A spike used to drive animals on. The term is also figuratively applied to prompting and guiding people into action.
The goad as a farming implement
Used with animals
Used as a weapon
Goading as a symbol of discipline
God's word as a goad
Ecclesiastes 12:11 See also Acts 2:37
The words of the wise are like goads, and the anthologies of the masters are like firmly embedded nails driven by a single Shepherd.
Conscience as a goad
Acts 26:14 See also Exodus 25:2; Job 20:2; Romans 2:15
We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
Encouragement as a goad
Hebrews 10:24 See also 1 Thessalonians 1:3 The promptings of love and faith may be seen as symbolic goads.
And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.
People goaded into doing wrong
Genesis 3:1, Genesis 3:12; Exodus 32:1, Exodus 32:23; Job 15:5; John 13:2
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.