According to the
Bible, the
golden calf (עֵגֶּל הַזָהָב
‘ēggel hazāhāv) was an
idol (a
cult image) made by the
Israelites during
Moses' absence, when he went up to
Mount Sinai. In
Hebrew, the incident is known as
ḥēṭ’ ha‘ēggel (חֵטְא הַעֵגֶּל) or "The Sin of the Calf". It is first mentioned in .