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Leviticus 16 · a question people ask

What does "scapegoat" mean in Leviticus 16?

Interpretation

The Hebrew word the WEB translates "scapegoat" is azazel. The Hebrew Bible uses it four times, all in this chapter (16:8, 16:10 twice, 16:26). The text says what happens: one lot is "for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat" (16:8); that goat "shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make atonement for him, to send him away as the scapegoat into the wilderness" (16:10); and it carries "all their iniquities on himself to a solitary land" (16:22). Christians agree on all of this. The two standard Hebrew lexicons explain the word itself differently.

How Christians read it

Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.

The goat that goes away

Strong's defines azazel as "goat of departure; the scapegoat", and derives it "from 5795 and 235", the words for a goat (H5795) and for going away (H235). On this reading the word names the goat itself, the one sent "into the wilderness" (16:10).

Leviticus 16:8 · Leviticus 16:10

Removal

Brown-Driver-Briggs defines azazel as "entire removal", and explains it in the ritual of this day as "entire removal of sin and guilt from sacred places into desert on back of goat, symb. of entire forgiveness". On this reading the word names what the goat's going does: the iniquities put on its head are carried away (16:21-22).

Leviticus 16:21-22

The verses

“Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.”
Leviticus 16:8 · World English Bible
“But the goat on which the lot fell for the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make atonement for him, to send him away as the scapegoat into the wilderness.”
Leviticus 16:10 · World English Bible
“Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is ready. The goat shall carry all their iniquities on himself to a solitary land, and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.”
Leviticus 16:21-22 · World English Bible
““He who lets the goat go as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.”
Leviticus 16:26 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Leviticus 16

Leviticus 16: Once in the year

The two goats of Leviticus 16 were taken together "for a sin offering" (16:5). One goat's blood went within the veil onto the mercy seat (16:15); the other carried "all their iniquities" away into the wilderness (16:22). Hebrews describes this day: "into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood" (Hebrews 9:7).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions