Shaggy
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In the context of the Bible, the term "shaggy" is often associated with descriptions of animals, particularly goats, and is used to convey a sense of wildness or untamed nature. The term appears in various translations of the Bible, and while it may not be a central theme, it provides insight into the cultural and symbolic significance of certain animals in biblical times.

Biblical References:

1. Daniel 8:21 : "The shaggy goat represents the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king." In this prophetic vision, the "shaggy goat" symbolizes the kingdom of Greece, with the large horn representing its first king, historically understood to be Alexander the Great. The use of "shaggy" here emphasizes the untamed and powerful nature of the Greek empire as it swiftly conquered vast territories.

2. Leviticus 16:21-22 : "He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities and rebellious acts of the Israelites—all their sins. He shall place them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their iniquities into a solitary place, and the man will release it into the wilderness." While the term "shaggy" is not explicitly used in this passage, the concept of the "scapegoat" is closely related. The goat, often depicted as a wild and untamed animal, carries the sins of the people into the wilderness, symbolizing the removal of sin and guilt from the community.

3. Isaiah 13:21 : "But desert creatures will lie down there, and howling creatures will fill her houses. There the owls will dwell, and there the wild goats will leap about." In this passage, the desolation of Babylon is described using imagery of wild animals inhabiting the ruins. The "wild goats" or "shaggy goats" are part of this imagery, symbolizing the complete abandonment and wildness that will overtake the once-great city.

Symbolism and Cultural Context:

In biblical symbolism, goats often represent sin, stubbornness, and separation from God. The "shaggy" aspect of goats can emphasize their wild and untamed nature, which contrasts with the domesticated and obedient sheep. This distinction is significant in biblical teachings, where sheep are often used to symbolize the faithful followers of God, while goats can represent those who are rebellious or outside the covenant community.

The use of "shaggy" in describing goats and other animals in the Bible also reflects the agrarian society of ancient Israel, where the characteristics of animals were well-known and often used metaphorically to convey spiritual truths. The imagery of wild and untamed animals serves as a powerful reminder of the chaos and disorder that can result from turning away from God's order and commandments.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, the imagery of shaggy goats and other wild animals can serve as a metaphor for the human condition apart from divine guidance. Just as a shaggy goat is untamed and prone to wander, so too can individuals be led astray by sin and rebellion. The biblical narrative often contrasts this wildness with the peace and order found in following God's will, as exemplified by the Good Shepherd who leads His flock with care and authority.

In summary, while the term "shaggy" may not be frequently used in the Bible, its application in describing goats and other animals provides rich symbolic meaning that enhances our understanding of biblical themes related to sin, rebellion, and redemption.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) Rough with long hair or wool.

2. (n.) Rough; rugged; jaggy.

Strong's Hebrew
8163a. sair -- hairy
... hairy. Transliteration: sair or sair Short Definition: hairy. Word Origin from the
same as sear Definition hairy NASB Word Usage hairy (3), shaggy (2). ...
/hebrew/8163a.htm - 5k

6785. tsemer -- wool
... 16). woolen. From an unused root probably meaning to be shaggy; wool --
wool(-len). 6784, 6785. tsemer. 6786 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6785.htm - 5k

8163. sa'iyr -- hairy
... devil, goat, hairy, kid, rough, satyr Or sabir {saw-eer'}; from sa'ar; shaggy; as
noun, a he-goat; by analogy, a faun -- devil, goat, hairy, kid, rough, satyr. ...
/hebrew/8163.htm - 5k

5569. samar -- bristling, rough
... Word Origin from samar Definition bristling, rough NASB Word Usage bristly (1).
rough. From camar; bristling, ie Shaggy -- rough. see HEBREW camar. 5568, 5569 ...
/hebrew/5569.htm - 6k

Library

Against Men who Embellish Themselves.
... spontaneously, as a horse in his mane; but has adorned man, like the lions, with
a beard, and endowed him, as an attribute of manhood, with shaggy breasts,"a ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter iii against men who embellish.htm

Martyrdom of the Holy and Glorious Apostle Bartholomew.
... And the demon answered and said: He has black hair, a shaggy head, a fair skin,
[2410] large eyes, beautiful nostrils, his ears hidden by the hair of his head ...
/.../martyrdom of the holy and.htm

