Topical Bible: The Goat: The Young of Called Kids

◄ The Goat: The Young of Called Kids ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, goats were common domestic animals in the ancient Near East and held significant economic and symbolic importance. The young of goats are referred to as "kids." These animals are mentioned frequently throughout the Bible, serving various roles in the daily life, religious practices, and symbolic language of the Israelites.

Economic and Practical Role

Goats were valued for their milk, meat, hair, and skins. The milk was a staple in the diet, and goat meat was consumed during meals and special occasions. The hair of goats was used to make fabrics, such as the curtains of the Tabernacle (Exodus 26:7). The skins were used for clothing and other practical purposes. The presence of goats in a household was often a sign of wealth and prosperity.

Religious and Sacrificial Significance

In the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, goats played a crucial role. They were one of the animals permitted for sacrifice, as outlined in Leviticus. The Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, involved the use of two goats: one for a sin offering and the other as the "scapegoat," which was sent into the wilderness to symbolically carry away the sins of the people (Leviticus 16:7-10). This ritual underscored the themes of atonement and forgiveness central to the Israelite faith.

Symbolism and Metaphor

Goats are often used symbolically in the Bible. In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus uses the imagery of sheep and goats to describe the final judgment. The sheep, representing the righteous, are separated from the goats, symbolizing the unrighteous. This metaphor highlights the distinction between those who follow God's will and those who do not.

In the Song of Solomon, the beauty of the beloved is compared to a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead (Song of Solomon 4:1). This imagery conveys grace and beauty, drawing from the pastoral scenes familiar to the original audience.

Moral and Ethical Lessons

The Bible also uses goats to teach moral and ethical lessons. In the account of Jacob and Esau, Rebekah uses goat skins to disguise Jacob as Esau, highlighting themes of deception and the consequences of deceit (Genesis 27:16). This narrative serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities of family dynamics and the importance of integrity.

Conclusion

Throughout the Bible, goats and their young, the kids, are woven into the fabric of Israelite life, both practically and symbolically. They serve as a reminder of God's provision, the importance of atonement, and the moral lessons that guide the faithful in their walk with God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 37:31
And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Day of Atonement
... come into the holy place; with a young bullock for ... bullock, and of the blood of the
goat, and put ... concerned with the treatment of the so-called 'scapegoat' but ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the day of atonement.htm

The Day of Atonement
... come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a ... and they tell us that the first
goat was offered ... to be tormented by the devil, and was called Azazel, just ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the day of atonement.htm

Of the Priesthood of Aaron.
... They brought also a young bullock, and a ram, with ... whole burnt-offering, as also
a goat for the ... the tribes brought also other sacrifices, called peace-offerings ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 of the priesthood.htm

Monos
... to compare the beaks of the Guacharo and goat-sucker to ... At the period which is commonly
called at Caripe the "oil ... pots of clay the fat of the young birds just ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter vi monos.htm

That the Scriptures are Divinely Inspired.
... lie down together in the green fields, and that their young ones are ... regarding the
impossibilities of the law, we find an animal called the goat-stag, [2779 ...
/.../origen/origen de principiis/chapter i that the scriptures are.htm

The Flight into Egypt and St. John the Baptist in the Desert
... of the Blessed Virgin, while a wild she-goat came to ... the inn was a man of twenty
called Reuben ... being brought in"clothes, carpets, meat, young kids, sheep, and ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/xvi the flight into egypt.htm