THE BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION OF
THE SIGN OF GEDI (CAPRICORN), “The Wild Goat”
“The Mansion of the Kings”
The Story of King Saul and King David
“Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.” (1 Sam. 24:1-2)
Gedi is represented by the 8th letter of the
Hebrew alphabet and has a value of 8.
Chet
Modern
Hebrew
8
Paleo
Hebrew
The Hebrew letter Chet represents a gate, fence or wall. There are several significant events in the story of King David involving a “gate” or “wall”. The number 8 is also significant in this story as David was the 8th son of Jesse. (1 Sam. 16:10,11). It was in 1 Samuel 8, that the elders asked for a king to rule over them. The number 8 on its side denotes infinity. To King David the LORD promised: “I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever...There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.” (1 Ki. 9:5)
Capricorn is a composite creature with the head and upper body of a wild goat and the tail of a fish. This star figure with its minor constellations is rich in Biblical symbolism.
Sagittarius, the Archer is the sign that precedes Capricorn. In that sign was represented Joshua’s conquest of Canaan and the overthrow of its corrupt inhabitants wholly given over to pagan idolatry. Both love and justice had demanded the prompt execution of these rebels against God.
The next major turning point in the history and redemption of Israel was in asking for a King to go before them in battle like the nations around them. They rejected God as their King, who had performed so many great and wonderful miracles on their behalf. He brought them into the land of Canaan, a land flowing milk and honey as he had promised to their fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The elders of Israel came to Samuel, the prophet and requested: “Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” (1 Sam. 8:5)
“And God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis(Kish), a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus.” (Acts 13:21-23) KJV
From ancient times, the sign of Capricorn has always been regarded as “The Mansion of the Kings.” Remarkably, within the constellation of Capricorn can be seen this beautiful likeness of a crown.
PN G054.2-03.4
The Hebrew name for Capricorn is Gedi, meaning: “kid, young male goat”. H1423. from the same as H1415, gadah: an unused root (meaning “to cut off”).
Incredibly, there is to be found an amazing connection in the Bible between the story of David and Capricorn, the Sea Goat. Also referred to in Jewish synagogue zodiacs as En-gedi, “the goats.” It was in the strongholds of En Gedi by the Dead Sea, where David sought refuge from King Saul who was pursuing him.
“And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi. Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.” (1 Sam. 24:1-2)
Below, you can see the location of En-gedi on the western shore of the Dead Sea and one of the many goats that inhabit this desert Oasis.
The name En-gedi means “the fountain of the young goat.” An oasis in the desert and a nature reserve in Israel, located on the western shores of the Dead Sea, near Masada and the Qumran Caves. It consists of rocky canyons, caves, natural springs, fountains and waterfalls. An area inhabited by wild mountain goats, which could be referred to as “sea goats” (i.e. the latin term “Capricorn.”) because of its close proximity to the Dead Sea.
Tours of En-gedi
CAPRICORN, THE SEA-GOAT IS DAVID
David disguised as a goat:
“Saul also sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and to kill him in the morning. And Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, “If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.” So Michal let David down through a window. And he went and fled and escaped. And Michal took an image and laid it in the bed, put a cover of goats’ hair for his head, and covered it with clothes. So when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, “He is sick.” Then Saul sent the messengers back to see David, saying, “Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.” And when the messengers had come in, there was the image in the bed, with a cover of goats’ hair for his head.” (1 Sam. 19:11-16) NKJV
When David was first brought before King Saul, he was accompanied by a young goat. (See 1 Samuel 16:19,20)
There is also a striking similarity between the Greek mythical god Pan, considered to be Capricorn, and David that bears mentioning here. Pan was half man, and half goat who played the panpipe. He was the god of shepherds and flocks, the inventor of musical instruments, and a skillful musician. He also loved to dance, though his dancing was considered to be crude and immoral.
In like manner we have the story of David, a young shepherd boy that tended his father’s flocks, a skilled musician at playing the harp to calm the nerves of King Saul (See 1 Samuel 16:17,18), and whose dancing before the Ark, after its return to Jerusalem was also considered to be crude and immoral.
“And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping (like a goat) and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart... And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! And David said unto Michal, It was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord , over Israel: therefore will I play before the Lord . And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.” (2 Samuel 6:16,20-22)
The “panpipe” was known as the “shepherd’s pipe” which King David had arranged to be played at the coronation of his son Solomon. (See 1 Kings 1:39,40) He also composed the fifth Psalm for the Panpipe, as noted in the heading.
Psalm 5
For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David.
“Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:1-3) NIV
[Greek mythology is but a distortion of biblical revelation by men who “held the truth in unrighteousness. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” (Romans 1:18,22-23,25)]
The root meaning of the word Gedi is “to cut off” which is significant, as it is a recurring theme in the life of King Saul and King David, as well as the life of Jesus.
