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•GNAT only in Matthew 23:24, a small two-winged stinging fly of the genus Culex, which includes mosquitoes. Our Lord alludes here to the gnat in a proverbial expression probably in common use, “who strain out the gnat;” the words in the Authorized Version, “strain at a gnat,” being a mere typographical error, which has been corrected in the Revised Version. The custom of filtering wine for this purpose was common among the Jews. It was founded on Leviticus 11:23. It is supposed that the “lice,” Exodus 8:16 (marg. R.V., “sand-flies”), were a species of gnat.
•GOAD (Hebrews malmad, only in Judges 3: 31), an instrument used by ploughmen for guiding their oxen. Shamgar slew six hundred Philistines with an ox-goad. “The goad is a formidable weapon. It is sometimes ten feet long, and has a sharp point. We could now see that the feat of Shamgar was not so very wonderful as some have been accustomed to think.”
In 1 Samuel 13:21, a different Hebrew word is used, dorban, meaning something pointed. The expression (Acts 9:5, omitted in the R.V.), “It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks”, i.e., against the goad, was proverbial for unavailing resistance to superior power.
•GOAT (1.) Hebrews ‘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.) Hebrews ‘attud, only in plural; rendered “rams” (Genesis 31:10,12); he-goats (Numbers 7:17-88; Isaiah 1:11); goats (Deuteronomy 32:14; Psalm 50:13). They were used in sacrifice (Psalm 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.) Hebrews gedi, properly a kid. Its flesh was a delicacy among the Hebrews (Genesis 27:9, 14, 17; Judges 6:19).
(4.) Hebrews 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.) Hebrews 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.