שְׂעִירָה (se.i.rah)
se.i.rah
female goat
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun se’irah refers specifically to a female goat, distinguishing it from the male by its gender rather than age or size. In the Hebrew Bible, this term appears only twice, both within the book of Leviticus, anchoring its meaning firmly in the context of ritual law and sacrificial offerings.
Its occurrences are restricted to Leviticus 16:5 and 23:19, where it denotes one of the animals set apart for the Day of Atonement or regular festival sacrifices. The scarcity of the word highlights its precise function in these texts: it is not a general term for livestock but a specific component of the temple rites, selected to maintain ceremonial purity and provide atonement for the community.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word se’irah refers specifically to a female goat, a detail that matters in the precise language of Scripture. In the ancient world, animals were not just livestock; they were carefully selected for their role in worship. This term appears only twice in the Bible, both within Leviticus, where it identifies a specific animal used for sin offerings and festival sacrifices.
For your faith, this precision reminds us that God cares about the details of how we approach Him. The use of a female goat without defect highlights the seriousness of sin and the need for a pure offering to restore relationship. It points to a time when sacrifices were necessary to cover transgressions and maintain ceremonial purity.
While Christians believe these rituals are fulfilled in Christ, the underlying truth remains: we are brought near to God through a perfect sacrifice. Understanding these ancient practices helps us appreciate the depth of God's provision for forgiveness and the seriousness with which He treats sin, while also offering hope that our access to Him is now secure.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a female goat of2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שְׂעִירַ֥ת1×
- שְׂעִירַ֤ת1×
Key Verses
-
Leviticus 4:28
if his sin which he has sinned is made known to him, then he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without defect, for his sin which he has sinned.
This verse specifies a female goat without defect as the required offering for an individual's known sin, highlighting the need for purity in atonement.
-
Leviticus 5:6
and he shall bring his trespass offering to Yahweh for his sin which he has sinned: a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin.
Here the text allows a female lamb or goat for a trespass offering, showing flexibility in provision while maintaining the requirement of a female animal for sin offerings.