The Scapegoat

Two goats, one meaning
The Scapegoat

The Scapegoat by William Holman Hunt (1827-1910)

Hear, O Israel!
The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.
Deut. 6:4 Tanakh

Contents:

Introduction

The Scapegoat, by William Holman Hunt, is a painting of only one of the two goats selected on the Day of Atonement. The reality, on the other hand, is that both goats be considered together in order to understand the full meaning of the ritual.

Background

Sin

Quick classification:

Within the Covenant Framework: Sin may be committed:

Forgiveness

Unintentional sin

Unintentional sin can be forgiven at the individual or collective level. The Day of Atonement addresses the forgiveness of Israel as a nation. This is to be expected, since:

but you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. (Exodus 19:6a (Tanakh))

Forgiveness, however, is conditional upon Israel's obedience to the Lord, and to their keeping the current [undefiled] Covenant:

Now then, if you will obey Me faithfully and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples. (Exodus 19:5a (Tanakh))

Defiant sin

Defiant sin, individual or collective, results in exclusion from the Covenant. They are therefore excluded from God's presence on Earth, and from His presence in the New Jerusalem. This is known as '[Spiritual] Death'.

Those who have been bannished from God's presence may only return to the Fold through genuine commitment to the current undefiled version of the Covenant. Today, that version is the 'Messianically Amended Covenant'.

Jesus explains to the House of Desolation:

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. [38] Look, your house is left to you desolate. [39] For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matthew 23:37-39 NIV)

Today, we see the nation of Israel abandonned by the Lord, fighting in their own strength, and reliant on other nations which are but splintered reeds of a staff (cf, 2 Ki. 18:21 T).

Unforgivable sin

Forgiveness is not possible either in this life or the next. Sentence, once declared, cannot then be revoked. This is the meaning of the term 'Blacklisting' - which can be applied at the individual or collective level.

The narrative

And from the Israelite community he shall take two he-goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.
Aaron is to offer his own bull of sin offering, to make expiation for himself and for his household.
Aaron shall take the two he-goats and let them stand before the LORD at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting; and he shall place lots upon the two goats, one marked for the LORD and the other marked for Azazel. Aaron shall bring forward the goat designated by lot for the LORD, which he is to offer as a sin offering; while the goat designated by lot for Azazel shall be left standing alive before the LORD, to make expiation with it and to send it off to the wilderness for Azazel.
Aaron shall then offer his bull of sin offering, to make expiation for himself and his household.
He shall slaughter his bull of sin offering, and he shall take a panful of glowing coals scooped from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of finely ground aromatic incense, and bring this behind the curtain. He shall put the incense on the fire before the LORD, so that the cloud from the incense screens the cover that is over the Ark of the Pact, lest he die. He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger over the cover on the east side; and in front of the cover he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. He shall then slaughter the people's goat of sin offering, bring its blood behind the curtain, and do with its blood as he has done with the blood of the bull: he shall sprinkle it over the cover and in front of the cover.
Thus he shall purge the Shrine of the uncleanness and transgression of the Israelites, whatever their sins; and he shall do the same for the Tent of Meeting, which abides with them in the midst of their uncleanness. When he goes in to make expiation in the Shrine, nobody else shall be in the Tent of Meeting until he comes out.
When he has made expiation for himself and his household, and for the whole congregation of Israel, he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and purge it: he shall take some of the blood of the bull and of the goat and apply it to each of the horns of the altar; and the rest of the blood he shall sprinkle on it with his finger seven times. Thus he shall cleanse it of the uncleanness of the Israelites and consecrate it.
When he has finished purging the Shrine, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, the live goat shall be brought forward. Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities and transgressions of the Israelites, whatever their sins, putting them on the head of the goat; and it shall be sent off to the wilderness through a designated man. Thus the goat shall carry on it all their iniquities to an inaccessible region; and the goat shall be set free in the wilderness.
And Aaron shall go into the Tent of Meeting, take off the linen vestments that he put on when he entered the Shrine, and leave them there. (Leviticus 16:5-23 T)

Notice how unintentional guilt was dealt with by individuals and groups in real-time:

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 2 Speak to the Israelite people thus: When a person unwittingly incurs guilt in regard to any of the LORD's commandments about things not to be done, and does one of them — 3 If it is the anointed priest who has incurred guilt, so that blame falls upon the people, he shall offer for the sin of which he is guilty a bull of the herd without blemish as a sin offering to the LORD. 4 He shall bring the bull to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, before the Lord, and lay his hand upon the head of the bull. The bull shall be slaughtered before the LORD, 5 and the anointed priest shall take some of the bull's blood and bring it into the Tent of Meeting. 6 The priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, in front of the curtain of the Shrine. 7 The priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of aromatic incense, which is in the Tent of Meeting, before the LORD; and all the rest of the bull's blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering, which is at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. 8 He shall remove all the fat from the bull of sin offering: the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is about the entrails; 9 the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, that is at the loins; and the protuberance on the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys—10 just as it is removed from the ox of the sacrifice of well-being. The priest shall turn them into smoke on the altar of burnt offering. 11 But the hide of the bull, and all its flesh, as well as its head and legs, its entrails and its dung—12 all the rest of the bull—he shall carry to a clean place outside the camp, to the ash heap, and burn it up in a wood fire; it shall be burned on the ash heap.
13 If it is the whole community of Israel that has erred and the matter escapes the notice of the congregation, so that they do any of the things which by the LORD's commandments ought not to be done, and they realize their guilt—14 when the sin through which they incurred guilt becomes known, the congregation shall offer a bull of the herd as a sin offering, and bring it before the Tent of Meeting. 15 The elders of the community shall lay their hands upon the head of the bull before the LORD, and the bull shall be slaughtered before the LORD. 16 The anointed priest shall bring some of the blood of the bull into the Tent of Meeting, 17 and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle of it seven times before the LORD, in front of the curtain. 18 Some of the blood he shall put on the horns of the altar which is before the LORD in the Tent of Meeting, and all the rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering, which is at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. 19 He shall remove all its fat from it and turn it into smoke on the altar. 20 He shall do with this bull just as is done with the [priest's] bull of sin offering; he shall do the same with it. Thus the priest shall make expiation for them, and they shall be forgiven. 21 He shall carry the bull outside the camp and burn it as he burned the first bull; it is the sin offering of the congregation.
22 In case it is a chieftain who incurs guilt by doing unwittingly any of the things which by the commandment of the LORD his God ought not to be done, and he realizes his guilt—23 or the sin of which he is guilty is brought to his knowledge—he shall bring as his offering a male goat without blemish. 24 He shall lay his hand upon the goat's head, and it shall be slaughtered at the spot where the burnt offering is slaughtered before the LORD; it is a sin offering. 25 The priest shall take with his finger some of the blood of the sin offering and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering; and the rest of its blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering. 26 All its fat he shall turn into smoke on the altar, like the fat of the sacrifice of well-being. Thus the priest shall make expiation on his behalf for his sin, and he shall be forgiven.
27 If any person from among the populace unwittingly incurs guilt by doing any of the things which by the LORD's commandments ought not to be done, and he realizes his guilt—28 or the sin of which he is guilty is brought to his knowledge—he shall bring a female goat without blemish as his offering for the sin of which he is guilty. 29 He shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and the sin offering shall be slaughtered at the place of the burnt offering. 30 The priest shall take with his finger some of its blood and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering; and all the rest of its blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar. 31 He shall remove all its fat, just as the fat is removed from the sacrifice of well-being; and the priest shall turn it into smoke on the altar, for a pleasing odor to the LORD. Thus the priest shall make expiation for him, and he shall be forgiven. 32 If the offering he brings as a sin offering is a sheep, he shall bring a female without blemish. 33 He shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and it shall be slaughtered as a sin offering at the spot where the burnt offering is slaughtered. 34 The priest shall take with his finger some of the blood of the sin offering and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and all the rest of its blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar. 35 And all its fat he shall remove just as the fat of the sheep of the sacrifice of well-being is removed; and this the priest shall turn into smoke on the altar, over the LORD's offering by fire. Thus the priest shall make expiation on his behalf for the sin of which he is guilty, and he shall be forgiven. (Lev. 4:1-35 Tanakh)

Leviticus 4 dealt with unintentional sin on a day-to-day basis. The Day-of-Atonement ritual was different: it went further, for it addressed Israel as a nation. It takes the House of Israel right back to its roots:

1 On the third new moon after the Israelites had gone forth from the land of Egypt, on that very day, they entered the wilderness of Sinai. 2 Having journeyed from Rephidim, they entered the wilderness of Sinai and encamped in the wilderness. Israel encamped there in front of the mountain, 3 and Moses went up to God.
The LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob and declare to the children of Israel: 4 'You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Me.
5 Now then, if you will obey Me faithfully and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples. Indeed, all the earth is Mine, 6 but you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the children of Israel.” (Exodus 19:1-6 (Tanakh))

"if you will obey Me and keep my Covenant, [then] you shall be to Me a Kingdom of priests and a holy nation."

Thematic change

In setting up the Mosaic Contract the Lord God had to take account of Israel's past failings and their tendency to go off the rails. The Lord God will later refer to them as a treacherous nation which has neither heard nor understood, for their ears had been shut:

1 Listen to this, O House of Jacob,
Who bear the name Israel
And have issued from the waters of Judah,
Who swear by the name of the LORD
And invoke the God of Israel—
Though not in truth and sincerity—
2 For you are called after the Holy City
And you do lean on the God of Israel,
Whose name is LORD of Hosts:
3 Long ago, I foretold things that happened,
From My mouth they issued, and I announced them;
Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.
4 Because I know how stubborn you are
(Your neck is like an iron sinew
And your forehead bronze),
5 Therefore I told you long beforehand,
Announced things to you ere they happened—
That you might not say, “My idol caused them,
My carved and molten images ordained them.”
6 You have heard all this; look, must you not acknowledge it?
As of now, I announce to you new things,
Well-guarded secrets you did not know.
7 Only now are they created, and not of old;
Before today you had not heard them;
You cannot say, “I knew them already.”
8 You had never heard, you had never known,
Your ears were not opened of old.
Though I know that you are treacherous,
That you were called a rebel from birth,
9 For the sake of My name I control My wrath;
To My own glory, I am patient with you,
And I will not destroy you. (Isaiah 48:1-9 (Tanakh))

He must therefore incorporate various reminders as to the seriousness of the Rescue Contract, and to the cost which will be borne by His Son. He must explain things at a scholarly level (the narrative), yet also at a simple visual level which even the uneducated can understand.

Repetition will help to ensure that the message sinks in!

And He must take every opportunity to explain in a simple and graphical way what is involved, for even at that time the Lord God knew that a 'video-clip' can say a thousand words. The classic example here is that of the ritual of the Scapegoat. To put the thinking behind the Scapegoat into words, will require a fairly good standard of education from those reading or hearing it. But the ceremony of the Scapegoat is an enactment which will make His intentions clear to all, whatever their standard of education or their station in life.

One of the difficulties the Lord faced, was getting people to see beyond the ritual to the underlying Spiritual Dimension. Recall Jesus' condemnation of the Pharisees for their spiritual blindness, as well as their reliance on ritual and tradition.

The mapping

5 And from the Israelite community he shall take two he-goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.
6 Aaron is to offer his own bull of sin offering, to make expiation for himself and for his household.
7 Aaron shall take the two he-goats and let them stand before the LORD at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting; 8 and he shall place lots upon the two goats, one marked for the LORD and the other marked for Azazel.
9 Aaron shall bring forward the goat designated by lot for the LORD, which he is to offer as a sin offering; 10 while the goat designated by lot for Azazel shall be left standing alive before the LORD, to make expiation with it and to send it off to the wilderness for Azazel.
11 Aaron shall then offer his bull of sin offering, to make expiation for himself and his household. He shall slaughter his bull of sin offering, 12 and he shall take a panful of glowing coals scooped from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of finely ground aromatic incense, and bring this behind the curtain. 13 He shall put the incense on the fire before the LORD, so that the cloud from the incense screens the cover that is over [the Ark of] the Pact, lest he die. 14 He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger over the cover on the east side; and in front of the cover he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. 15 He shall then slaughter the people's goat of sin offering, bring its blood behind the curtain, and do with its blood as he has done with the blood of the bull: he shall sprinkle it over the cover and in front of the cover.
16 Thus he shall purge the Shrine of the uncleanness and transgression of the Israelites, whatever their sins; and he shall do the same for the Tent of Meeting, which abides with them in the midst of their uncleanness. 17 When he goes in to make expiation in the Shrine, nobody else shall be in the Tent of Meeting until he comes out.
When he has made expiation for himself and his household, and for the whole congregation of Israel, 18 he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and purge it: he shall take some of the blood of the bull and of the goat and apply it to each of the horns of the altar; 19 and the rest of the blood he shall sprinkle on it with his finger seven times. Thus he shall cleanse it of the uncleanness of the Israelites and consecrate it.
20 When he has finished purging the Shrine, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, the live goat shall be brought forward. 21 Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities and transgressions of the Israelites, whatever their sins, putting them on the head of the goat; and it shall be sent off to the wilderness through a designated man. 22 Thus the goat shall carry on it all their iniquities to an inaccessible region; and the goat shall be set free in the wilderness.
23 And Aaron shall go into the Tent of Meeting, take off the linen vestments that he put on when he entered the Shrine, and leave them there. (Leviticus 16:5-23 (Tanakh))

We use AI, ChatGPT, to research Azazel:

🧩 Interpretations of Azazel

There are three main interpretations:
1. Azazel as a Desert Demon or Evil Being
• This is one of the most widely held scholarly views.
• Azazel is understood as a personal name, possibly a demonic entity associated with the wilderness.
• In this view, the scapegoat is symbolically sent to Azazel, representing the removal of Israel's sins to the realm of evil or chaos.
• This idea is reinforced in later Jewish texts (like 1 Enoch), where Azazel is a fallen angel who teaches humans forbidden knowledge.

This interpretation fits the symbolic logic of the ritual: one goat is given to God as a sin offering, the other is sent away, bearing the sins of the people to the wilderness—to the realm of Azazel, the antithesis of God's holy space.

2. Azazel as a Place (e.g., a remote area or cliff)
• Some scholars and ancient translations (like the Septuagint) render Azazel as “the goat that is sent away” (Greek: apopompaios).
• In this reading, Azazel is not a person or demon but a desolate place in the wilderness where the goat is released.
• The Talmud also supports this: in later Jewish tradition, the goat was thrown off a cliff, understood as Azazel.

3. Azazel as a Compound Word Meaning “Scapegoat”
• From Hebrew: עֲזָאזֵל (ʿazāzēl) may be a fusion of:
• ʿēz (goat) + 'azal (to go) → “the goat that goes away” = scapegoat.
• This is the origin of the English word “scapegoat”, coined by William Tyndale in his 1530 Bible translation.
• In this view, Azazel doesn't refer to a being or place, but just to the ritual function of the goat.

(ChatGPT)

So, where does Azazel enter into the discussion?

Tanakh, ESV, GNT, and the NRSV use the proper noun 'Azazel'; some other translations use the [common] noun 'scapegoat' as the primary choice of word (eg, NASB, KJV, NIV) - though some do suggest Azazel as a possible alternative.

William Tyndale coined the word 'scapegoat' in 1530 CE (ChatGPT, above). Which set off a train of confusion, lies, and obfuscation. Compare with Young, who simply says the 'goat of departure' (YLT), leaving the meaning open to interpretation.

The notion of the scapegoat carrying off the sin of the nation, makes no sense at all, either physically or metaphorically.

The nation's sins haven't disappeared for they are inscribed in the Books of Record (which will be opened in court on the Day of Judgement). The declaration of forgiveness confirms the presence of Israel in the Book of Life. Entries in the Book of Life are placeholders against the Day of Judgement (meaning that their name can be deleted should they fall into sin and not be forgiven).

As David said, "My sin is ever before me." (Ps. 51:3 KJV)

The slaughter of the bull and the goat make expiation for Aaron, his household, and for the whole congregation of Israel.

At this point in time, Israel together with the Levitical Priesthood stand forgiven. Israel - congregation and priesthood - are included in the Book of Life.

The live goat is now brought forward.

Recall that the blood of the Sin Offering represents the sinner (see Representing the sinner). Hence the blood of the living goat represents the - now - redeemed sinner, namely the congregation and priesthood of Israel.

With the slaughter of the bull and goat, all Israel's sins were confessed. So why are Israel's sins repeated and put on the head of the goat designated for Azazel?

In order to understand, it is necessary to recall Israel's purpose:

5 Now then, if you will obey Me faithfully and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples. Indeed, all the earth is Mine, 6 but you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:5-6 (Tanakh))

Israel were chosen to serve the Lord [in a world which would eventually go rapidly downhill]. This was agreed upon when the Covenant was signed.

The blood of the goat designated for Azazel represents Israel - now redeemed - and ready to go out into the world to serve the Lord.

The purpose of the restatement of Israel's sins is that Israel are to put to rights what they had done wrong. They are also to make restitution [where applicable] .

Today, a good start in putting matters right would be to:

  1. Acknowledge Jesus ;
  2. Discard their covenant with Death ;
  3. Obey Jesus;
  4. Sign the Messianically Amended Contract;
  5. ...
House of Desolation
Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' (Luke 13:35 NIV)

Reject contract with Death
You boast, “We have entered into a covenant with death, with the realm of the dead we have made an agreement. When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by, it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.” [16] So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic. [17] I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line; hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie, and water will overflow your hiding place. [18] Your covenant with death will be annulled; your agreement with the realm of the dead will not stand. When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by, you will be beaten down by it. (Isaiah 28:15-18 NIV)

A situation made even worse by the time of Jesus!

Principle of Restitution
For example:
15 When a person commits a trespass, being unwittingly remiss about any of the LORD's sacred things, he shall bring as his penalty to the LORD a ram without blemish from the flock, convertible into payment in silver by the sanctuary weight, as a guilt offering. 16 He shall make restitution for that wherein he was remiss about the sacred things, and he shall add a fifth part to it and give it to the priest. The priest shall make expiation on his behalf with the ram of the guilt offering, and he shall be forgiven (Leviticus 5:15-16 (Tanakh)).

[Assignment: How does one make restitution to those who have been killed by one's false doctrine? Is forgiveness even possible, and how might one find it?]

Thematic change

Jesus said:

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." (Matthew 10:16 NIV)

Matthew 24 (qv) describes the world as it descends into evil the like of which will never be seen again. There will be demons ; there will be false prophets working miracles with their black magic ; they will be betrayed by family and friends; they will be isolated and hunted down and killed; terror will be their constant companion ... and everywhere they flee, the hand of the lord Satan will be against them; if they refuse to carry his mark, then they will be killed. Then, when things couldn't get any worse, comes the Awful Horror . This exponential descent into evil is 'Azazel'!

Awful Horror
That ruler will have a firm agreement with many people for seven years, and when half this time is past, he will put an end to sacrifices and offerings. The Awful Horror will be placed on the highest point of the Temple and will remain there until the one who put it there meets the end which God has prepared for him. (Daniel 9:27 GNT)

"You will see 'The Awful Horror' standing in the place where he should not be." (Note to the reader: understand what this means!) "Then those who are in Judea must run away to the hills. (Mark 13:14 GNT)

And it is to Azazel that the House of Israel are sent. Jesus speaks of the difficulties and dangers Israel will face. They will be tested to their limits. And their survival will require them to obey the Lord, and to lean unreservedly upon the Lord Spirit.

Revelation 13:1-4 NIV
The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on its horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. [2] The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. [3] One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast. [4] People worshiped the dragon because he had given authority to the beast, and they also worshiped the beast and asked, “Who is like the beast? Who can wage war against it?”

Matthew 24:23-24 NIV
At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!'' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. [24] For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

House of Desolation

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. [38] Look, your house is left to you desolate. [39] For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matthew 23:37-39 NIV)

The House of Desolation are excluded from the Covenant. They are no longer Jews. All support is withdrawn, and they are left to their own devices.

One might have thought that they would be Blacklisted for their sin. But this is not the case. Their sin is classed by Jesus as being Defiant Sin. Therefore all is not lost, since the House of Desolation can find forgiveness by acknowledging Jesus, obeying Him, and committing to the Messianically Amended Covenant.