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Goad

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(gad, strike). A rod spiked at the end for driving oxen (Judg. 3:31³¹And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel. (Judges 3:31)); and iron-shod at the other end for cleaning plows, or even for plowing (1 Sam. 13:21²¹Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. (1 Samuel 13:21)).

Concise Bible Dictionary:

A long slender pole with a sharp point at one end, used for guiding and urging the oxen in plowing. It can also be used as a formidable weapon. Shamgar slew six hundred men with an ox goad (Judg. 3:31³¹And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel. (Judges 3:31); 1 Sam. 13:21²¹Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. (1 Samuel 13:21)). It is applied metaphorically to the energy imparted by the words of the wise (Eccl. 12:11¹¹The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. (Ecclesiastes 12:11)). The goad is alluded to in Acts 9:5⁵And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (Acts 9:5); Acts 26:14¹⁴And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (Acts 26:14), translated “pricks:” if the ox kicked against the goad, he only hurt himself the more: as do all those who oppose God.