Leviticus 16:7 demonstrates how, on the Day of Atonement, two goats were presented in front of God, embodying the reality that God Himself provides both the payment for sin and the removal of sin from His people.
Then he shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the doorway of the tent of meeting (v. 7). This command from Leviticus 16:7 gives a clear picture of what is central to the Day of Atonement ceremony: two goats set apart for a divine purpose. The one instituted to do this is Aaron, the high priest, older brother of Moses, who ministered around 1445 BC when Israel was in the wilderness after the Exodus. Historically, Aaron was consecrated to serve as high priest in order to stand before God on behalf of the nation. The location is the doorway of the tent of meeting, which was the entrance to the tabernacle. This tabernacle was a portable sanctuary the Israelites used during their wilderness wanderings, stationed at the center of their encampment and understood to be the special place where God communed with His people.
When the Scripture says, he shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD, it refers to the unique responsibility placed upon the high priest to enable a reconciliation between Israel and God. These two goats were chosen for distinct roles as part of making atonement for the congregation. One goat would be “for the LORD” and its blood would be used to purify the Holy of Holies (Leviticus 16:9, 15). The other goat, called the “scapegoat” or “Azāwzēl,” would be left alive and released to roam the wilderness carrying away the sins of Israel (Leviticus 16:8-10, 21-22). This ritual painted a vivid picture of God’s willingness to forgive and remove the guilt of His people’s sins. The phrase present them before the LORD at the doorway of the tent of meeting emphasizes that every part of this process is holy: the animals are being dedicated in the sight of God at the sacred site He designated.
The spiritual significance of this passage points forward to Christ, who accomplishes the work of full atonement in the New Testament. The book of Hebrews expounds on how Jesus is both the once-for-all sacrifice who takes away sin and the High Priest who accomplishes that offering (Hebrews 9:11-28). The two goats reflect the dual aspect of Jesus’s atonement: He not only pays the penalty for sin with His blood, but He also removes sin from us completely, as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). In the same way that the high priest would present the goats before God, Jesus stood before the Father on our behalf, continuing this ancient, yet eternally relevant, picture of redemption.
This verse lays the foundation for the entire Day of Atonement ritual. It provides a tangible reminder that God is eager to forgive and restore fellowship with humanity. Through this act of consecration and the choosing of the goats, the nation of Israel was annually reminded that God’s mercy was real and that He would provide a way for them to be cleansed and remain in covenant relationship with Him.
It shows that God’s plan is redemptive in nature, seeking to remove the sins of those who turn to Him.
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Leviticus 16:7 meaning
Then he shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the doorway of the tent of meeting (v. 7). This command from Leviticus 16:7 gives a clear picture of what is central to the Day of Atonement ceremony: two goats set apart for a divine purpose. The one instituted to do this is Aaron, the high priest, older brother of Moses, who ministered around 1445 BC when Israel was in the wilderness after the Exodus. Historically, Aaron was consecrated to serve as high priest in order to stand before God on behalf of the nation. The location is the doorway of the tent of meeting, which was the entrance to the tabernacle. This tabernacle was a portable sanctuary the Israelites used during their wilderness wanderings, stationed at the center of their encampment and understood to be the special place where God communed with His people.
When the Scripture says, he shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD, it refers to the unique responsibility placed upon the high priest to enable a reconciliation between Israel and God. These two goats were chosen for distinct roles as part of making atonement for the congregation. One goat would be “for the LORD” and its blood would be used to purify the Holy of Holies (Leviticus 16:9, 15). The other goat, called the “scapegoat” or “Azāwzēl,” would be left alive and released to roam the wilderness carrying away the sins of Israel (Leviticus 16:8-10, 21-22). This ritual painted a vivid picture of God’s willingness to forgive and remove the guilt of His people’s sins. The phrase present them before the LORD at the doorway of the tent of meeting emphasizes that every part of this process is holy: the animals are being dedicated in the sight of God at the sacred site He designated.
The spiritual significance of this passage points forward to Christ, who accomplishes the work of full atonement in the New Testament. The book of Hebrews expounds on how Jesus is both the once-for-all sacrifice who takes away sin and the High Priest who accomplishes that offering (Hebrews 9:11-28). The two goats reflect the dual aspect of Jesus’s atonement: He not only pays the penalty for sin with His blood, but He also removes sin from us completely, as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). In the same way that the high priest would present the goats before God, Jesus stood before the Father on our behalf, continuing this ancient, yet eternally relevant, picture of redemption.
This verse lays the foundation for the entire Day of Atonement ritual. It provides a tangible reminder that God is eager to forgive and restore fellowship with humanity. Through this act of consecration and the choosing of the goats, the nation of Israel was annually reminded that God’s mercy was real and that He would provide a way for them to be cleansed and remain in covenant relationship with Him.
It shows that God’s plan is redemptive in nature, seeking to remove the sins of those who turn to Him.