עֵז
Definition
The Hebrew noun עֵז (ʻêz) refers specifically to a female goat. In its single biblical occurrence in Ezra 6:17, it is used in the context of sacrifices offered at the dedication of the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. The word denotes the animal itself, distinct from the male goat (תָּיִשׁ, tāyish, H8495). While this Aramaic form appears only once, its Hebrew counterpart (H5795) is common throughout the Old Testament, consistently carrying the same meaning.
Biblical Usage
This specific Aramaic form of the word is used only in Ezra 6:17, within a list of sacrificial animals (bulls, rams, lambs, and goats) offered for a sin offering for all Israel. The usage follows the standard sacrificial system where goats, both male and female, were acceptable offerings for various rituals, including sin offerings (Leviticus 4:23-28, 16:5). The context is the post-exilic restoration of temple worship.
Etymology
The word עֵז (ʻêz) is an Aramaic noun corresponding directly to the Hebrew עֵז (H5795). Both share a common Semitic root (ʻ-Z) denoting the goat. The Aramaic form appears in the biblical text due to the book of Ezra containing sections written in Aramaic (Ezra 4:8–6:18; 7:12–26), reflecting the administrative language of the Persian Empire.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a common noun, the goat as a sacrificial animal holds significant theological weight. Goats were central to the Levitical system for sin offerings (Leviticus 4, 16). The famous scapegoat ritual on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:8-10, 20-22) powerfully illustrated the removal of sin. Understanding that עֵז refers to the female goat enriches reading by clarifying the specific type of animal offered, reflecting the detailed obedience required in worship.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, goats were vital livestock providing milk, hair for cloth, and meat. Their use in sacrifices was widespread. The female goat (עֵז) was a common and valuable possession, making its sacrifice a meaningful cost. Distinguishing it from the male goat (תָּיִשׁ) was important, as different rituals sometimes specified the sex of the animal required.
תָּיִשׁ (tāyish, H8495) — specifically a male goat or buck. צָפִיר (tsāphîr, H6842) — a he-goat, often used poetically or for a leader. שָׂעִיר (śāʻîr, H8163) — a hairy one, he-goat; commonly used for the 'scapegoat' or sin offering.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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