Change not Always Improvement.
... Whence comes it that men shaggy and hirsute learn to teach the resin [39] to feed
on their arms with such rapacity, the tweezers to weed their chin so ...
/.../tertullian/on the pallium/chapter iv change not always improvement.htm

The Symbols of the Republic.
... of Europe. It stretches itself out over three continents. The waves of
three oceans chafe against its shaggy sides. The energies ...
/.../chapin/humanity in the city/discourse iv the symbols of.htm

Gambling, Card-Playing
... of "dice. See him with his long, slender fingers; with his shaggy, unkempt
hair; with keen eyes, and a sordid countenance. He is ...
/.../questionable amusements and worthy substitutes/iii gambling card-playing.htm

Off to vienna
... sun.". And the shaggy fighting-men of the frontier villages watched him
ride through their streets, and thought: "This is an angel. ...
/.../chapter iv off to vienna.htm

The Adventure of the Three Sons of Saint George.
... like those of eagles, but infinitely larger and sharper; he had ears like a fox,
with a scaly breast, and wings like a bird; but his body was shaggy, and his ...
/.../the seven champions of christendom/chapter fourteen the adventure of.htm

The Spirit and Power of Elias.
... And we know that it was there amid the shaggy forests, and closely-set mountains,
with their rapid torrents, that John the Baptist waited, fulfilled his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/meyer/john the baptist/xvii the spirit and power.htm

Through the Red Sea
... Where was the sea? After the camels followed a score of mules, little and
trim in contrast to the tall shaggy beasts ahead of them. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xlv through the red.htm

Christ and the Dog
... own country. They act as scavengers, and live on whatever they can pick
up. They are shaggy and dirty and yellow. The people stone ...
/.../chidley/fifty-two story talks to boys and girls/christ and the dog.htm

Thesaurus
Shaggy (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Rough with long hair or wool. 2. (n.) Rough;
rugged; jaggy. Multi-Version Concordance Shaggy (2 Occurrences). ...
/s/shaggy.htm - 7k

Lions (50 Occurrences)
... (1.) Gor (ie, a "suckling"), the lion's whelp (Genesis 49:9; Jeremiah 51:38, etc.).
(2.) Kephir (ie, "shaggy"), the young lion (Judges 14:5; Job 4:10; Psalm 91 ...
/l/lions.htm - 26k

Lion (92 Occurrences)
... The adult male, in most varieties, has a thick mane of long shaggy hair that adds
to his apparent size, which is less than that of the largest tigers. ...
/l/lion.htm - 46k

Goat (92 Occurrences)
... Its flesh was a delicacy among the Hebrews (Genesis 27:9, 14, 17; Judges 6:19).
(4.) Hebrews sa'ir, meaning the "shaggy," a hairy goat, a he-goat (2 Chronicles ...
/g/goat.htm - 48k

Rough (24 Occurrences)
... water. 5. (n.) Marked by coarseness; shaggy; ragged; disordered; -- said
of dress, appearance, or the like; as, a rough coat. 6. (n ...
/r/rough.htm - 15k

Ragged (1 Occurrence)
... 5. (n.) Wearing tattered clothes; as, a ragged fellow. 6. (n.) Rough; shaggy;
rugged. Multi-Version Concordance Ragged (1 Occurrence). ...
/r/ragged.htm - 7k

Rugged (7 Occurrences)
... mountain; a rugged road. 2. (n.) Not neat or regular; uneven. 3. (n.) Rough
with bristles or hair; shaggy. 4. (n.) Harsh; hard; crabbed ...
/r/rugged.htm - 9k

Rug (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (n.) A rough, woolly, or shaggy dog. 4. (vt) To pull roughly or hastily; to plunder;
to spoil; to tear. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. RUG. ...
/r/rug.htm - 7k

Seirah (1 Occurrence)
... Moab (Judges 3:26). The name is from the same root as the foregoing, and
probably applied to some shaggy forest. The quarries by ...
/s/seirah.htm - 7k

Shageh (1 Occurrence)

/s/shageh.htm - 6k

Resources
Shaggy: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Shaggy (2 Occurrences)

Isaiah 13:21
But wild-cats shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of ferrets; and ostriches shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.
(See NAS)

Daniel 8:21
The rough male goat is the king of Greece: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
(See NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Shaggy

Related Terms

Shahar (2 Occurrences)

Shaggy (2 Occurrences)

Shageh
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