Is the Fallen Angel Azazel Found Anywhere in the Bible?

If you’re from a Protestant background, Azazel is likely not in your repertoire of common biblical knowledge. That’s because the character of Azazel isn’t explicitly recorded as a fallen angel in the Bible. Rather, this being is found in a Jewish text that falls outside the traditional canon of Scripture.

Who was Azazel? Is he referenced at all in the Bible? Even though the meaning is debated, we can still learn takeaways from what the Bible says about Azazel and fallen angels. Let’s take a deeper look at what scripture says and why it’s important to use discernment when considering Apocryphal Books.

Who Was Azazel and Can We Find Him in the Bible?

The term Azazel, as used for a fallen angel, is not found directly in the Bible. However, the word related to the Day of Atonement is reported in Leviticus 16. In this chapter, Aaron offers one goat to God and the other to Azazel in return for the sins of the people. 

Leviticus 16:7-10. Then he shall take the two goats and set them before the LORD at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel. And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the LORD and use it as a sin offering, but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.

While the word Azazel isn’t present in every Bible translation, the concept is often translated as “scapegoat.” When someone blames an innocent party for a wrongdoing, the accused person is the scapegoat. The false culprit takes the blame and punishment for the sin committed.

In biblical times, a scapegoat took on the sin of the people. The priest would lay hands on the animal, metaphorically transferring human sins to the goat. The goat would be chased far away into the wilderness, representing the idea that the people’s sins were now far away. Someone watched the goat run away ensuring it (and its sins) wouldn’t return.

This practice, found in Leviticus 16, took place before the birth and death of Jesus. For Christians today, Jesus took all our sins, sending them far away. The Jewish people, however, didn’t have this amazing gift during their time. Therefore, the goat took the weight of their sins. 

Where Can We Find Azazel?

The character of Azazel as a fallen angel is found in the book of Enoch. The book of Enoch is not part of the Bible and part of the Apocrypha. Crosswalk.com identifies the Apocrypha as “texts of uncertain authenticity or writings where the authorship is questioned.” These books are accepted by the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church as part of Scripture, but Protestant denominations disregard them from the canon.

In the book of Enoch, Azazel is a fallen angel. He is a leader of other fallen angels and responsible for evil in the world. He has led so much destruction that the book encourages Jewish readers to ascribe all sin to him. This idea is related to the scapegoat as mentioned above and could be the reason “scapegoat” is translated as Azazel in some translations of the Bible.

The term Azazel is highly debated but can be identified as another name for Satan. The Azazel goat of Leviticus is sent into the deserted wilderness, representing the people sending their sins back to the place they came from. In both the Bible and the Apocrypha, we find Azazel far from the people and ways of God.

What Should We Know about Fallen Angels?

The most famous fallen angel in the Bible is Lucifer, now known as Satan. Parts of Ezekiel 28 can be interpreted as referring to Satan’s fall. Lucifer was created as perfect and blameless but grew influenced by his beauty and pride. He rebelled against God, and in Ezekiel 28:17 God says, “I cast you to the ground.”

Lucifer delighted in his own beauty and power and wanted to take the glory that belonged to God alone. Instead of being praised in heaven, he is destined to be bound in a pit and thrown in the lake of fire. This passage can serve as a warning of pride to readers. James 4:6 says “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Fallen angels are also known as demons. Satan has his demonic army and sends his forces to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Even though we can’t see the evil forces, we are fighting against them every day (Ephesians 6:12). This teaches us we need to be diligent, dress in the armor of God, and ready to fend off the evil one.

It’s important to note that Satan is not the opposite of God. God is all-powerful and all-knowing. Satan can only be in one place at a time and isn’t able to read our thoughts. This is why he has his army to carry out his evil tasks. However, demons can’t override God’s plan and take over without permission. Jesus already overcame and is ultimately in control.

Why Is it Important to Take Apocryphal Books with a Grain of Salt?

Biblical books were chosen carefully and wisely. They needed to meet certain criteria to become part of Scripture. Texts in the Apocrypha didn’t make it into the canon for various reasons. One characteristic scholars look for in biblical books is their appearance in early Hebrew manuscripts. If certain books don’t appear, there is not enough evidence to include them as part of Scripture.

Other traits of the Apocrypha include having a different tone than other books in the Biblical canon or including contrasting themes. Additionally, Old Testament books were quoted by Jesus and his disciples in the New Testament. This helps to validate them. Books of the Apocrypha, however, are not referenced during Jesus’s time.

While Apocryphal Books can still provide information, they may not be divinely inspired. Since Christians understand the Bible as the Word of God and use its words to create a life dedicated to Christ, we want to make sure we are holding on to absolute truth. While stories in the Apocrypha may be accurate, we can’t be certain. Therefore, we should read the texts with discernment, holding on to the biblical canon as the true inspired Word of God.

While we find references to Azazel in some translations of the Bible, the word isn’t used to explicitly describe Satan or a fallen angel. There are many interpretations of the term, including inferences to the devil and dark world. The Apocrypha, including the Book of Enoch, refer to Azazel as such, but we need to take these references with a grain of salt since the books of the Apocrypha haven’t been validated as part of Scripture.

All the meanings of Azazel, including scapegoat, wilderness, and Satan, describe concepts far from God. In the time of Leviticus, the people had to offer animals to atone for their sins. As born-again Christians, we don’t need to place our sins on scapegoats anymore. The Holy Lamb was slain for all our sins, past, present, and future. His conquering of death has sent them far away from us, into the wilderness never to return.

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/mihtiander

Jenna Brooke Carlson is an elementary dual language teacher in the Chicago suburbs. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Word Weavers, she enjoys spending time with other writers and perfecting her craft. Her debut novel, Falling Flat, spreads the message that healing can occur, even after tragedy. Along with writing, she’s pursuing her dreams of creating a community of brave young women, who she can encourage to live out their dreams amid challenges and imperfection. Her days are busy, but she’s determined she can conquer anything with a fuzzy blanket and a hot cup of tea. To find out more about Jenna, visit her website at jennabrookecarlson.com.

This article is part of our People from the Bible Series featuring the most well-known historical names and figures from Scripture. We have compiled these articles to help you study those whom God chose to set before us as examples in His Word. May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul.

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