### 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** [[Psalm 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 [[Psalm 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]], [[Psalm 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 [[Psalm 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 [[Psalm 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.
TRV