Description
The goad was a stick, sometimes tipped with a metal point (darvan), used in driving draft animals or herds of domestic animals, such as sheep. The goad had to be long enough to reach the animal from the driver’s position, thus 1–2 meters (3–6 feet).
Usage
The driver of a cart or other load stuck the point of the goad into the buttocks of an animal that was not pulling hard enough or in the right direction. The pain stimulus caused the animal to move or change direction.
Translation
Where draft animals are not known, “a goad” in JDG 3:31 may be translated “a pointed stick” or “a rod with a sharp metal point.” ECC 12:11 may be expanded as follows: “The sayings of the wise are like the sharp sticks that shepherds use to guide sheep …” (GNT; similarly the German common language translation [GECL]) or “The words of experienced men are like goads that stimulate the spirit …” (French common language translation [FRCL]). Another possible rendering is “The words of wise men are sharp and pointed …” (Dutch common language translation [DUCL]).
ACT 26:14: This is the only place in the New Testament where the word goad occurs. It is in the phrase “to kick against the goads” (RSV), meaning to react against authority in such a way as to cause harm or suffering to yourself — to hurt yourself by reacting against a person or command. An alternative rendering for the last half of this verse is “Saul, why are you persecuting me? You are hurting yourself by your resistance.”
In SIR 38:25 the activity of the worker is in focus, so it is unnecessary to find a word to translate this object; for example, GNT has “How can a farm hand gain knowledge, when his only ambition is to drive the oxen and make them work …” Another possibility is “… to get the oxen to move when they want to stop pulling …?”