Bible Dictionary
Fatling
A fatling is a fattened animal prepared for slaughter, especially a sheep or other animal selected for its richness and quality.
Definition
A fatling is a fattened animal prepared for slaughter, especially an animal selected for its richness and quality. The term may refer to a fatted animal, a marrowy or fat sheep, or a particular class of cattle or lambs.
Biblical Usage
Fatlings appear in descriptions of animals prepared for slaughter, sacrificial or royal meals, and imagery involving animals of richness and strength.
Historical Background
The supplied material distinguishes several Hebrew terms, including one meaning corn-fed or fattened, one meaning marrowy or fat, and one possibly referring to cattle of a second quality or autumnal lambs.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(1.) A fatted animal for slaughter (2 Sam. 6:13; Isa. 11:6; Ezek. 39:18. Comp. Matt. 22:4, where the word used in the original, sitistos, means literally “corn-fed;” i.e., installed, fat). (2.) Ps. 66:15 (Heb. meah, meaning “marrowy,” “fat,” a species of sheep). (3.) 1 Sam. 15:9 (Heb. mishneh, meaning “the second,” and hence probably “cattle of a second quality,” or lambs of the second birth, i.e., autmnal lambs, and therfore of less value).