Lexical Summary yael: wild goats Original Word: יָעֵל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance wild goat From ya'al; an ibex (as climbing) -- wild goat. see HEBREW ya'al NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition mountain goat NASB Translation mountain goats* (1), wild goats (1), Wild Goats (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [יָעֵל] noun [masculine] mountain-goat (Late Hebrew id.; ᵑ7 יְעֵיעָא, Syriac  ; Arabic  ,  ; Assyrian ia'ilu DlS 53 (but HptBAS i. 170, Jägerib. 465); Ethiopic  see HomNS 280) — Plural יְעֵלִים Psalm 104:18 ("" שְׁפַנִּים); צוּרֵי ׳הַיּ 1 Samuel 24:3; יַעֲלֵיסָֿ֑לַע Job 39:1 ("" אַיָּלוֺת; compare I. יַעֲלָה). Topical Lexicon Physical Characteristics and Habitat The animal designated by יָעֵל is the wild goat or ibex that ranges among sheer cliffs and crags. In the lands of Scripture this refers primarily to the Nubian ibex, a sure-footed creature with backward-curving horns and a body adapted for arid, mountainous terrain. Its specialized hooves give remarkable traction on narrow ledges only inches wide, enabling it to dwell where predators and human hunters rarely venture. These natural sanctuaries—steep, sun-baked wadis and escarpments—frame every biblical scene in which the wild goat appears. Occurrences in Scripture • 1 Samuel 24:2 situates Saul’s pursuit of David “in front of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.” The crags of the ibex at En-gedi underscore the dramatic contrast between Saul’s royal army and David’s few fugitives who trust God amid otherwise inaccessible refuges. Historical and Geographical Insight Ancient Near-Eastern reliefs, including those from Egypt and Mesopotamia, depict horned ibexes leaping among mountains or portrayed as symbols of vitality. In Israel, herds are attested near the Dead Sea, the Negev, and Gilead. Their presence at En-gedi is so prominent that the site’s very name (“spring of the kid”) evokes the animal. Because these goats inhabit the most inaccessible strongholds, later Jewish tradition used the ibex as a metaphor for one who triumphs over obstacles. Symbolic and Theological Themes 1. Refuge and Deliverance The ibex’s home among near-vertical rocks sharpens the biblical theme of God as an unassailable refuge. David experienced literal safety in such crags (1 Samuel 24) and later could sing, “The LORD is my rock and my fortress” (2 Samuel 22:2). The animal’s environment supplies the visual vocabulary for that confession. 2. Divine Providence Beyond Human Reach Job 39 presents a catalog of creatures whose life processes occur without human supervision. The mountain goat inaugurates the list, announcing that God’s wisdom extends to hidden places and unobserved seasons. The believer is thereby invited to rest in a sovereignty that encompasses the unseen. 3. Provision for Every Creature Psalm 104 places the ibex within a larger litany of God’s ecological order. Mountains, valleys, streams, the sun, and moon all fulfill appointed roles. In giving the heights to the wild goat, the Lord demonstrates that even the barren outcrops are included in His goodness. This theme anticipates Jesus’ assurance that “your Father knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). 4. Sure-Footedness on the Heights Although the term יָעֵל itself is not used in passages like 2 Samuel 22:34 or Habakkuk 3:19, the imagery of nimble feet on heights draws from the same zoological reality. Such verses promise the believer stability and progress in perilous circumstances, modeled on the ibex’s agility. Lessons for Faith and Ministry • Trust in unseen care: Just as God oversees the hidden gestation of the mountain goat, He governs every stage of a disciple’s life, even seasons invisible to others. Messianic Echoes While no direct messianic prophecy features the wild goat, David’s experience among the ibex crags foreshadows the greater Son of David who found no place to lay His head (Luke 9:58) yet trusted His Father’s perfect provision. The psalmist’s assurance that “the high mountains are for the wild goats” assures us that the exalted Christ now prepares a place perfectly suited for His people (John 14:2–3). Modern Observation Present-day travelers to Ein Gedi still witness herds of Nubian ibex scaling the same cliffs that sheltered David. Their continued presence offers a living reminder that the biblical text is rooted in tangible geography and enduring natural rhythms. Summary Strong’s Hebrew 3277 introduces the wild goat as a vibrant thread woven through narratives of refuge, poetry of creation, and speeches exalting divine wisdom. Its habitat atop forbidding heights pictures the twin realities of God’s protective care and His call to rise above earthly dangers. From the caves of En-gedi to the lofty praise of Psalm 104, the ibex invites every generation to trust the Shepherd who appoints safe footholds even on the sheerest cliff. Forms and Transliterations הַיְּעֵלִֽים׃ היעלים׃ יַעֲלֵי־ יעלי־ לַיְּעֵלִ֑ים ליעלים haiyeeLim hay·yə·‘ê·lîm hayyə‘êlîm laiyeeLim lay·yə·‘ê·lîm layyə‘êlîm ya‘ălê- ya·‘ă·lê- yaaleiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 24:2 HEB: פְּנֵ֖י צוּרֵ֥י הַיְּעֵלִֽים׃ NAS: of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. KJV: upon the rocks of the wild goats. INT: front of the Rocks of the Wild Job 39:1 Psalm 104:18 3 Occurrences |
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