Smith's Bible Dictionary.pdf - Online Christian Library

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Goad
(Judges 3:31; 1 Samuel 13:21) The Hebrew word in the latter passage probably means the point
of the plough-share . The former word does probably refer to the goad, the long handle of which
might be used as a formidable weapon. The instrument, as still used in countries of southern Europe
and western Asia, consists of a rod about eight feet long, brought to a sharp point and sometimes
cased with iron at the head.
Goat
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, Scape
[Atonement, The Day Of, Day OF]
Goath
(lowing), a place apparently in the neighborhood of Jerusalem, and named, in connection with
the hill Gareb, only in (Jeremiah 31:39)
Gob
(cistern), a place mentioned only in (2 Samuel 21:18,19) as the scene of two encounters between
David’s warriors and the Philistines. In the parallel account in (1 Chronicles 20:4) the name is given
as Gezer.
Goblet
a circular vessel for wine or other liquid.
God
(good). Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures two chief names are used for the one true divine
Being—ELOHIM, commonly translated God in our version, and Jehovah, translated Lord . Elohim
is the plural of Eloah (in Arabic Allah); it is often used in the short form EL (a word signifying
strength, as in EL-SHADDAI, God Almighty, the name by which God was specially known to the
patriarchs. (Genesis 17:1; 28:3; Exodus 6:3) The etymology is uncertain, but it is generally agreed
that the primary idea is that of strength, power of effect, and that it properly describes God in that
character in which he is exhibited to all men in his works, as the creator, sustainer and supreme
governor of the world. The plural form of Elohim has given rise to much discussion. The fanciful
idea that it referred to the trinity of persons in the Godhead hardly finds now a supporter among
scholars. It is either what grammarians call the plural of majesty, or it denotes the fullness of divine
strength, the sum of the powers displayed by God. Jehovah denotes specifically the one true God,
whose people the Jews were, and who made them the guardians of his truth. The name is never
applied to a false god, nor to any other being except one, the ANGEL-JEHOVAH who is thereby
marked as one with God, and who appears again in the New Covenant as “God manifested in the
flesh.” Thus much is clear; but all else is beset with difficulties. At a time too early to be traced,
the Jews abstained from pronouncing the name, for fear of its irreverent use. The custom is said to
have been founded on a strained interpretation of (Leviticus 24:16) and the phrase there used, “THE
NAME” (Shema), is substituted by the rabbis for the unutterable word. In reading the Scriptures
they substituted for it the word ADONAI (Lord), from the translation of which by Kurios in the
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William Smith