1.7 KiB
goat, goatskins, scapegoat, kids
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.”
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Like sheep, goats were important animals of sacrifice, especially at Passover.
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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.
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In Bible times, goats were often the main source of milk in Israel.
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Goat skins were used for tent coverings and to make bags for holding wine.
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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.
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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:
Word Data:
- Strong’s: H689, H1423, H1429, H3277, H3629, H5795, H5796, H6260, H6629, H6842, H7716, H8163, H8166, H8495, G122, G2055, G2056, G5131