ἔριφος (eriphos)
eriphos
a goat
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun eriphos refers specifically to a young goat or kid. In the New Testament, this term appears in only two passages, yet each instance carries significant narrative weight. It serves as the concrete object around which key theological and moral scenes are constructed.
In Matthew 25:32, Jesus uses the image of separating sheep from goats to describe the final judgment. Here, the eriphos represents those on the left hand, distinct from the righteous. This usage connects back to Old Testament imagery where young goats often symbolized sin offerings or unclean elements, highlighting a state of separation.
The second occurrence is found in Luke 15:29, within the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The elder brother complains that he never received a young goat to celebrate with his friends, contrasting his rigid obedience with his brother’s reckless freedom. In this context, the eriphos signifies a festive meal and social joy, underscoring the father’s generosity and the elder son’s resentment.
The word likely derives from a root related to hairiness, distinguishing it from other terms for adult sheep or cattle. Its limited usage in the Gospels ensures that each mention stands out sharply, whether as a symbol of judgment or a marker of celebration.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word eriphos refers to a young goat, a simple animal that Jesus used to paint two very different pictures of human life. In Matthew 25:32, it represents those separated at the final judgment. This stark image reminds us that our choices have eternal weight and that God sees the true condition of every heart.
Yet in Luke 15:29, the same animal marks a festive meal. The elder brother complains he never received a young goat to celebrate with friends. Here, the eriphos symbolizes joy and community, highlighting the father’s generous love for his wayward son. It shows that God’s grace is not just about avoiding judgment but entering into shared celebration.
These two uses invite us to look at our own lives. Do we live in fear of separation, or do we accept the invitation to feast with our Father? The choice between standing apart or joining the celebration rests in how we respond to His mercy.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- goats,1×
- a young goat1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἔριφον1×
- ἐρίφων,1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 25:32
Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
The term highlights the final separation between the righteous and those who have rejected God's love, serving as a sobering reminder of accountability.
-
Luke 15:29
But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.
This occurrence underscores the elder brother’s resentment by contrasting his rigid service with the father’s generous provision for celebration.