heifer

Everyday

A young female cow that has not yet had a calf (or has had only one). tree →

In the lessons

In farming and science lessons, cattle words are: calf (baby), heifer (young female), cow (adult female that has had calves), bullock or steer (young castrated male), bull (adult male). In the Bible, heifers appear in old sacrifices. Phrases: a young heifer, heifers in the field.

Examples

• The heifer will have her first calf in spring. tree →
• Five heifers were grazing in the meadow. tree →
• A heifer becomes a cow after she has calves. tree →
• The farmer took his best heifer to the agricultural show. tree →
• In the Bible, a red heifer is mentioned in the book of Numbers. tree →
• When the old woman woke, there was no heifer in sight. tree →

Note

Pronounced HEF-er (the «ei» sounds like «e» in «bed»). Spelling trap: h-e-i-f-e-r. Plural: heifers. Calling a woman a heifer is a rude insult; do not do it.

In Jewish tradition

A young cow. In the Torah it is used in special ceremonies, such as the red heifer and the heifer whose neck is broken. The prophets use it as a picture: Egypt is a "fair heifer," and Israel is a "stubborn heifer." Samson also calls his bride his "heifer."

Interpretation. The red heifer was burnt and its ashes used to purify those made unclean by a dead body. The rabbis call it a mystery beyond human reasons. The broken-neck heifer was the rite for an unsolved murder, in which elders declare their innocence. Hosea's stubborn heifer is read as Israel refusing to be led, like an animal that will not wear the yoke.

Examples

• And the priest shall take cedar-wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer. (Torah NUM.19.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the heifer shall be burnt in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall be burnt. (Torah NUM.19.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• And all the elders of that city, who are nearest unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley. (Torah DEU.21.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• Egypt is a very fair heifer; but the gadfly out of the north is come, it is come. (Prophets JER.46.20, JPS 1917) tree →
• And he said unto them: If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle. (Prophets JDG.14.18, JPS 1917) tree →
• For Israel is stubborn like a stubborn heifer; now shall the LORD feed them as a lamb in a large place? (Prophets HOS.4.16, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Pronounced HEF-er (the «ei» sounds like «e» in «bed»). Spelling trap: h-e-i-f-e-r. Plural: heifers. Calling a woman a heifer is a rude insult; do not do it.