Job 1:3 compare Job 1:14; 1000yoke Job 42:12; further, of four Numbers 7:7; five Exodus 21:37 (תַּחַת הַשּׁוֺר); seven 2 Chronicles 29:22 ("" מָּרִים 2 Chronicles 29:21); eight Numbers 7:8; ten 1 Kings 5:3; twelve Numbers 7:3 (singly called שׁוֺר) compare Numbers 7:6; of the twelve brazen bulls beneath the sea in Solomon's temple 1 Kings 7:25,44 2Chronicles 4:4,15 compare 2 Kings 16:17; 2Chronicles 4:3 (דְּמוּת בְּקָרִים) 2 Chronicles 4:3 (but read in both מְּקָעִים, as "" 1 Kings 7:24 compare Be Öttli) 1 Kings 7:4; Jeremiah 52:20; of twenty 1 Kings 5:3; seventy 2Chronicles 29:32; hundreds or thousands 1 Kings 8:63 2Chronicles 7:5; 15:11; 29:33; 35:7,8,9 (compare 2 Chronicles 35:12), & Numbers 31:33,38,44 . Note חֶמְאַת בָּקָר Deuteronomy 32:14 (poem), ׳שְׁפוֺת ב 2 Samuel 17:29, ׳כְּלִי הַבּ 2 Samuel 24:22; 1 Kings 19:21, מַלְמַד ׳הַבּ Judges 3:31, ׳צְפִו֯עֵי הַבּ Ezekiel 4:15 (opposed to גֶּלֲלֵי הָאָדָם).

Overview

בָּקָר (baqar) designates domestic bovine animals—usually oxen or cattle—and appears about one hundred eighty-three times across the Hebrew canon. Its occurrences stretch from the wealth of the patriarchs to the imagery of the prophets, touching almost every sphere of Old Testament life.

Pastoral Economy and Daily Life

Cattle were a primary indicator of prosperity. Pharaoh enriched Abram “with sheep and cattle” (Genesis 12:16), and Isaac’s increase in “flocks and herds of cattle” stirred Philistine envy (Genesis 26:14). Jacob’s gift to Esau included “thirty milking camels with their calves, forty cows and ten bulls” (Genesis 32:15), illustrating both size and careful husbandry. Joseph reassured his brothers, “Take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land” (Genesis 45:18–20), promising pasturage especially suited for cattle.

Agricultural Labor

Oxen supplied the muscle of Israel’s agrarian society. Elisha was “plowing with twelve pairs of oxen” when Elijah called him (1 Kings 19:19). The law protected these laborers: “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain” (Deuteronomy 25:4). Pairing dissimilar animals was forbidden: “Do not plow with an ox and a donkey together” (Deuteronomy 22:10), underscoring both humane treatment and ceremonial distinctiveness.

Legal and Ethical Safeguards

Civil statutes treated cattle both as valuable property and as fellow creatures. Restitution for theft or negligent harm could be four- or fivefold (Exodus 22:1). If an ox habitually gored, its owner bore liability (Exodus 21:28-36). Sabbath rest extended beyond people to livestock: “The seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God… so that your ox and your donkey may rest” (Deuteronomy 5:14).

Sacrificial and Ritual Uses

Cattle occupied a central place in Israel’s worship. The standard burnt offering might be “a male without blemish from the cattle” (Leviticus 1:3). On the Day of Atonement the high priest brought “a bull for a sin offering” on behalf of himself and the priesthood (Leviticus 16:3,6). At national celebrations the numbers soar: “So the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices before the LORD. Solomon offered as peace offerings to the LORD twenty-two thousand cattle” (1 Kings 8:62-63). The dedication offerings of Numbers 7 list a steady rhythm of bulls presented by each tribe, reflecting ongoing, orderly worship.

Royal Provisioning and Tribute

Monarchic courts consumed vast quantities daily. Solomon’s table required “ten fat oxen and twenty pasture-fed cattle” each day (1 Kings 4:23). Mesha king of Moab paid tribute to Ahab in “one hundred thousand lambs and one hundred thousand rams, with the wool” (2 Kings 3:4), implying similar expectations for cattle among neighboring kingdoms.

Prophetic Imagery and Judgment

Prophets used cattle to expose complacency or impending disaster. Amos rebuked the “cows of Bashan” who oppressed the poor (Amos 4:1). Isaiah portrayed future blessing when “the oxen and donkeys that work the ground” would eat seasoned fodder (Isaiah 30:24), while Jeremiah foretold punishment on proud Babylon: “Your mother will be greatly ashamed… she who bore you will be disgraced” (Jeremiah 50:12-13), followed by imagery of abandoned herds. The fifth plague on Egypt, striking “horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, and sheep” (Exodus 9:3), demonstrated Yahweh’s power over pagan deities associated with livestock.

Typological Significance

The repeated insistence on a spotless bull anticipates the perfect sacrifice of Christ. Hebrews alludes to Levitical bulls yet declares, “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4), driving attention to the superior offering at Calvary. When David purchased Araunah’s threshing floor, he insisted on paying full price for the oxen, declaring, “I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24). The scene prefigures the costliness of redemption ultimately borne by the Messiah.

Wisdom and Instruction

Proverbs distills practical theology: “Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox” (Proverbs 14:4). The verse balances order with productivity—clean stalls versus fruitful toil—encouraging diligence tempered by realism.

Foreshadowings in the New Covenant

Though the Greek Scriptures use different vocabulary, the concept persists. In the parable of the great banquet, a guest excuses himself: “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out” (Luke 14:19). The mundane concern for cattle stands in contrast to the urgency of accepting the King’s invitation, echoing Old Testament warnings against misplaced priorities.

