<OL TYPE="1"><LI>a sting, as that of bees, scorpions, locusts. Since animals wound by their sting and even cause death, Paul attributes death, personified as a sting, i.e. a deadly weapon<LI>an iron goad, for urging on oxen, horses and other beasts of burden<OL TYPE="a"><LI>hence the proverb, "to kick against the goad", i.e. to offer vain and perilous or ruinous resistance</OL></OL>