βοῦς
boûs
G1016 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A domesticated bovine animal; specifically, an ox or cow used for draught, plowing, or sacrifice. The fundamental sense is a large, horned, hoofed mammal, and by extension refers to both male (ox) and female (cow) members of the bovine species. In figurative or legal contexts, may refer to cattle in general, but typically denotes an individual animal.
Semantic Range
ox, cow, bull (as generic bovine), cattle collectively, draught animal, sacrificial animal
Root / Etymology
From the root βο- (as in βόσκω, 'to feed' or 'graze'), related to the Proto-Indo-European *gʷou-, meaning 'cow, ox'. This is a well-attested ancient word across Indo-European languages (compare Latin bos, Sanskrit go-, English cow).
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, βοῦς is used for both male and female cattle and refers to the primary domesticated bovine species used for agriculture, transport, and sacrificial purposes. In the Septuagint, βοῦς translates the Hebrew שׁוֹר (shor), used similarly for oxen employed in plowing, yoking, or as offerings. In the New Testament and wider Hellenistic literature, the term does not normally specify gender unless context demands it. English translations often render it as 'ox' or 'oxen', though 'cattle' or 'bull/cow' are also possible depending on context. The semantic range overlaps with terms like μόσχος (calf) and ταῦρος (bull); βοῦς is more general, referring to a full-grown bovine. Legal and proverbial texts may use the word in regulations (e.g., muzzling the ox that treads the grain). The English term 'beef' as used in Strong's gloss is anachronistic, reflecting post-medieval usage for meat, which is not the primary sense in Greek.
Translation Consistency
Most natural, idiomatic English rendering for a large domesticated bovine used for draught or sacrifice; commonly used in Bible translations and matches the typical sense of βοῦς (covers male/female in context as a domestic bovine). Using “ox” keeps consistency across singular/plural forms (ox/oxen).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from the base of βόσκω; an ox (as grazing), i.e. an animal of that species ("beef"):--ox.
Root Family
βοῦς (bous) — cattle, ox, cow
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1016-03 |
βοῦν | boun | N ACC M SG |
ox | an ox | an ox | 3 |
G1016-02 |
βοῶν | boon | N GEN M PL |
of oxen | of cattle | of oxen | 2 |
G1016-01 |
βόας | boas | N ACC M PL |
oxen | oxen | oxen | 2 |
G1016-04 |
βοῦς | bous | N NOM M SG |
ox | ox | ox | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
8 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1016-03 |
Luke 13:15 | βοῦν | boun | N ACC M SG |
ox | an ox | an ox |
G1016-04 |
Luke 14:5 | βοῦς | bous | N NOM M SG |
ox | ox | ox |
G1016-02 |
Luke 14:19 | βοῶν | boon | N GEN M PL |
of oxen | of cattle | of oxen |
G1016-01 |
John 2:14 | βόας | boas | N ACC M PL |
oxen | oxen | oxen |
G1016-01 |
John 2:15 | βόας | boas | N ACC M PL |
oxen | oxen | oxen |
G1016-03 |
1 Corinthians 9:9 | βοῦν | boun | N ACC M SG |
an ox | an ox | an ox |
G1016-02 |
1 Corinthians 9:9 | βοῶν | boon | N GEN M PL |
oxen | of cattle | oxen |
G1016-03 |
1 Timothy 5:18 | βοῦν | boun | N ACC M SG |
ox | an ox | an ox |