Lexical Summary seirah: Hairy, Shaggy Original Word: שְׂעִירָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance kid Feminine of sa'iyr; a she-goat -- kid. see HEBREW sa'iyr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfem. of sair Definition female goat NASB Translation goat (1), goat* (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. [שְׂעִירָה] noun feminine she-goat; — construct שְׂעִירַת עִזִּים (literally hairy female of goats) Leviticus 4:28; Leviticus 5:6. Topical Lexicon Occurrence and Context in Leviticus The term שְׂעִירָה appears only twice, both times in the legislation for sin-related offerings (Leviticus 4:28; Leviticus 5:6). In both passages it designates a “female goat” brought by an ordinary Israelite who has unintentionally sinned. The text specifies that the animal be “without blemish,” underscoring the demand for moral and ritual perfection even in the most modest offering. Sacrificial Accessibility for the Common Israelite Leviticus provides a descending scale of sacrifices—bull for the anointed priest, male goat for a leader, female goat or lamb for a commoner, and finally grain for the very poor. By allowing a female goat, the law demonstrates divine concern that atonement be within reach of every covenant member. The she-goat was less costly than a male and more plentiful among pastoral families; no Israelite, however humble, was excused from dealing with sin. Gendered Symbolism and Ritual Purity While male animals often symbolized strength and headship, the permitting of a female goat reminds the reader that atonement does not rest upon creaturely power but upon God’s gracious provision. Ritual purity is not inherently masculine or feminine; both genders of sacrificial animals point to wholeness, health, and freedom from defect—qualities that foreshadow the sinlessness of the coming Messiah. Foreshadowing the Perfect Sacrifice of Christ Hebrews 10:4 declares, “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins,” yet the same epistle affirms that these offerings were “a shadow of the good things to come.” The modest she-goat anticipates Jesus Christ, the true and final sin offering. Just as the goat was brought by the worshiper and identified with his guilt, so “the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). The economic accessibility of the goat offering prefigures the universal availability of salvation through the gospel. Theology of Confession and Restoration Each occurrence of שְׂעִירָה is tied to explicit confession: “When he is made aware of the sin he has committed” (Leviticus 4:28); “He must confess the sin he has committed” (Leviticus 5:5, immediately preceding verse 6). True worship involves acknowledgment of guilt, substitutionary death, and restored fellowship. The ritual pattern laid down in Leviticus teaches that forgiveness is both costly and gracious. Pastoral and Homiletical Applications 1. Assurance for the Penitent: Even the smallest household could secure atonement. Likewise, no sinner today is beyond the reach of Christ’s blood. Historical and Cultural Insights Goats were essential to Israel’s agrarian economy, valued for milk, hair, and meat. Female goats were especially common; thus their use in sacrifice tied everyday life to covenant worship, integrating domestic and cultic spheres. Archaeological findings from Iron Age Israel confirm the prevalence of goat husbandry, matching the biblical record. Related Biblical Themes • Day of Atonement: The “goat for Azazel” (Leviticus 16) extends the goat motif, emphasizing removal as well as covering of sin. Summary שְׂעִירָה, though appearing only twice, illuminates God’s merciful provision for ordinary people, the inclusiveness of covenant grace, and the Old Testament’s forward-looking testimony to the perfect atonement accomplished by Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations שְׂעִירַ֤ת שְׂעִירַ֥ת שעירת śə‘îraṯ śə·‘î·raṯ seiRatLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 4:28 HEB: וְהֵבִ֨יא קָרְבָּנ֜וֹ שְׂעִירַ֤ת עִזִּים֙ תְּמִימָ֣ה NAS: for his offering a goat, a female KJV: his offering, a kid of the goats, INT: shall bring his offering A goat of the goats without Leviticus 5:6 2 Occurrences |
    |