English · KJV
H8495

תַּיִשׁ

tayish /tah'-yeesh/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom an unused root meaning to butt
Meaninga buck or he-goat (as given to butting)
KJV usagehe goat.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tayish — 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 tayish, represented by H8495, refers to a he goat. Derived from an unused root meaning to butt, the term appears 4 times across 4 unique verses. It specifically denotes a male goat, typically in contexts related to livestock, wealth, and animal husbandry.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, H8495 is used to identify male goats as valuable components of a flock. It appears in the narrative of Jacob's arrangement with Laban, where Jacob removed H5493 the ringstraked H6124 and spotted H2921 he goats to build his own flock Genesis 30:35. He goats are also listed as significant assets, included in the large present Jacob prepared for his brother Genesis 32:14 and as tribute brought by the Arabians H6163 to King Jehoshaphat H3092 2 Chronicles 17:11. Figuratively, a he goat is presented in Proverbs as a model of stately bearing Proverbs 30:31.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the pastoral context of tayish:

  • H5795 ʻêz (she goat): As the female counterpart, this word is often used alongside H8495 to give a full accounting of a flock. Jacob's gift included twenty he goats and two hundred she goats H5795 Genesis 32:14.
  • H352 ʼayil (ram): Meaning a ram, this word describes the male sheep. Rams H352 are frequently listed with he goats in inventories of wealth, such as the tribute given to Jehoshaphat 2 Chronicles 17:11.
  • H6629 tsôʼn (flock): This collective noun for a flock of sheep or goats provides the broader setting. The Arabians H6163 brought flocks H6629 to the king, which were then itemized to include thousands of rams and he goats 2 Chronicles 17:11.

Theological Significance

The use of H8495 highlights several key themes:

  • A Measure of Wealth: He goats served as a clear and countable sign of wealth. The tribute to King Jehoshaphat included seven thousand and seven hundred he goats, indicating their value in ancient economies 2 Chronicles 17:11.
  • Animal Husbandry: The account in Genesis shows an awareness of selective breeding, with Jacob separating the distinctively marked he goats to manage the flock's genetics Genesis 30:35.
  • A Symbol of Stately Presence: In wisdom literature, the he goat is used metaphorically to represent a dignified and impressive figure. It is listed with a king H4428 as something against which there is no rising up H510 Proverbs 30:31.

Summary

In summary, H8495 is more than a simple zoological term. It functions as a specific marker of wealth and livestock management in both patriarchal and monarchical narratives (Genesis 30:35, 2 Chronicles 17:11). Beyond its literal application in economic contexts, it also serves as a potent symbol in wisdom literature, illustrating the concept of a stately and confident presence Proverbs 30:31. The word tayish thus provides insight into both the practical realities and the symbolic worldview of ancient Israel.

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 4 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.

  • תְיָשִׁים
  • תָיִשׁ

Related Words

Related

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.

H5493 סוּר or שׂוּר; (Hosea 9:12), a primitive root; to turn off (literal or figurative); be(-head), bring, call back, decline, dep H6124 עָקֹד from עָקַד; striped (with bands); ring straked. H2921 טָלָא a primitive root; properly, to cover with pieces; i.e. (by implication) to spot or variegate (as tapestry); clouted, wit H6163 עֲרָבִי or עַרְבִי; patrial from עֲרָב; an Arabian or inhabitant of Arab (i.e. Arabia); Arabian. H3092 יְהוֹשָׁפָט from יְהֹוָה and שָׁפַט; Jehovah-judged; Jehoshaphat, the name of six Israelites; also of a valley near Jerusalem; Jehos H5795 עֵז from עָזַז; a she-goat (as strong), but masculine in plural (which also is used elliptically for goat's hair); (she) goa

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 4 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis (2 verses); never once in the other 36.

2
Genesis
1
2 Chronicles
1
Proverbs

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.