He symbolically removes believers’ sins and makes restoration possible.
“The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a solitary land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.” (Leviticus 16:22)
This verse takes place in the context of Israel’s annual Day of Atonement (Hebrew “Yom Kippur”). On this holy day, the high priest would cast lots over two goats, one goat for the LORD to be sacrificed as a sin offering, and the other goat, referred to as the scapegoat or “Azāwzēl,” to be released alive into the wilderness carrying the sins of the people. “The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a solitary land” points to the idea that this scapegoat symbolically took on the sin and guilt of the nation, removing them from the camp so that Israel would be cleansed of their impurity. Through the act of releasing the goat in the wilderness, there was a vivid and solemn depiction of God’s mercy and forgiveness in removing His people’s sins “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). By witnessing the scapegoat’s departure, the nation could be assured that their sins had been taken away.In a deeper spiritual sense, many see this scapegoat as a foreshadow of Christ in the New Testament, who bore our sins and took them away through His sacrificial death (Isaiah 53:4-6). Just as the goat was led outside the camp into the wilderness, so Jesus bore sin outside the gate, bringing redemption to humanity (Hebrews 13:12). The imagery testifies to the completeness of God’s cleansing power and points to the ultimate sacrifice that would perfectly fulfill the meaning behind the Day of Atonement.The scapegoat carried Israel’s sin to a deserted place, never to return. It is a reminder that God’s forgiveness is final—He does not hold our wrongdoings against us once He has removed them. This ritual offered the Israelites profound reassurance of God’s compassion, encouraging them to trust in His grace and follow Him with renewed devotion.
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Leviticus 16:22 meaning
“The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a solitary land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.” (Leviticus 16:22)
This verse takes place in the context of Israel’s annual Day of Atonement (Hebrew “Yom Kippur”). On this holy day, the high priest would cast lots over two goats, one goat for the LORD to be sacrificed as a sin offering, and the other goat, referred to as the scapegoat or “Azāwzēl,” to be released alive into the wilderness carrying the sins of the people. “The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a solitary land” points to the idea that this scapegoat symbolically took on the sin and guilt of the nation, removing them from the camp so that Israel would be cleansed of their impurity. Through the act of releasing the goat in the wilderness, there was a vivid and solemn depiction of God’s mercy and forgiveness in removing His people’s sins “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). By witnessing the scapegoat’s departure, the nation could be assured that their sins had been taken away.In a deeper spiritual sense, many see this scapegoat as a foreshadow of Christ in the New Testament, who bore our sins and took them away through His sacrificial death (Isaiah 53:4-6). Just as the goat was led outside the camp into the wilderness, so Jesus bore sin outside the gate, bringing redemption to humanity (Hebrews 13:12). The imagery testifies to the completeness of God’s cleansing power and points to the ultimate sacrifice that would perfectly fulfill the meaning behind the Day of Atonement.The scapegoat carried Israel’s sin to a deserted place, never to return. It is a reminder that God’s forgiveness is final—He does not hold our wrongdoings against us once He has removed them. This ritual offered the Israelites profound reassurance of God’s compassion, encouraging them to trust in His grace and follow Him with renewed devotion.