Goat: 1. Heb. 'ez, the she-goat
(Genesis 15:9; 30:35; 31:38) This Hebrew word is
also used for the he-goat
(Exodus 12:5; Leviticus 4:23; Numbers 28:15) and to
denote a kid
(Genesis 38:17,20) Hence it may be regarded as the
generic name of the animal as domesticated. It literally means
"strength," and points to the superior strength of the goat as
compared with the sheep.2. Heb. 'attud, only in plural; rendered "rams"
(Genesis 31:10,12)
he-goats
(Numbers 7:17-88; Isaiah 1:11) goats
(Deuteronomy 32:14; Psalms 50:13) They were
used in sacrifice
(Psalms 66:15) This word is used metaphorically for
princes or chiefs in
(Isaiah 14:9) and in
(Zechariah 10:3) as leaders.
(Comp.)
(Jeremiah 50:8)
3. Heb. gedi, properly a kid. Its flesh was a delicacy among the
Hebrews
(Genesis 27:9,14,17; Judges 6:19)
4. Heb. sa'ir, meaning the "shaggy," a hairy goat, a he-goat
(2 Chronicles 29:23) "a goat"
(Leviticus 4:24) "satyr"
(Isaiah 13:21) "devils"
(Leviticus 17:7) It is the goat of the sin-offering
(Leviticus 9:3,15; 10:16)
5. Heb. tsaphir, a he-goat of the goats
(2 Chronicles 29:21) In
(Daniel 8:5,8) it
is used as a symbol of the Macedonian empire.
6. Heb. tayish, a "striker" or "butter," rendered "he-goat"
(Genesis 30:35; 32:14)
7. Heb. 'azazel (q.v.), the "scapegoat"
(Leviticus 16:8,10,26)
8. There are two Hebrew words used to denote the undomesticated
goat:
a. Yael, only in plural mountain goats
(1 Samuel 24:2; Job 39:1)
(Psalms 104:18) It is derived from a word meaning "to climb."
It is the ibex, which abounded in the mountainous parts of
Moab.
b. 'akko, only in
(Deuteronomy 14:5) the wild goat. Goats are
mentioned in the New Testament in
(Matthew 25:32,33)
(Hebrews 9:12,13,19; 10:4) They represent oppressors and wicked
men
(Ezekiel 34:17; 39:18; Matthew 25:33) Several varieties of the
goat were familiar to the Hebrews. They had an important place
in their rural economy on account of the milk they afforded
and the excellency of the flesh of the kid. They formed an
important part of pastoral wealth.
(Genesis 31:10,12; 32:14)
(1 Samuel 25:2)