As a young boy, David stood up to the Philistine giant Goliath and slew him with his sling shot and then “cut off” the giants’ head. (See 1 Sam. 17:51)
A short time later while being pursued in the wilderness of En-gedi by King Saul, David had opportunity to take Saul’s life. The King, needing to attend to his needs turned into a cave where David and his men were hiding and rather than take King Saul’s life David secretly “cut off” the corner of his robe. (See 1 Sam. 24:1-11)
At the end of King Saul’s life when he had fallen in battle, the Philistines came and found his dead body and “cut off” his head. (See 1 Sam. 31:9)
FORESHADOWINGS OF CHRIST IN GEDI
The sign of Capricorn (or En Gedi) points to Jesus as our “sin bearer,” the sin offering that was slain for the people on the Day of Atonement. (Leviticus 16:15) This day was the holiest day of the year when the sins of the people were placed upon the head of the Lord’s goat. The goat was then slain and it’s blood brought into the tabernacle and sprinkled upon the inner veil and upon the mercy seat in the most holy compartment to atone for the sins of the people.
“And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people.” (Lev. 16:24)
Note, that the goat of the atonement was “for the people”, i.e. for the children of Israel. This is beautifully encapsulated in the picture of Capricorn where you have the head of a goat which the sins of the people were placed upon, and the tail of a fish. Fish are used metaphorically in the Bible of the children of Israel.
Referring to the scattering of his people to the north because of their sins, the LORD said:
“Behold, I will send for many fishermen,” says the Lord, “and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.” (Jer. 16:16) NKJV
The fulfillment of this verse is seen in the book of Matthew:
“And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” (Mt. 4:18-20) NKJV
The Lord’s goat was slain, “cut off” out of the land of the living. All who confessed their sins and brought them into the sanctuary via the blood of the goat had their sins forgiven. The LORD’s goat represented Jesus upon whom all the sins of the world would be placed upon for an atoning sacrifice for sin, which was “for the people.”
“He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.” (Isa. 53:8) NKJV
The “cutting off” of the Messiah was also prophesied in the book of Daniel:
“And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself (but “for the people”)...and he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week(7 prophetic years); But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.” (Dan. 9:26-27) NKJV
Three and a half years into Jesus ministry, in the “middle” of Daniel’s 70th week, Jesus was crucified on the cross. At the precise moment when Jesus yielded up the ghost, “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.” (Mt. 27:51)
This brought “an end to sacrifice and offering.” Type had met antitype. Christ had offered himself up as an atoning sacrifice for sin. This is beautifully encapsulated by Capricorn, the Sea Goat, with the head and body of a goat and the tail of a fish.
The covenant Christ “confirmed” with his people for one week (7 prophetic years) was the new covenant.
“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Heb. 8:10) NKJV
For the first 3 1/2 years, the new covenant was confirmed by Jesus Christ to the House of Judah and with the lost sheep of the House of Israel. For the remaining 3 1/2 years after Christ’s crucifixion, the covenant was confirmed by his disciples. At the conclusion of this last period of 3 1/2 years (the end of Daniel’s 70th week) at the stoning of Stephen in Acts 8, the disciples turned to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.
Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.” (Acts 13:46) NKJV
ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF CAPRICORN
Capricorn is a composite creature having the head and upper body of a goat and the tail of a fish. It is made up of two Latin words: Capri, meaning “he goat,” and corn, meaning “grain” or “seed.”
In the Bible, corn is generally used for grain, and with its many seeds symbolizes fertility. In the sign of Virgo, the Virgin (i.e. Sarah) holds in her left hand a corn of wheat, representative of the seed of Abraham which the LORD had promised him he would multiply as the stars of heaven for a multitude! (Gen. 22:17)
The Hebrew word for fish is dagah, and it conveys this same idea of fertility: “to spawn, i.e. become numerous:—grow, to multiply, increase.” H1711
The picture we have in Capri-corn then, is a kid of the goats being offered up as a sin offering for the seed of Abraham, the children of Israel represented by the tail of the fish.
Jesus said,
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn(grain) of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” (Jn. 12:24) KJV
So Jesus is not only the Capri, (the goat) for a sin offering, but he is also the Corn, (the grain of wheat) that fell into the ground and died to produce a glorious harvest of ripening grain for the heavenly garner.
SUMMARY
We began our story of Capricorn (Gedi), by relating it to the story of King Saul’s pursuit of David in the wilderness of Engedi, “the fountain of the wild goats.”
In the sign of Capricorn was revealed not only the persecution of David by king Saul, and the death of the first King of Israel, but also that of the true King of Israel, the King of the Jews who “was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.” (Isa. 53:8)
A great many of the Psalms of David, while relating to his own experiences in life, were prophetic in nature and pointed to the life and experiences of Jesus Christ, the Son of David to whom it was promised:
“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.” (Lk. 1:32)
As a side note, the signs of the zodiac are referred to as houses of the zodiac. The sign of Capricorn, therefore, can most appropriately be referred to as “the house of David,” where a fountain was opened up for sin and for uncleanness.
PROMISES
“In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.” (Zech. 13:1-2) KJV
For Further Study
The three minor constellations of Capricorn: Sagitta, the Arrow, Aquila, the Eagle, and Delphinus, the Dolphin reveal an incredible amount of additional detail in the life of of King David as never before fully realized. They also portray in stunning additional detail the work of the Messiah in accomplishing man’s redemption. The full in-depth study of Capricorn, the Sea Goat (16 pages) is available for purchase as a digital download.
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