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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.

Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew Words:

Number:

4451 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Transliteration:

malmad

Phonic:

mal-mawd’

Meaning:

from 3925; a goad for oxen

KJV Usage:

goad

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Judges 3:81. Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad.

This must have been a formidable weapon if, as is doubtless the case, the goad of that day was similar to the one now used in Palestine. It is a strong pole about eight feet long and two inches in diameter. At one end is a sharp point for pricking the oxen when their movements become intolerably slow, and at the other end is a broad chisel-like blade, which is used to clear the plowshare of the roots and thorns which impede it or of the stiff clay which adheres to it. The pointed end of this instrument is alluded to in Acts 9: 5; 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).