goat, goatskin, scapegoat, kid

Definition

A goat is a medium-sized, four-legged animal which is similar to a sheep and is raised primarily for its milk and meat. A baby goat is called a “kid.”

• Like sheep, goats were important animals of sacrifice, especially at Passover.
• Although goats and sheep can be very similar, these are some ways that they are different:

• Goats have coarse hair; sheep have wool.
• The tail of a goat stands up; the tail of a sheep hangs down.
• Sheep usually like to stay with their herd, but goats are more independent and tend to wander away from their herd.

• In Bible times, goats were often the main source of milk in Israel.
• Goat skins were used for tent coverings and to make bags for holding wine.
• In both the Old and New Testaments, the goat was used as a symbol for unrighteous people, perhaps because of its tendency to wander away from the one taking care of it.
• The Israelites also used goats as symbolic sin bearers. When one goat was sacrificed, the priest would lay his hands on a second, live goat, and send it into the desert as a symbol that the animal was bearing the people’s sins.

(See also: flock, sacrifice, sheep, righteous, wine)

Bible References

• Exodus 12:3-4
• Genesis 30:32
• Genesis 31:10
• Genesis 37:31
• Leviticus 3:12-14
• Matthew 25:33

Word Data

• Strong’s: H0689, H1423, H1429, H3277, H3629, H5795, H5796, H6260, H6629, H6842, H7716, H8163, H8166, H8495, G01220, G20550, G20560, G51310