מַלְמָד

מַלְמָד

a goad for oxen

Definition

מַלְמָד (malmâd) refers to a goad, specifically a pointed stick used to drive and guide oxen while plowing. In its sole biblical occurrence (Judges 3:31), it is the weapon used by Shamgar to strike down six hundred Philistines. The word derives from the root לָמַד (lāmad), meaning 'to learn' or 'to teach,' implying the goad's function to instruct or train the oxen. While its primary meaning is agricultural, its use as an improvised weapon highlights its practicality and the resourcefulness of the judge Shamgar.

Biblical Usage

This word appears only once in the Old Testament, in Judges 3:31, where Shamgar son of Anath uses an ox goad to deliver Israel. The context is one of military deliverance, transforming a common farming tool into an instrument of God's judgment and salvation. Its singular usage underscores the unique and memorable nature of Shamgar's victory.

Etymology

מַלְמָד comes from the root לָמַד (H3925, lāmad), meaning 'to learn,' 'to teach,' or 'to train.' This connection suggests the goad was seen not merely as a tool for punishment, but for directing and instructing animals, guiding them in their work. The noun form carries the sense of an instrument of training or discipline.

Semantic Range

Though a simple object, the מַלְמָד in Judges 3:31 illustrates God's power to use ordinary, humble means to accomplish extraordinary deliverance. Shamgar's victory, achieved with a farmer's tool rather than a conventional weapon, demonstrates that God's strength is made perfect in weakness (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9). It reminds readers that God often works through the mundane and the available to fulfill His purposes, emphasizing His sovereignty and the faithfulness of those who act with the resources at hand. In ancient Israel, an ox goad was a standard farming implement, typically a long wooden pole with a pointed metal tip used to prod oxen. Its use as a weapon by Shamgar would have been seen as both ingenious and desperate, highlighting a time when Israel lacked proper arms (see Judges 5:8). This reflects a period of crisis and God's provision through unconventional means. דָּרְבָן (dorbān, H1861) — a general term for a goad or spur, used metaphorically in Ecclesiastes 12:11 for the words of the wise.

Word Details