דׇּרְבוֹן (dor.von)
dor.von
goad
H:NQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun dorvon refers to a goad, a long pointed stick used by ancient farmers to urge oxen forward. This tool appears in only two verses: 1 Samuel 13:21 and Ecclesiastes 12:11. In the first instance, it describes the agricultural implements that Israelites had to borrow from Philistine neighbors because local blacksmiths were forbidden. Here, the word grounds a historical moment in the practical realities of daily life.
In Ecclesiastes 12:11, the term takes on a metaphorical role. The wise man’s words are compared to goads driven by a shepherd. Just as a goad guides an animal along a path, these sayings are meant to direct readers toward truth and right action. The image suggests that wisdom is not merely decorative but functional, intended to steer behavior.
The word carries a sense of purposeful pressure. It does not punish but directs. This dual usage—literal tool and metaphor for guidance—shows how everyday objects in Scripture often carry deeper theological weight. The goad reminds readers that divine instruction aims to lead, not merely to correct.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Imagine a farmer guiding an ox with a long stick, applying gentle pressure to keep the animal on the right path. This is the image behind the Hebrew word dorvon, or goad. In 1 Samuel, it was a practical tool for daily work, showing how even ordinary objects in Scripture carry weight. But in Ecclesiastes, it becomes a picture of wisdom itself—words that guide us toward truth and right action.
When you read the Bible, think of these verses not as abstract ideas but as living guidance. The words of the wise are like goads: they don't punish or force, but they direct. They help steer your steps when life feels uncertain. This reminds us that God’s instruction is meant to lead us forward, offering clarity and purpose in our daily journey.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ goad[s]1×
- [are] like <the>/ goads1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כַּ/דָּ֣רְבֹנ֔וֹת1×
- הַ/דָּרְבָֽן\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Ecclesiastes 12:11
The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
This verse uses the goad as a metaphor for how wise words actively guide readers toward truth, rather than just sitting there as static information.
-
I Samuel 13:21
The price was one payim each to sharpen mattocks, plowshares, pitchforks, axes, and goads.
Here the word appears in its literal sense, grounding the biblical narrative in the real-world struggles of ancient Israelites who needed to borrow tools from neighbors.