The word translated “stall” appears elsewhere in the Old Testament together with the word “calf” and is translated “fattened calf” (1 Samuel 28:24; Jeremiah 46:21). So why do so many translations render this as “calves from the stall”? The answer lies in the fact that some calves were confined to stalls (Amos 6:4) to prevent them from exercising too much. Exercise burned off fat (which was the choicest part of meat for the Israelites) and developed muscle (making the meat tough). Confining calves to a stall meant the meat from these calves would be fat and tender. If fattened calves were released from their stall to which they had been long confined, they would skip and leap for joy at their freedom. Such is the image of the faithful remnant in Israel when the Lord would come to vindicate and restore their fortunes. They would be filled with the newfound joy of their deliverance from the miserable consequences of the curse that the Lord had imposed upon the faithless nation of Israel.
2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.