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Bible Dictionaries
Goat
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
or GOAT . (1) ‘çz , used generically, both sexes, Genesis 30:35 , Exodus 12:5 , Ezra 6:17 etc. (2) tsâphîr (root ‘to leap’), ‘he-goat,’ 2 Chronicles 29:21 , Ezra 8:35 , Daniel 8:5; Daniel 8:8 . (3) sâ‘îr (root ‘hairy’), usually a he-goat, e.g. Daniel 8:21 ‘rough goat’; se‘îrah , Leviticus 5:6 ‘she-goat’; se‘îrîm , tr. [Note: translate or translation.] ‘devils’ 2 Chronicles 11:15 , ‘satyrs’ Isaiah 13:21; Isaiah 34:14 . See Satyr. (4) ‘attûd , only in pl. ‘attûdîm , ‘he-goats’ Genesis 31:10; Genesis 31:12 , AVm [Note: Authorized Version margin.] and RV [Note: Revised Version.] ‘chief ones’ Isaiah 14:8 , but RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ‘he-goats.’ (5) tayîsh , ‘he-goat,’ Proverbs 30:31 etc. In NT eriphos, eriphion , Matthew 25:32-33; tragos , Hebrews 9:12-13; Hebrews 9:19; Hebrews 10:4 . Goats are among the most valued possessions of the people of Palestine. Nabal had a thousand goats ( 1 Samuel 25:2; see also Genesis 30:33; Genesis 30:35; Genesis 32:14 etc.). They are led to pasture with the sheep, but are from time to time separated from them for milking, herding, and even feeding ( Matthew 25:32 ). Goats thrive on extraordinarily bare pasturage, but they do immeasurable destruction to young trees and shrubs, and are responsible for much of the barrenness of the hills. Goats supply most of the milk used in Palestine ( Proverbs 27:27 ); they are also killed for food, especially the young kids ( Genesis 27:9 , Judges 6:19; Judges 13:15 etc.). The Syrian goat ( Capra mambrica ) is black or grey, exceptionally white, and has shaggy hair and remarkably long ears. Goat’s hair is extensively woven into cloaks and material for tents ( Exodus 26:7; Exodus 36:14 ), and their skins are tanned entire to make water-bottles. See Bottle.
Wild goat . (1) yâ‘çl (cf. proper name Jael ), used in pl. ye’çlîm , 1 Samuel 24:2 , Psalms 104:18 , and Job 39:1 . (2) ’akkô , Deuteronomy 14:5 . Probably both these terms refer to the wild goat or ibex, Capra beden , the beden or ‘goats of Moses’ of the Arabs. It is common on the inaccessible cliffs round the Dead Sea, some of which are known as jebel el-beden , the ‘mountains of the wild goats’ (cf. 1 Samuel 24:2 ). The ibex is very shy, and difficult to shoot. Though about the size of an ordinary goat, its great curved horns, often 3 feet long, give it a much more imposing appearance.
E. W. G. Masterman.
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Hastings, James. Entry for 'Goat'. Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hdb/g/goat.html. 1909.