Representative Passages

Genesis 12:16; Genesis 26:14; Genesis 32:15; Exodus 20:10; Exodus 22:1; Leviticus 1:3; Leviticus 16:3; Numbers 7:3; Deuteronomy 5:14; Deuteronomy 25:4; 1 Samuel 11:5; 2 Samuel 24:22-24; 1 Kings 4:23; 1 Kings 8:63; 1 Kings 19:19; Isaiah 30:24; Jeremiah 50:11; Amos 4:1; Zechariah 14:15.

Key Themes for Ministry Today

• Stewardship: Scripture treats cattle as entrusted resources, urging responsible management.
• Worship: True devotion requires unblemished, costly offerings—ultimately fulfilled in Christ.
• Mercy and Justice: Laws safeguarding cattle mirror God’s concern for all creation and demand fairness toward neighbors.
• Eschatological Hope: Prophetic visions of flourishing herds accompany the messianic age, portraying restoration of both people and land.

From patriarchal tents to the prophetic horizon, בָּקָר threads through Scripture as a witness to God’s provision, humanity’s responsibility, and the anticipation of the perfect sacrifice who brings complete atonement.

בְּקַ֣ר ׀ בְּקַרְכֶ֖ם בְּקַרְכֶ֥ם בְּקָרְךָ֖ בְּקָרִים֩ בְּקָרֶ֑ךָ בְּקָרָ֔ם בְּקָרָ֖ם בְקָרֵ֜ינוּ בִּבְקָרְךָ֤ בַּבְּקָרִ֑ים בַּבָּקָ֕ר בַּבָּקָ֖ר בַּבָּקָ֣ר בָּקָ֑ר בָּקָ֔ר בָּקָ֖ר בָּקָ֗ר בָּקָ֛ר בָּקָ֜ר בָּקָ֣ר בָּקָ֥ר בָּקָ֧ר בָּקָר֙ בָּקָר֩ בָקָ֔ר בָקָ֖ר בָקָ֗ר בָקָ֛ר בָקָ֜ר בָקָ֤ר בָקָ֨ר בבקר בבקרים בבקרך בקר בקרים בקרינו בקרך בקרכם בקרם הַבָּקָ֑ר הַבָּקָ֔ר הַבָּקָ֖ר הַבָּקָ֗ר הַבָּקָ֛ר הַבָּקָ֜ר הַבָּקָ֣ר הַבָּקָ֥ר הַבָּקָ֨ר הַבָּקָֽר׃ הַבָּקָר֙ הבקר הבקר׃ וְהַ֨בָּקָ֔ר וְהַבָּקָ֑ר וְהַבָּקָ֔ר וְהַבָּקָ֖ר וְהַבָּקָ֞ר וְהַבָּקָ֨ר וְהַבָּקָר֙ וְלַבָּקָ֔ר וְצֹ֖אן וּבְקַרְכֶ֖ם וּבְקָֽרְךָ֤ וּבְקָרְךָ֖ וּבְקָרֶ֔ךָ וּבְקָרָ֔ם וּבְקָרָ֛ם וּבְקָרָם֙ וּבִבְקָרֵ֙נוּ֙ וּבִבְקָרָ֗ם וּבַפְּרָדִ֣ים ׀ וּבָקָ֑ר וּבָקָ֔ר וּבָקָ֕ר וּבָקָ֖ר וּבָקָ֗ר וּבָקָ֛ר וּבָקָ֜ר וּבָקָר֙ וּמִבְּקָר֔וֹ ובבקרם ובבקרנו ובפרדים ובקר ובקרך ובקרכם ובקרם והבקר ולבקר ומבקרו וצאן כַּבָּקָ֣ר כַּבָּקָ֥ר כבקר לִבְקָר֑וֹ לַבָּקָֽר׃ לבקר׃ לבקרו מִבְּקָרְךָ֣ מבקרך bā·qār ḇā·qār bab·bā·qār bab·bə·qā·rîm babbaKar babbāqār babbekaRim babbəqārîm baKar bāqār ḇāqār bə·qā·rām bə·qā·re·ḵā bə·qā·rə·ḵā ḇə·qā·rê·nū bə·qā·rîm bə·qar bə·qar·ḵem beKar bekaRam bekarChem bekaRecha bekaRim bəqar bəqārām bəqāreḵā bəqārəḵā ḇəqārênū bəqārîm bəqarḵem biḇ·qā·rə·ḵā biḇqārəḵā bivkareCha hab·bā·qār habbaKar habbāqār kab·bā·qār kabbaKar kabbāqār lab·bā·qār labbaKar labbāqār liḇ·qā·rōw liḇqārōw livkaRo mib·bə·qā·rə·ḵā mibbekareCha mibbəqārəḵā ū·ḇā·qār ū·ḇap·pə·rā·ḏîm ū·ḇə·qā·rām ū·ḇə·qā·re·ḵā ū·ḇə·qā·rə·ḵā ū·ḇə·qar·ḵem ū·ḇiḇ·qā·rām ū·ḇiḇ·qā·rê·nū ū·mib·bə·qā·rōw ūḇappərāḏîm ūḇāqār ūḇəqārām ūḇəqāreḵā ūḇəqārəḵā ūḇəqarḵem ūḇiḇqārām ūḇiḇqārênū umibbekaRo ūmibbəqārōw uvaKar uvapperaDim uvekaRam uvekarChem uvekareCha uvivkaRam uvivkaRenu vaKar vehabbaKar vekaReinu velabbaKar veTzon wə·hab·bā·qār wə·lab·bā·qār wə·ṣōn wəhabbāqār wəlabbāqār wəṣōnInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts