Bible Strands
Leviticus 16:10
But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement by sending it into the wilderness as the scapegoat.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative addresses the Israelites during the Day of Atonement rites, specifically at the moment Aaron has selected the first goat for sacrifice and is about to handle the second goat.
The words — עֲזָאזֵל ('a.za.Zel) designates the "escape goat," while חַי (chai) specifies that this animal must remain "alive" before the LORD.
The thread — This ritual sequence connects to the later confession of iniquities over the live goat in Leviticus 16:21, the necessity of heavenly purification in Hebrews 9:23, and the identification of Christ as the atoning sacrifice in 1 John 2:2.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to distinguish the live, sent-away goat from the slaughtered sin offering, establishing a structural contrast that demands careful attention to how atonement is ritually enacted.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.
Cross-references
- 1 John 2:2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
- Leviticus 16:21 Then he is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to put them on the goat’s head and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man appointed for the task.
- Hebrews 9:23 So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
- Isaiah 53:4 Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.
- 1 John 3:16 By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
- Leviticus 14:7 Seven times he shall sprinkle the one to be cleansed of the skin disease. Then he shall pronounce him clean and release the live bird into the open field.
- Romans 3:25 God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.
- Romans 4:25 He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification.
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
- Hebrews 7:26 Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.