← H5794 H5796 →

עֵז

𐤏𐤆

ʻêz

H5795 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עזז to be strong, to be powerful, to be hard

Definition

Female goat, especially an adult, in Israelite society and cultic practice; in the plural, can refer collectively to goats of both sexes, and in some contexts stands for 'goat's hair' or materials derived from goats. Also used to designate a sacrificial animal in ritual law.

Semantic Range

female goat, she-goat, goat (generic, plural), goat's hair (as material), goat used in ritual sacrifice, collective term for goats, product derived from goat (hair, skin)

Root / Etymology

From the root עזז meaning 'to be strong, mighty, hard.' The noun עֵז is a feminine noun denoting primarily the female goat, possibly drawing on the characteristic of strength or robustness associated with the animal, though the connection to 'strength' is largely lexical and not necessarily connotative in most usages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In ancient Israelite society, goats were valued as domesticated livestock for milk, meat, skins, and hair (especially for weaving in both domestic and tabernacle contexts). The use of עֵז in ritual and legal texts (e.g., Leviticus, Numbers) commonly refers to the female goat as an acceptable animal for certain sin and guilt offerings; in such contexts, the animal's sex is sometimes explicitly noted, though elsewhere goats of either gender may be included under the plural עִזִּים. Notably, goat's hair was a significant raw material, such as for the tabernacle coverings in Exodus, and the word can be used elliptically for this product. In poetry and some narrative, 'goats' are invoked to denote wealth or pastoral imagery. Standard English translations often render the word simply as 'goat,' which risks overlooking the specifically female referent or the occasional metonymic extension to products (e.g., 'goat's hair'). In later biblical Hebrew and post-biblical usage, distinctions can also arise between עֵז and שָׂעִיר (usually 'he-goat' or 'hairy goat'), with the latter sometimes carrying mythological or ritual connotations (e.g., scapegoat or demon imagery).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָזַז; a she-goat (as strong), but masculine in plural (which also is used elliptically for goat's hair); (she) goat, kid.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

עזז (ʿ-z-z) — strength, might, hardness

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4581 מָעוֹז in a stronghold of
H4590 מַעַזְיָה to Yah-is-Refuge
H5794 עַז strong
H5797 עֹז my strength
H5798 עֻזָּא in Strength

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5795-04 עִזִּ֖ים izim HNcfpa of goats she-goats 46
H5795-03 הָֽ/עִזִּ֔ים haizim HTd/Ncfpa of the goats the she-goats 13
H5795-02 עֵ֖ז ez HNcfsa goat she-goat 5
H5795-10 וְ/עִזִּֽים veizim HC/Ncfpa and goats' hair and she-goats 3
H5795-01 בָּ/עִזִּ֑ים baizim HRd/Ncfpa among the goats in the goats 2
H5795-05 וּ/בָֽ/עִזִּֽים uvaizim HC/Rd/Ncfpa or from the goats and among goats 1
H5795-09 וְ/עִזֶּ֖י/ךָ veizeykha HC/Ncfpc/Sp2ms and your she-goats and your she-goats 1
H5795-06 וָ/עֵ֖ז vaez HC/Ncfsa or goat female goat 1
H5795-08 וְ/עֵ֥ז veez HC/Ncfsa and a she-goat female goat 1
H5795-07 בָ/עִזִּֽים vaizim HRd/Ncfpa the goats among the she-goats 1

Occurrences in Scripture

74 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5795-08 Genesis 15:9 וְ/עֵ֥ז veez HC/Ncfsa and a she-goat female goat
H5795-04 Genesis 27:9 עִזִּ֖ים izim HNcfpa of goats she-goats
H5795-03 Genesis 27:16 הָֽ/עִזִּ֔ים haizim HTd/Ncfpa of the goats the she-goats
H5795-01 Genesis 30:32 בָּ/עִזִּ֑ים baizim HRd/Ncfpa among the goats in the goats
H5795-01 Genesis 30:33 בָּֽ/עִזִּ֗ים baizim HRd/Ncfpa among the goats in the goats
H5795-03 Genesis 30:35 הָֽ/עִזִּים֙ haizim HTd/Ncfpa the female goats the she-goats
H5795-09 Genesis 31:38 וְ/עִזֶּ֖י/ךָ veizeykha HC/Ncfpc/Sp2ms and your she-goats and your she-goats
H5795-04 Genesis 32:15 עִזִּ֣ים izim HNcfpa she-goats she-goats
H5795-04 Genesis 37:31 עִזִּ֔ים izim HNcfpa of goats she-goats
H5795-04 Genesis 38:17 עִזִּ֖ים izim HNcfpa of the goats she-goats
← H5794 Hebrew Lexicon H5796 →