Leviticus 16:6-10

6 "Then ¹Aaron shall offer the bull for the sin offering which is for himself, that he may make atonement for himself and for his household.

7 "He shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the doorway of the tent of meeting.

8 "Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scapegoat.

9 "Then Aaron shall offer the goat on which the lot for the LORD fell, and make it a sin offering.

10 "But the goat on which the lot for the scapegoat fell shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make ²atonement upon it, to send it into the wilderness as the scapegoat.

Leviticus 16:6-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 16

This chapter treats of the day of atonement, and of the rites, sacrifices, and services of it, directs when Aaron should come into the holy of holies, Le 16:1,2; and in what habit he should then appear, and with what offerings both for himself, and for the people, Le 16:3-10; and that having slain his own sin offering, and that for the people, he should offer incense before the mercy seat, and sprinkle that with the blood of both, Le 16:11-15; and by these offerings make atonement for the holy place, the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, Le 16:16-19; and having done this, he was to take the live goat, lay his hands on it, confess over it, and put upon it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and then send it away by a fit man into the wilderness, Le 16:20-22; upon which he was to put off his linen garments, wash his flesh, and put them on again, and offer the burnt offering for himself, and for the people, Le 16:23-25; also he that let go the goat, and he that carried and burnt the sin offerings without the camp, were to wash themselves and clothes also, Le 16:26-28; the observance of this day, once a year, which was on the tenth of the seventh month, as a day of affliction and atonement, was to be a statute for ever to the children of Israel, Le 16:29-34.

Cross References

• 1. Hebrews 5:3
• 2. Isaiah 53:4-10; Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "goat of removal," or else a name: "Azazel"
• [b] Lit "goat of removal," or else a name: "Azazel"
• [c] Lit "goat of removal," or else a name: "Azazel"