Leviticus 16:10 - But the goat on which the lot fell for the scapegoat shall be presented alive before Yahweh, to make atonement for him, to send him away as the scapegoat into the wilderness.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Leviticus 16:10" mean?
Leviticus 16:10 describes a crucial part of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) ritual in ancient Israel. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"But the goat on which the lot fell for the scapegoat..." This refers back to verse 8 where two goats are chosen, and lots are cast to determine their roles. One goat is for Yahweh (a sacrifice), and the other is "for Azazel," which this verse designates as the "scapegoat."
"...shall be presented alive before Yahweh..." This goat isn't sacrificed immediately. Instead, it's brought before God in the Tabernacle (or later the Temple). This presentation is important because the goat is about to take on a significant role representing the atonement for the people.
"...to make atonement for him..." This is a key point. The literal translation is to make atonement "upon him". The "him" refers to the goat. However, the goat isn't atoning for itself. The high priest, acting on behalf of the people of Israel, will lay his hands on the goat's head and confess all the sins, transgressions, and iniquities of the people over it (verse 21). This symbolically transfers the sins of the people onto the goat. This atonement is a process, not a single act; it's a preparation for the goat to carry the sins away.
"...to send him away as the scapegoat into the wilderness." After the confession of sins, the goat, now symbolically bearing the weight of Israel's iniquities, is led (typically by a designated man) into the wilderness and released. The idea is that the sins are removed from the community and taken away.
In Summary:
This verse explains the procedure for the scapegoat. It's presented alive before God, the high priest confesses the sins of the people over it, symbolically transferring those sins onto the goat, and then the goat is sent into the wilderness, representing the removal of the sins from the community. The goat is not a sacrifice in the traditional sense of being killed and offered to God. Instead, it serves as a symbolic carrier of sin, banished from the presence of God and the community.
Theological Significance:
Symbolic Cleansing: The ritual is highly symbolic. It demonstrates the need for cleansing from sin and the desire to remove its effects from the community.
Atonement: The Day of Atonement, and the scapegoat ritual, are central to the concept of atonement in the Old Testament. It provided a way for the Israelites to receive forgiveness for their sins and to be reconciled with God.
Foreshadowing: Many Christians see the scapegoat ritual as a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, who is seen as the ultimate sacrifice for sin, taking the sins of the world upon himself and removing them.
It's important to note that the effectiveness of the Day of Atonement rituals was dependent on the faith and obedience of the people. They were meant to be a temporary covering for sin until the coming of the Messiah.
Leviticus 16:10 - But the goat on which the lot fell for the scapegoat shall be presented alive before Yahweh, to make atonement for him, to send him away as the scapegoat into the wilderness.
What does "Leviticus 16:10" mean?
Leviticus 16:10 describes a crucial part of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) ritual in ancient Israel. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"But the goat on which the lot fell for the scapegoat..." This refers back to verse 8 where two goats are chosen, and lots are cast to determine their roles. One goat is for Yahweh (a sacrifice), and the other is "for Azazel," which this verse designates as the "scapegoat."
"...shall be presented alive before Yahweh..." This goat isn't sacrificed immediately. Instead, it's brought before God in the Tabernacle (or later the Temple). This presentation is important because the goat is about to take on a significant role representing the atonement for the people.
"...to make atonement for him..." This is a key point. The literal translation is to make atonement "upon him". The "him" refers to the goat. However, the goat isn't atoning for itself. The high priest, acting on behalf of the people of Israel, will lay his hands on the goat's head and confess all the sins, transgressions, and iniquities of the people over it (verse 21). This symbolically transfers the sins of the people onto the goat. This atonement is a process, not a single act; it's a preparation for the goat to carry the sins away.
"...to send him away as the scapegoat into the wilderness." After the confession of sins, the goat, now symbolically bearing the weight of Israel's iniquities, is led (typically by a designated man) into the wilderness and released. The idea is that the sins are removed from the community and taken away.
In Summary:
This verse explains the procedure for the scapegoat. It's presented alive before God, the high priest confesses the sins of the people over it, symbolically transferring those sins onto the goat, and then the goat is sent into the wilderness, representing the removal of the sins from the community. The goat is not a sacrifice in the traditional sense of being killed and offered to God. Instead, it serves as a symbolic carrier of sin, banished from the presence of God and the community.
Theological Significance:
Symbolic Cleansing: The ritual is highly symbolic. It demonstrates the need for cleansing from sin and the desire to remove its effects from the community.
Atonement: The Day of Atonement, and the scapegoat ritual, are central to the concept of atonement in the Old Testament. It provided a way for the Israelites to receive forgiveness for their sins and to be reconciled with God.
Foreshadowing: Many Christians see the scapegoat ritual as a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, who is seen as the ultimate sacrifice for sin, taking the sins of the world upon himself and removing them.
It's important to note that the effectiveness of the Day of Atonement rituals was dependent on the faith and obedience of the people. They were meant to be a temporary covering for sin until the coming of the Messiah.