Leviticus 16:21 - 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 in readiness.
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 16:21" mean?
This verse describes a key part of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) ritual in ancient Israel, specifically the ceremony involving the scapegoat. Let's break it down:
"Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat...": Aaron, the High Priest, representing the entire nation of Israel, placed his hands on the goat. This act signified a transfer.
"...and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins...": Aaron verbally confessed all the sins of the Israelites over the goat. This was a solemn declaration of the people's guilt and a plea for forgiveness. The repetition ("iniquities...transgressions...sins") emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the confession, covering all types of wrongdoing.
"...and he shall put them on the head of the goat...": This is the crucial act of transferring the sins from the people to the goat. It's a symbolic action where the burden of guilt is placed on the animal.
"...and shall send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.": The goat, now bearing the sins of the people, was led away into the wilderness. The "man who is in readiness" was specifically chosen and prepared for this task. The wilderness was a desolate and uninhabited place, symbolizing banishment and separation.
In summary, the verse describes the ritual where the High Priest symbolically transferred the sins of the Israelites to a goat, which was then released into the wilderness. This was meant to represent the removal of sin and the cleansing of the nation.
Significance and Interpretation:
Atonement and Forgiveness: The ritual aimed at achieving atonement, the covering or removal of sin, and reconciliation with God.
Symbolic Representation: The goat served as a symbolic carrier of sin, representing the people's guilt and the burden of their transgressions.
Removal of Sin: The sending away of the goat signified the removal of sin from the community, both physically and spiritually.
Substitute: The goat took the punishment for the sins of the people and the people were forgiven for a time.
Fulfillment in Christ: In Christian theology, this ritual is often seen as a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, who is considered the ultimate sacrifice for sins. Jesus, like the scapegoat, bore the sins of humanity and removed them through his death and resurrection.
This is a powerful and symbolic verse, revealing the importance of atonement and forgiveness in the ancient Israelite faith, and with it's fulfillment in Jesus Christ, for Christians today.
Leviticus 16:21 - 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 in readiness.
What does "Leviticus 16:21" mean?
This verse describes a key part of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) ritual in ancient Israel, specifically the ceremony involving the scapegoat. Let's break it down:
"Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat...": Aaron, the High Priest, representing the entire nation of Israel, placed his hands on the goat. This act signified a transfer.
"...and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins...": Aaron verbally confessed all the sins of the Israelites over the goat. This was a solemn declaration of the people's guilt and a plea for forgiveness. The repetition ("iniquities...transgressions...sins") emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the confession, covering all types of wrongdoing.
"...and he shall put them on the head of the goat...": This is the crucial act of transferring the sins from the people to the goat. It's a symbolic action where the burden of guilt is placed on the animal.
"...and shall send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.": The goat, now bearing the sins of the people, was led away into the wilderness. The "man who is in readiness" was specifically chosen and prepared for this task. The wilderness was a desolate and uninhabited place, symbolizing banishment and separation.
In summary, the verse describes the ritual where the High Priest symbolically transferred the sins of the Israelites to a goat, which was then released into the wilderness. This was meant to represent the removal of sin and the cleansing of the nation.
Significance and Interpretation:
Atonement and Forgiveness: The ritual aimed at achieving atonement, the covering or removal of sin, and reconciliation with God.
Symbolic Representation: The goat served as a symbolic carrier of sin, representing the people's guilt and the burden of their transgressions.
Removal of Sin: The sending away of the goat signified the removal of sin from the community, both physically and spiritually.
Substitute: The goat took the punishment for the sins of the people and the people were forgiven for a time.
Fulfillment in Christ: In Christian theology, this ritual is often seen as a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, who is considered the ultimate sacrifice for sins. Jesus, like the scapegoat, bore the sins of humanity and removed them through his death and resurrection.
This is a powerful and symbolic verse, revealing the importance of atonement and forgiveness in the ancient Israelite faith, and with it's fulfillment in Jesus Christ, for Christians today.