Original Word: מַלְמָד
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: malmad
Pronunciation: mal-mad'
Phonetic Spelling: (mal-mawd')
KJV: goad
NASB: oxgoad
Word Origin: [from H3925 (לָמַד - teach)]

1. a goad for oxen

goad

From lamad; a goad for oxen -- goad.

see HEBREW lamad

Word Origin
from lamad
Definition
an oxgoad
NASB Translation
oxgoad (1).

[מַלְמֵד] noun [masculine] ox-goad; — construct מַלְמַד Judges 3:31.

Literal Meaning and Ancient Context

A מַלְמָד was a long wooden staff tipped with iron, used by farmers to urge and steer their oxen while plowing or pulling carts. Because plowing was the backbone of ancient Israel’s agrarian economy, the oxgoad was a familiar sight in every village, a practical tool kept close at hand by the humblest field worker.

Biblical Occurrence and Usage

Judges 3:31 records the single occurrence of the word:

“After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad, and he also saved Israel.” (Berean Standard Bible)

Although מַלְמָד itself appears only here, the broader imagery of a goad surfaces elsewhere:
• 1 Samuel 13:21 mentions sharpening “goads” (different Hebrew term).
• Ecclesiastes 12:11 compares wise sayings to “goads.”
• Acts 26:14 speaks of “kicking against the goads.”

Together these passages establish the goad as a symbol of guidance, prodding, and corrective discipline.

Historical Setting in Judges 3

Shamgar rises during the turbulent period of the Judges, when Israel cycled repeatedly through sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. The Philistines dominated western Canaan with superior iron weaponry. Israel’s lack of swords (1 Samuel 13:19-22) underscores why Shamgar’s choice of an oxgoad is noted: he wields a farm tool, not a forged weapon, yet achieves a decisive victory. The account forms a brief but powerful bridge between Ehud and Deborah, demonstrating that the Lord’s salvation can come through unexpected people and means.

Theological Significance

1. Divine sufficiency. Zechariah 4:6 declares, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit.” Shamgar’s feat embodies this principle: ordinary implements become extraordinary in God’s hand.
2. Providence in the mundane. The oxgoad, designed for tilling earth, becomes an instrument of national deliverance, showing the Lord’s ability to repurpose daily vocations for redemptive ends.
3. Discipline and guidance. Ecclesiastes 12:11 likens wise words to goads that keep travelers on course; similarly, the Holy Spirit convicts of sin (John 16:8), pressing believers toward righteousness.
4. Resistance is futile. Saul is told, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (Acts 26:14). Just as an ox injures itself by rejecting its master’s promptings, so people harm themselves when they oppose God’s direction.

Christological and Redemptive Echoes

Shamgar offers a faint foreshadowing of Christ:
• Both deliver alone against overwhelming odds.
• Both turn the enemy’s strength into weakness.
• Both bring salvation to God’s people through unlikely means—an oxgoad for Shamgar, a cross for Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:15).

Practical Points for Teaching and Preaching

• God equips ordinary believers with whatever lies in their grasp (Exodus 4:2; 1 Corinthians 1:27).
• Faithful labor prepares instruments for future service; Shamgar’s field work honed his accuracy and endurance.
• Spiritual “goads” include Scripture, godly counsel, and conscience; resisting them leads to stagnation or judgment.
• Ministries today thrive not by novel methods alone but by humble obedience to God’s prompting, even when resources seem meager.

Related References for Further Study

Judges 3:31; 1 Samuel 13:19-22; Ecclesiastes 12:11; Zechariah 4:6; Acts 26:14; John 16:8; 1 Corinthians 1:27; Colossians 2:15

בְּמַלְמַ֖ד במלמד bə·mal·maḏ bemalMad bəmalmaḏInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts