King James Bible Dictionary

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:, 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. And '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).

Designated as one of the clean animals to be eaten
Deuteronomy 14:4; Leviticus 11:1-8

Used:

For food
Genesis 27:9; 1 Samuel 16:20

For the paschal feast
Exodus 12:5; 2 Chronicles 35:7

As a sacrifice:

By Abraham
Genesis 15:9

By Gideon
Judges 6:19

By Manoah
Judges 13:19

Milk of, used for food
Proverbs 27:27

Hair of, used for:

Clothing
Numbers 31:20

Pillows
1 Samuel 19:13

Curtains of the tabernacle
Exodus 26:7; Exodus 35:23; Exodus 36:14

Tents
Tabernacles

Regulations of Mosaic law required that a kid should not be:

Killed for food before it was eight days old
Leviticus 22:27

Seethed in its mother's milk
Exodus 23:19

Numerous
Deuteronomy 32:14; Song of Solomon 4:1; Song of Solomon 6:5; 1 Samuel 25:2; 2 Chronicles 17:11

Wild goat in Palestine
1 Samuel 24:2; Psalms 104:18

There appear to be two or three varieties of the common goat, Hircus agagrus , at present bred in Palestine and Syria, but whether they are identical with those which were reared by the ancient Hebrews it is not possible to say. The most marked varieties are the Syrian goat(Capra mammorica, Linn.) and the Angora goat (Capra angorensis , Linn.), with fine long hair. As to the "wild goats," (1 Samuel 24:2; Job 39:1; Psalms 104:18) it is not at all improbable that some species of ibex is denoted.

GOAT, noun An animal or quadruped of the genus Capra. The horns are hollow, turned upwards, erect and scabrous. Goats are nearly of the size of sheep, but stronger, less timid and more agile. They delight to frequent rocks and mountains, and subsist on scanty coarse food. The milk of the goat is sweet, nourishing and medicinal, and the flesh furnishes provisions to the inhabitants of countries where they abound.

[ATONEMENT, THE DAY OF, DAY OF]

GOAT-CHAFFER, noun An insect, a kind of beetle.

GOATFISH, noun A fish of the Mediterranean.

A lowing, a place near Jerusalem, mentioned only in Jeremiah 31:39.

his touching; his roaring

A place near Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 31:39

(lowing), a place apparently in the neighborhood of Jerusalem, and named, in connection with the hill Gareb, only in (Jeremiah 31:39)

GOATHERD, noun One whose occupation is to tend goats.

GOATISH, adjective Resembling a goat in any quality; of a rank smell.

1. Lustful.

GOAT-MILKER, noun A kind or owl, so called from sucking goats.

GOAT'S-BEARD, noun In botany, a plant of the genus Tragopogon.

GOATSKIN, noun The skin of a goat.

GOAT'S-RUE, noun A plant of the genus Galega.

GOAT'S-STONES, noun The greater goat's stones is the Satyrium; the lesser, the Orchis.

GOAT'S-THORN, noun A plant of the genus Astragalus.

GOAT-SUCKER, noun In ornithology, a fowl of the genus Caprimulgus, so called from the opinion that it would suck goats. It is called also the fern-owl. In Bailey, it is called a goat-milker.