In the Bible, goats are mentioned frequently and hold significant symbolic and practical roles within the cultural and religious contexts of ancient Israel. They are often associated with pastoral life, sacrificial practices, and metaphorical teachings.

Symbolism and Sacrificial Use

Goats were commonly used in sacrificial offerings, as outlined in the Mosaic Law. They were considered clean animals and were acceptable for various types of sacrifices. In Leviticus 16, during the Day of Atonement, two goats played a crucial role: one was sacrificed as a sin offering, and the other, known as the "scapegoat," was sent into the wilderness, symbolically carrying away the sins of the people. Leviticus 16:10 states, "But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat."

Goats also appear in the context of offerings for sin and guilt, as seen in Leviticus 4:23-24 : "If his sin that he has committed is made known to him, he must bring an unblemished male goat as his offering. He is to lay his hand on the head of the goat and slaughter it at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered before the LORD. It is a sin offering."

Pastoral and Economic Importance

In the agrarian society of ancient Israel, goats were valuable livestock. They provided milk, meat, and hair, which were essential for daily life. Proverbs 27:26-27 highlights their economic importance: "The lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field. You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed you, your household, and to nourish your maidservants."

Metaphorical and Moral Lessons

Goats are used metaphorically in various biblical passages to convey moral and spiritual lessons. In Matthew 25:31-33 , Jesus uses the imagery of sheep and goats to describe the final judgment: "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left."

This passage illustrates the distinction between the righteous and the unrighteous, with goats symbolizing those who fail to live according to God's commandments.

Cultural and Historical Context

In biblical times, goats were integral to the nomadic and semi-nomadic lifestyles of the Israelites. They were often herded alongside sheep and were known for their hardiness and ability to thrive in arid environments. The patriarchs, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were shepherds who managed flocks that included goats, as seen in Genesis 30:32-35 , where Jacob negotiates with Laban regarding his wages in the form of livestock.

Conclusion

Throughout the Bible, goats serve as important symbols and practical resources, reflecting the agricultural and spiritual life of ancient Israel. Their presence in sacrificial rites, economic activities, and moral teachings underscores their multifaceted role in biblical narratives and religious practices.5795. ez -- female goat
... 5794, 5795. ez. 5796 . female goat. Transliteration: ez Phonetic Spelling:
(aze) Short Definition: goat. Word Origin from an unused ...
/hebrew/5795.htm - 6k

Preaching the Gospel, Healing the Sick
... The leader of the party is frequently our old friend, Goat's Mother, the members
of her clan being numerous and of an inquisitive nature. ...
/.../the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter xxii preaching the gospel.htm

A Willing People.
... So she went out to her little flock of goats whereby her living came to her, and
cut off a big bunch of goat's hair, and then with much pains dyed it red. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/a willing people.htm

Saul's Mean Jealousy
... Then Michal took the household god and laid it in the bed, and she put a pillow
of goat's hair under its head and covered it with a garment. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/sauls mean jealousy.htm

"Pan, Pan is Dead"
... And she says, "Yes; when the day came round to sacrifice to our family divinity,
my little brother held the goat's head while my father struck it off, and I ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter xxiii pan pan is.htm

An Old Subscription List
... the rougher work of spinning, not dainty thread for the rich soft stuffs whose colours
were to glow in the sanctuary, but the coarse black goat's hair which ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/an old subscription list.htm

Talmage -- a Bloody Monster
... Joseph's brethren dipt their brother's coat in goat's blood, and then brought the
dabbled garment to their father, cheating him with the idea that a ferocious ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 8/talmage a bloody monster.htm

An Unalterable Law
... According to the ordinance of the law, which the Lord commanded Moses, some of the
goods, such as raiment and articles made of skins or goat's hair, were ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 60 1914/an unalterable law.htm

The Shunammite's Boy.
... When morning came the prophet and his servant rose and breakfasted on bread and
goat's milk, and were about to go on their way; but before leaving, Elisha told ...
/.../anonymous/children of the old testament/the shunammites boy.htm

Vision Fifth. Concerning the Commandments.
... After I had been praying at home, and had sat down on my couch, there entered a
man of glorious aspect, dressed like a shepherd, with a white goat's skin, a ...
/.../vision fifth concerning the commandments.htm

Acts IX
... The goat's hair which was used in this manufacture was produced in Cilicia in such
abundance, and of so fine a quality, that the manufactured article acquired ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts ix.htm

Goat's (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Goat's (6 Occurrences). Leviticus 4:24 And he
shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it ...
/g/goat's.htm - 8k

Cushion (3 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 19:13 Then Michal took the image and put it in the bed, with a cushion
of goat's hair at its head, and she put clothing over it. (BBE). ...
/c/cushion.htm - 9k

Cord (47 Occurrences)
... Such ropes or cords are made of goat's or camel's hair, first spun into threads
and then twisted or plaited into the larger and stronger form. ...
/c/cord.htm - 27k

Cattle (277 Occurrences)
...Goat's hair was used for making tent cloth (Exodus 26:7; 36:14), and for mattresses
and bedding (1 Samuel 19:13, 16). (see GOAT.). Noah Webster's Dictionary. ...
/c/cattle.htm - 52k

Dress (38 Occurrences)
... Even today the traveler will occasionally see in Palestine a shepherd clad in "a
coat of skin." Then, as now, goat's hair and camel's hair supplied the ...
/d/dress.htm - 53k

Hair (135 Occurrences)
... mantle was of camel's hair (2 Kings 1:8; compare Zechariah 13:4). Of that we cannot
be sure, for in the East today the hairy garment is usually goat's hair or ...
/h/hair.htm - 60k

Utensil (2 Occurrences)
... Utensil (2 Occurrences). Numbers 31:20 And every garment, and every vessel of skin,
and all work of goat's hair, and every utensil of wood shall ye purify. ...
/u/utensil.htm - 7k

Goats'
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia GOATS' HAIR. ('ez): The word for she-goat is used
elliptically to mean goats' hair, which was used in the tabernacle ...
/g/goats'.htm - 7k

Teraphim (14 Occurrences)
... In order to deceive the guards sent by Saul to seize David, Michal his wife prepared
one of the household teraphim, putting on it the goat's-hair cap worn by ...
/t/teraphim.htm - 13k

Tent (333 Occurrences)
... 41:1). When used of the tabernacle, as in 1 Kings 1:39, it denotes the covering
of goat's hair which was placed over the mishcan. (2.) Hebrews mishcan (Cant. ...
/t/tent.htm - 48k

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