Word Study for H3277 (יָעֵל) | Strong's Concordance

yâʻêl /yaw-ale'/ Ask about this word

Meaningan ibex (as climbing)

KJV usagewild goat.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of yâʻêl — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word yâʻêl, represented by H3277, is defined as an ibex (as climbing) or wild goat. It appears 3 times in 3 unique verses, where it consistently points to an animal known for dwelling in high, mountainous, and rocky regions.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H3277 is used to illustrate truths about the natural world and its role in human events. The Psalms describe the high (H1364) hills (H2022) as a refuge (H4268) for the wild goats Psalms 104:18, establishing their habitat as a place of security. In Job, God's sovereign wisdom is contrasted with human limitation by asking if man knows (H3045) the time (H6256) when the wild goats of the rock (H5553) give birth Job 39:1. The term also defines a specific location, "the rocks (H6697) of the wild goats," where Saul (H7586) went to seek (H1245) David (H1732) 1 Samuel 24:2.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words are contextually linked to H3277, emphasizing its connection to rugged landscapes:

H2022 har: This word for mountain or hill is identified as the natural environment and refuge for the wild goats Psalms 104:18.
H5553 çelaʻ: Meaning a craggy rock, this term specifies the type of terrain where the wild goats live and bring forth their young (Job 39:1, Psalms 104:18).
H6697 tsûwr: Also meaning a rock or cliff, this word is used to name the very place where Saul hunted for David, highlighting the area's difficult and remote nature 1 Samuel 24:2.
H4268 machăçeh: Defined as a shelter or refuge, this word describes the function of the high hills for the wild goats, providing them with safety from threats Psalms 104:18.

Theological Significance

The imagery associated with H3277 carries significant theological weight.

Divine Sovereignty: The wild goat is used as an example of God's intimate and exclusive knowledge of His creation, which is far beyond human understanding. God alone marks (H8104) the time they give birth, a fact unknown (H3045) to man Job 39:1.
The Theme of Refuge: The high hills (H2022) serving as a refuge (H4268) for the wild goats provides a powerful natural parallel to God's role as a rock (H6697) and fortress for His people Psalms 104:18.
Wilderness as a Proving Ground: The "rocks of the wild goats" becomes the backdrop for a critical moment where David (H1732), the future king of Israel (H3478), is pursued by Saul (H7586) and must rely on God for deliverance in a desolate place 1 Samuel 24:2.

Summary

In summary, H3277 is more than a simple zoological term. It refers to the wild goat, an animal whose life in the high rocks is used to illustrate God's sovereign knowledge of creation, provide a natural metaphor for divine refuge and security, and mark a significant geographical location in the narrative of David's reliance on God.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 3 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

יְּעֵלִים
יַעֲלֵי

Related Words

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in 1 Samuel, Job, and Psalms (1 verse each); never once in the other 36.

1 Samuel

Job

Psalms

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.