goat

Everyday

1. A goat is an animal with horns and often a beard, kept on farms for milk, meat and wool. tree →
2. Wild goats live in the mountains and are very good climbers. tree →
3. A baby goat is a kid; a male is a billy goat and a female is a nanny goat. tree →

In the lessons

In school maths: a counted animal with 4 legs; milk per goat (goats × litres each); legs puzzles with goats and chickens. In science: goats are mammals and herbivores. In stories: «The Three Billy Goats Gruff». Phrases: «billy goat», «goat's milk», «goat's cheese», «GOAT» (slang: the greatest of all time).

Examples

• A farmer has 8 goats. tree →
• Each goat gives 2 litres of milk. tree →
• Goats and chickens have 50 legs. tree →
• How many legs do 6 goats have? tree →
• A goat has 4 legs. tree →
• The Three Billy Goats Gruff crossed the troll's bridge. tree →
• Mountain goats can climb steep rocks. tree →
• We fed the baby goats at the petting zoo. tree →
• “Little goat, bleat, Little table, appear,” tree →

Note

Countable: «a goat». A young goat is a «kid» — the same word as for a child. Maths: counted animal with 4 legs. Trap: in goats and chickens puzzles the legs differ (4 and 2).

In Jewish tradition

Goats were common animals used in sacrifices, especially as a sin-offering. On Yom Kippur one goat was sent to the wilderness. In the Writings there are also wild goats of the rocks, and a flock of goats trailing down Gilead is a picture of beautiful hair.

Interpretation. The Yom Kippur "scapegoat" carried away the sins of the people. Tradition reads this as a picture of forgiveness and the removal of wrongdoing. The psalm where God says He does not eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats is read as teaching that God needs no sacrifice and wants sincere hearts.

Examples

• one he-goat, to make atonement for you. (Torah NUM.28.30, JPS 1917) tree →
• one male of the goats for a sin-offering; (Torah NUM.7.16, JPS 1917) tree →
• and one he-goat for a sin-offering, to make atonement for you. (Torah NUM.28.22, JPS 1917) tree →
• Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? (Writings JOB.39.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? (Writings PSA.50.13, JPS 1917) tree →
• Thy hair is as a flock of goats, that trail down from Gilead. (Writings SNG.6.5, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: «a goat». A young goat is a «kid» — the same word as for a child. Maths: counted animal with 4 legs. Trap: in goats and chickens puzzles the legs differ (4 and 2).