# goat, kid #

## Definition: ##

A goat is a medium-sized, four-legged animal which is similar to a sheep and is raised primarily for its milk and meat. A baby goat is called a "kid."

* Like sheep, goats were important animals of sacrifice, especially at Passover.
* Although goats and sheep can be very similar, these are some ways that they are different:
   * Goats have coarse hair; sheep have wool.
   * The tail of a goat stands up; the tail of a sheep hangs down.
   * A sheep usually like to stay with their herd, but goats are more independent and tend to wander away from the herd.
* In Bible times, goats were often the main source of milk in Israel.
* Goat skins were used for tent coverings and to make bags for holding wine.
* In both the Old and New Testaments, the goat was used as a symbol for unrighteous people, perhaps because of their tendency to wander away from the one taking care of them.
* The Israelites also used goats as symbolic sin bearers. When one goat was sacrificed, the priest would lay his hands on a second live goat and send it into the desert as a symbol of the animal bearing the people's sins.

(See also: [flock](../other/flock.md) **·** [sacrifice](../other/sacrifice.md) **·** [sheep](../other/sheep.md) **·** [unrighteous](../kt/unrighteous.md) **·** [wine](../other/wine.md))

## Bible References: ##

* [Exodus 12:3-4](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/exo/12/03)
* [Genesis 30:31-32](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/gen/30/31)
* [Genesis 31:10-11](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/gen/31/10)
* [Genesis 37:31-33](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/gen/37/31)
* [Leviticus 03:12-14](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/lev/03/12)
* [Matthew 25:31-33](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/mat/25/31)