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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Symbolism of the Male Goat</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/s/symbolism_of_the_male_goat.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/leviticus/16-7.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/s/symbolic.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Symbolism of the Male Goat</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/s/symbolism_of_the_lord's_supper.htm" title="Symbolism of the Lord's Supper">◄</a> Symbolism of the Male Goat <a href="/topical/s/symbolism_of_the_manna.htm" title="Symbolism of the Manna">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>The male goat holds significant symbolic meaning within the biblical narrative, often representing strength, leadership, and at times, sin and rebellion. This symbolism is woven throughout various passages in the Bible, providing a multifaceted understanding of the male goat's role in biblical theology and culture.<br><br><b>Sacrificial System and Atonement</b><br><br>In the Old Testament, the male goat is prominently featured in the sacrificial system established by God for the Israelites. The Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, is a key event where the male goat plays a crucial role. <a href="/leviticus/16-7.htm">Leviticus 16:7-10</a> describes the ritual involving two goats: one is sacrificed as a sin offering, and the other, known as the scapegoat, is sent into the wilderness, symbolically carrying the sins of the people away. This act underscores the male goat's role in atonement and purification, highlighting the gravity of sin and the need for divine forgiveness.<br><br><b>Symbol of Leadership and Power</b><br><br>The male goat is also a symbol of leadership and power. In <a href="/daniel/8-5.htm">Daniel 8:5-8</a>, the vision of the ram and the goat depicts a male goat with a prominent horn, representing the kingdom of Greece and its first king, Alexander the Great. The goat's swift movement and powerful horn symbolize the rapid and forceful expansion of Alexander's empire. This imagery emphasizes the male goat's association with authority and dominance in the biblical context.<br><br><b>Representation of Sin and Rebellion</b><br><br>Conversely, the male goat can symbolize sin and rebellion. In the prophetic literature, goats are often contrasted with sheep, representing those who are rebellious and unrighteous. In <a href="/matthew/25-32.htm">Matthew 25:32-33</a>, Jesus uses the imagery of separating sheep from goats to illustrate the final judgment, where the sheep represent the righteous and the goats the unrighteous. This distinction underscores the male goat's association with those who are obstinate and opposed to God's will.<br><br><b>Cultural and Historical Context</b><br><br>In the ancient Near Eastern context, goats were common livestock, valued for their milk, meat, and hides. Their prevalence in daily life made them a fitting symbol in biblical literature. The male goat's characteristics—such as its independence and sometimes aggressive behavior—further contributed to its symbolic representation of both positive and negative traits.<br><br><b>Conclusion</b><br><br>The male goat's symbolism in the Bible is rich and varied, encompassing themes of atonement, leadership, and rebellion. Its role in the sacrificial system highlights the seriousness of sin and the necessity of divine intervention for forgiveness. As a symbol of power, the male goat illustrates the rise and fall of empires, while its association with rebellion serves as a cautionary reminder of the consequences of straying from God's path. Through these diverse representations, the male goat remains a potent symbol within the biblical narrative.</div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/s/symbolic.htm">Symbolic</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/asherah.htm">Asherah (40 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/w/writing.htm">Writing (194 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/g/golden.htm">Golden (86 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/c/calf.htm">Calf (39 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/m/matrix.htm">Matrix (4 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/a.htm">A (102073 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/symbol.htm">Symbol (8 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/i/images.htm">Images (158 Occurrences)</a></p><p 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