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עַתּוּד

𐤏𐤕𐤅𐤃

ʻattûwd

H6260 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עתד to prepare, to make ready, to set apart

Definition

Male goat, specifically a mature or fully grown he-goat, often with horned prominence. In figurative contexts, refers to leaders or chiefs, drawing on the imagery of goats as leading animals in a flock. The word is attested almost exclusively in plural forms and is used both literally for caprine animals and metaphorically for prominent individuals within a group.

Semantic Range

male goat, he-goat, buck; figuratively, leader, chief, prominent individual

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root עָתַד (‘to be ready, prepared’). The noun עַתּוּד designates what is ‘readied’ or ‘prepared’, specifically referencing an animal set apart or primed, typically a robust, mature he-goat. The root sense ‘to prepare’ informs the secondary sense of readiness, strength, or leadership implied in the animal's use and metaphorical extension.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עַתּוּד refers literally to male goats, especially in sacrificial and pastoral contexts (e.g., Numbers 7:17; 1 Chronicles 27:29). Their prominence and virility made them emblematic for leadership, which explains the metaphorical extension to describe leading men or chiefs, particularly in prophetic and poetic passages (e.g., Isaiah 14:9; Zechariah 10:3). English translations often render the term as 'he-goat,' 'chief,' or 'leader,' depending on context. The figurative sense is rooted in the social role of goats as natural leaders within herds, not necessarily implying political office. The term was especially common in exilic and post-exilic prophetic literature as a metaphor for prominent rulers or nobles. Though sometimes rendered 'ram' in older translations, עַתּוּד is more precisely a male goat and should be distinguished from other Hebrew terms for rams such as אַיִל. Later Jewish commentary sometimes associates the term with community leadership, but in biblical contexts it does not carry religious or priestly connotations ascribed in later periods.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or עַתֻּד; from עָתַד; prepared, i.e. full grown; spoken only (in plural) of he-goats, or (figuratively) leaders of the people; chief one, (he) goat, ram.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עתד (ʿ-ṭ-d) — to prepare, to make ready, to set apart

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6257 עָתַד they prepared themselves
H6259 עָתוּד he-goats
H6263 עֲתִיד prepared ones
H6264 עָתִיד prepared one

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6260-02 עַתּוּדִ֣ים atudim HNcmpa male goats mature he-goats 18
H6260-05 וְ/עַתּוּדִ֔ים veatudim HC/Ncmpa and goats and mature he-goats 5
H6260-03 הָֽ/עַתֻּדִים֙ haatudim HTd/Ncmpa the male goats the mature he-goats 3
H6260-04 כְּ/עַתּוּדִ֖ים keatudim HR/Ncmpa like male goats mature he-goats 1
H6260-06 וְ/לָ/עַתּוּדִֽים velaatudim HC/Rd/Ncmpa and to male goats and to mature he-goats 1
H6260-01 עַתּ֣וּדֵי atudey HNcmpc leaders mature he-goats of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

29 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6260-03 Genesis 31:10 הָֽ/עַתֻּדִים֙ haatudim HTd/Ncmpa the male goats the mature he-goats
H6260-03 Genesis 31:12 הָֽ/עַתֻּדִים֙ haatudim HTd/Ncmpa the males the mature he-goats
H6260-02 Numbers 7:17 עַתּוּדִ֣ים atudim HNcmpa he-goats mature he-goats
H6260-02 Numbers 7:23 עַתּוּדִ֣ים atudim HNcmpa he-goats mature he-goats
H6260-02 Numbers 7:29 עַתֻּדִ֣ים atudim HNcmpa male-goats mature he-goats
H6260-02 Numbers 7:35 עַתֻּדִ֣ים atudim HNcmpa male goats mature he-goats
H6260-02 Numbers 7:41 עַתֻּדִ֣ים atudim HNcmpa male goats mature he-goats
H6260-02 Numbers 7:47 עַתֻּדִ֣ים atudim HNcmpa male goats mature he-goats
H6260-02 Numbers 7:53 עַתֻּדִ֣ים atudim HNcmpa male-goats mature he-goats
H6260-02 Numbers 7:59 עַתֻּדִ֣ים atudim HNcmpa male goats mature he-goats
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