This term denotes the sharp-pointed implement farmers used to prod oxen while plowing. First Samuel mentions it in describing Philistine weapon restrictions on Israel: the Israelites had to go to Philistine blacksmiths even to sharpen agricultural tools like goads. This economic oppression kept Israel militarily weak, as goads could be weaponized in emergency. Later, Ecclesiastes memorably compares wise words to goads—painful but directing. The consistent translation as 'goad' or 'aguijada' across languages reflects this tool's universal agricultural function.