GospelMount
Search Topics Scripture Prayer Resources Ebooks About Support the mission Saved articles

גְּדִי (ge.di)

ge.di

kid

H1423 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 16 verses

H:N-M

Quick Reference

Language
Biblical Hebrew
Testament
Old Testament
Occurrences
16 verses
Root
—
Part of speech
H:N-M

Definition

Definition

kid, young male goat

Brown-Driver-Briggs

גְּדִי n.m. kid

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

kid, young male goat

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word gedi, meaning a young goat or kid, appears frequently in the Hebrew Bible as part of everyday life. It was a common source of food and clothing, often used in hospitality rituals or family preparations. When you read about characters preparing meals with young goats, it grounds the biblical narrative in the tangible realities of ancient Near Eastern culture.

Yet this ordinary animal also carries deeper symbolic weight. In Genesis 27, skins from a kid are used to deceive Isaac, showing how physical objects can be manipulated for human purposes. Conversely, in Isaiah 11, the young goat rests peacefully with the wolf, pointing to a future where creation is restored and violence ceases. These contrasts remind us that God works through both the mundane details of daily life and the grand visions of His ultimate plan.

Understanding this word helps us appreciate the texture of Scripture. It invites us to see how ordinary elements—food, animals, family interactions—are woven into God’s larger story of redemption and relationship.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 16 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • a kid of3×
  • a kid3×
  • [the] kid of2×
  • with/ a kid of1×
  • the/ kid1×
  • kids of1×
  • kids1×
  • kid1×
  • and/ a kid of1×
  • [the] kids of1×
  • <the>/ kid1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • גְּדִ֖י3×
  • גְּדִֽי\־2×
  • גְּדִ֣י2×
  • וּ/גְדִ֥י1×
  • הַ/גְּדִ֣י1×
  • הַ/גְּדִ֔י1×
  • גְּדָיֵ֥י1×
  • גְּדָיֵ֣י1×
  • גְּדִ֥י1×
  • גְּדִ֤י1×
  • גְדָיִ֗ים1×
  • בִּ/גְדִ֣י1×

Key Verses

  • Genesis 27:9
    Go now to the flock and get me two good young goats from there. I will make them savory food for your father, such as he loves.

    This verse introduces the use of a young goat's skin for deception, highlighting how ordinary items can be central to pivotal family drama.

  • Exodus 23:19
    You shall bring the first of the first fruits of your ground into the house of Yahweh your God. “You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.

    Here the prohibition against boiling a kid in its mother's milk establishes a boundary of compassion and reverence for life within Israel's covenant law.

  • Judges 6:19
    Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened cakes of an ephah of meal. He put the meat in a basket and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out to him under the oak, and presented it.

    Gideon’s preparation of a young goat demonstrates the tangible nature of his test with God, showing faith expressed through simple, concrete actions.

  • Isaiah 11:6
    The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, the calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf together; and a little child will lead them.

    The young goat lying down with the wolf symbolizes the peace and harmony that will characterize the messianic age, contrasting sharply with its usual role as prey or food.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Hebrew word ge.di mean?

It translates to 'kid' or 'young goat.' This animal was a staple in ancient Israel, used for food, clothing, and offerings. Its presence in Scripture reflects both daily life and symbolic imagery.

Why is the young goat mentioned in Exodus 23:19?

The verse prohibits boiling a kid in its mother's milk. This law likely aimed to prevent cruel practices or idolatrous rituals, teaching Israel to treat animals with respect and reflect God’s holiness in their daily conduct.

How is the young goat used symbolically in Isaiah 11:6?

In this prophetic vision, the young goat rests peacefully with predators like the wolf. This image signifies the restoration of creation under the Messiah’s reign, where violence and fear are replaced by harmony and safety.

Every Occurrence (16 verses across 6 books)