Leviticus 16:10 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 16:10 mean?

Leviticus 16:10 describes how one of the two goats chosen by lot on the Day of Atonement was kept alive and presented before God to be sent away into the wilderness as the "scapegoat," symbolically carrying away the people's sins. This goat was not sacrificed but released, showing a different aspect of atonement.

In this verse, God is giving Moses instructions for Aaron, the high priest, about the special rituals for the Day of Atonement. Two goats are chosen: one for sacrifice and one as the scapegoat. The scapegoat is brought before God alive, then sent into the wilderness, representing the removal of Israel’s sins from the community.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 16:10

• scapegoat (עֲזָאזֵל, ‘azazel’): This word is unique and its meaning is debated, but it is often understood as "the goat that goes away" or "removal." In this context, it highlights the idea of sending sins far from the people.
• lot (גּוֹרָל, goral): The use of lots shows that the choice of which goat would be sacrificed and which would be the scapegoat was left to God, not human decision.
• atonement (כָּפַר, kaphar): This word means "to cover" or "to make reconciliation." Here, it points to the ritual purpose of the scapegoat—to symbolically remove or cover the sins of the people.
• wilderness (מִדְבָּר, midbar): The wilderness was seen as a place outside the camp, away from the community, emphasizing that the sins were truly being sent away and separated from the people.

Why Leviticus 16:10 matters

• Leviticus 16:10 clarifies that atonement involved more than sacrifice; it also included the symbolic removal of sin from the community.
• The verse shows that the ritual was not just about death and blood, but also about restoration and cleansing, as the scapegoat was sent away alive.
• Understanding this verse helps make sense of the entire Day of Atonement ceremony, where both the sacrifice and the sending away of the scapegoat were needed to address the people's sins.