Lexical Summary
attud: male goats, goats, leaders
Original Word:עַתּוּד
Part of Speech:Noun Masculine
Transliteration:`attuwd
Pronunciation:at-TOOD
Phonetic Spelling:(at-tood')
KJV: chief one, (he) goat, ram
NASB:male goats, goats, leaders
Word Origin:[fromH6257 (עָתַד - destined)]
1. prepared, i.e. full grown
2. spoken only (in plural) of he-goats, or (figuratively) leaders of the people
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
chief one, he goat, ram
Or sattud {at-tood'}; fromathad; prepared, i.e. Full grown; spoken only (in plural) of he-goats, or (figuratively) leaders of the people -- chief one, (he) goat, ram.
see HEBREWathad
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
athodDefinitionmale goat
NASB Translationgoats (6), leaders (1), male goats (22).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[]
29Genesis 31:10 (Late Hebrew = Biblical Hebrew; Assyrian
atudû Arabic
young he-goat; relation to above √ not clear; Thes
well-developed, compare Arabic
horse fit for running (compare √ meaning
great, i.e. perhaps
full-grown); according to Hom
NS 247 f. animal
ready to fight); — only plural
Isaiah 1:11 13t.;
Genesis 31:10 13t.; construct
Isaiah 34:6; — as property
Genesis 31:10,12;
Ezekiel 27:21;
Proverbs 27:26, food
Deuteronomy 32:14; as leaders of flock
Jeremiah 50:8 (simile), hence figurative of princes and chief men
Isaiah 14:9;
Ezekiel 34:17, see also below; as sacrificial victims
Isaiah 1:11;
Numbers 7:17 12t.
Numbers 7;
Psalm 66:15 and (ironic)
Psalm 50:9;
Psalm 50:13; figurative of people and princes in 's great sacrifice
Isaiah 34:6;
Jeremiah 51:40 (simile),
Ezekiel 39:18, and (idea of sacrifice dropped)
Zechariah 10:3.
, , see below I. .
Topical Lexicon
General Overviewעַתּוּד (ʿattûd) denotes the virile male goat, prized for its strength, fecundity, and suitability for sacrifice. The term appears about twenty-nine times, from the patriarchal narratives of Genesis to the post-exilic prophecies of Zechariah. Wherever it occurs, the attud stands at the forefront—either literally leading the herd or figuratively representing leaders, costly offerings, or objects of divine judgment.
Pastoral Life in the Patriarchal Era
•Genesis 30:35; 31:10, 12; 32:14 portray the attud as essential breeding stock in Jacob’s flocks. By selectively removing or gifting these males, both Laban and Jacob acknowledge their economic and genetic value.
• The repeated mention of attudim in these scenes underlines God’s providential control of increase (Genesis 31:9) and demonstrates that material blessing and covenant promise are intertwined.
Levitical and Festal Sacrifice
• From the inaugural tabernacle offerings (Numbers 7:12-88) to calendar sacrifices (Numbers 28:15; 29:5, 16-38), attudim are regularly paired with rams and bulls. In each instance they appear in the peace-offering portion, reinforcing the note of fellowship restored.
•Numbers 7:17: “and for the peace offering: two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old.”
• The prominence of the he-goat in sin offerings elsewhere (though usually under a different Hebrew word) is complemented here by attudim in fellowship offerings, together painting a composite picture of atonement and communion ultimately fulfilled in Christ (Hebrews 10:1-14).
Civil and Royal Tribute
• In the ancient Near-Eastern economy the attud could substitute for silver (Proverbs 27:26) and served as tradable wealth (Ezekiel 27:21). The prophets employ these images to indict nations that hoard riches without honoring the Giver (cf.Hosea 4:16-19 where goats symbolize stubborn apostasy).
Symbol of Leadership—Good and Bad
•Jeremiah 50:8 likens Israel’s remnant to “goats that lead the flock”, urging decisive departure from Babylon.
•Zechariah 10:3 rebukes corrupt civil authorities with the same figure: “The LORD of Hosts will attend to His flock… but against the male goats His anger burns.”
•Proverbs 30:31 commends “a strutting rooster, a he-goat, and a king secure against revolt,” illustrating confident, orderly leadership. The attud is thus a double-edged metaphor: when yielded to God, it models bold guidance; when self-directed, it invites discipline.
Prophetic Imagery of Judgment and Restoration
•Isaiah 34:6–7 pictures the slaughter of nations with “lambs and goats” under Yahweh’s sword, stressing total judgment that will one day cleanse Edom’s land.
•Ezekiel 39:18 folds attudim into the grisly banquet for the birds after Gog’s defeat, foretelling the ultimate vindication of God’s glory among the nations.
• Yet inEzekiel 34:17 God also promises to separate His true sheep from unruly goats, a judgment Jesus echoes inMatthew 25:32.
Spiritual and Ministry Lessons
1. Leadership under Shepherd-King Christ. The attud leads, but only as it follows the shepherd (John 10:4). Spiritual overseers must exhibit humble strength, guiding rather than driving the flock.
2. Whole-hearted Fellowship. Attudim in peace offerings remind believers that reconciliation with God results in shared meals and joyful communion (1 John 1:3). Ministry that stops with mere sin-management falls short of the biblical ideal of restored fellowship.
3. Stewardship of God-given Resources. As Jacob’s account shows, breeding stock and business acumen prosper only within God’s covenant framework (Deuteronomy 8:18).
4. Warning against Prideful Independence. Prophetic denunciations of the “he-goats” warn leaders who trust in their own vigor instead of the Lord (Zechariah 10:3). Churches and nations alike must heed this pattern lest strength become rebellion.
Summary
Whether grazing in patriarchal pastures, ascending the altar in Israel’s worship, or striding through the oracles of the prophets, the attud consistently functions as a signpost. It points to the necessity of strong yet submissive leadership, the costliness of fellowship with God, and the certainty of divine judgment against unrepentant pride. Ultimately, every attud finds its ultimate meaning in “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), in whom perfect leadership, sacrifice, and dominion converge.
Forms and Transliterations
הָֽעַתֻּדִים֙ הָעַתּוּדִ֖ים העתדים העתודים וְלָעַתּוּדִֽים׃ וְעַתּוּדִ֔ים וְעַתּוּדִ֖ים וְעַתּוּדִים֙ ולעתודים׃ ועתודים כְּעַתּוּדִ֖ים כעתודים עַתֻּדִ֣ים עַתּ֣וּדֵי עַתּוּדִ֣ים עַתּוּדִֽים׃ עתדים עתודי עתודים עתודים׃ ‘at·tū·ḏê ‘at·tu·ḏîm ‘at·tū·ḏîm ‘attūḏê ‘attuḏîm ‘attūḏîm atTudei attuDim hā‘attuḏîm hā‘attūḏîm hā·‘at·tu·ḏîm hā·‘at·tū·ḏîm haattuDim kə‘attūḏîm kə·‘at·tū·ḏîm keattuDim veattuDim velaattuDim wə‘attūḏîm wə·‘at·tū·ḏîm wə·lā·‘at·tū·ḏîm wəlā‘attūḏîm
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