Leviticus 16:21-22
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The text mentions "all the iniquities... and all their transgressions, all their sins," using three distinct terms for sin. This isn't just redundancy; it emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the atonement, signifying that every kind of sin—minor or major, known or unknown—was covered by this ritual and ultimately by Christ's sacrifice.
And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse describes a pivotal moment in the Day of Atonement ritual, where the high priest, Aaron, symbolically transfers the sins of the entire nation onto a live goat. This act follows the atonement for the sanctuary and priesthood itself, signifying the complete cleansing process that extends from the sacred space to the people. The goat, now laden with the community's transgressions, is then sent away into the wilderness, representing the removal of sin from God's sight and from the people's midst.
Imagine laying all your wrongdoings, big and small, onto one living creature. This isn't just a symbolic gesture; it's a profound declaration of God's thorough forgiveness.
Aaron's act of laying both hands on the live goat and confessing "all the iniquities... all their transgressions, all their sins" was incredibly significant.
The Scope of Forgiveness
The repetition of "all" emphasizes that no sin was too small or too great to be included. This wasn't a selective confession; it was a comprehensive one, covering every aspect of Israel's failings.
A Transfer of Guilt
This act symbolized the transfer of the people's guilt onto the goat. It wasn't the goat's fault, but by God's command, it became the bearer of their sin, preparing it to be carried away.
What does it mean for our sins to be sent away 'into the wilderness'? It signifies a complete removal, a place where they are no longer found.
The sending away of the goat into the wilderness was the crucial final act of this ritual.
A Definitive Departure
The wilderness was a desolate, uninhabited place. This was a powerful visual representation of sins being completely removed from the community and from God's sight.
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A Symbol of Christ's Work
This act clearly prefigured Christ's work. He bore our sins and, after His sacrifice and resurrection, He is no longer held by them. He has removed our transgressions far from us, just as the goat was sent away, never to return.
Understand the original words
avon · Hebrew Noun
Acts of moral failure, wickedness, or perversity that represent a departure from God's standards and a twisting of His moral order.
pesha · Hebrew Noun
An act of rebellion against authority, specifically a breach of the covenant between God and His people; a willful violation of known commands.
chatta'ah · Hebrew Noun
Missing the mark of God's holiness; an offense against God's law that results in separation from Him and guilt.
nasa · Hebrew Verb
The act of transferring guilt or responsibility onto another, often used in ritual contexts where the animal symbolically takes on the sins of the community.
midbar · Hebrew Noun
A place removed from the inhabited community, often symbolic of desolation, death, or the domain of God's judgment, away from the presence of the people.
This passage directly parallels the Leviticus text by describing how 'all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all,' echoing the symbolic transfer of sin onto the goat.
2 Corinthians 5:21The Apostle Paul directly connects Christ's sacrifice to this concept of bearing sin, stating that God 'made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.' This reflects how the sins confessed over the goat were symbolically placed upon it, much like Christ bore our sins.
Hebrews 9:28This New Testament passage explains how Christ 'will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him,' drawing a clear parallel to the scapegoat being sent away into the wilderness, symbolizing the removal and finality of sin's penalty.
1 Peter 2:24Peter describes Christ who 'himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness,' underscoring the profound significance of the scapegoat carrying the sins of Israel away, a picture of Christ carrying our sins to their ultimate removal.
bensonLeviticus 16:21: "And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:"
Leviticus 16:21 . All the iniquities — He mentions iniquities, transgressions, and sins, to denote sins of all sorts, and that a free and full confession was to be made, and that the small…
gillLeviticus 16:21: "And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:"
And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat,.... In this order as the Targum of Jonathan says, his right hand upon his left hand on the head of the live goat; this was…
The text mentions "all the iniquities... and all their transgressions, all their sins," using three distinct terms for sin. This isn't just redundancy; it emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the atonement, signifying that every kind of sin—minor or major, known or unknown—was covered by this ritual and ultimately by Christ's sacrifice.
This verse describes a pivotal moment in the Day of Atonement ritual, where the high priest, Aaron, symbolically transfers the sins of the entire nation onto a live goat. This act follows the atonement for the sanctuary and priesthood itself, signifying the complete cleansing process that extends from the sacred space to the people. The goat, now laden with the community's transgressions, is then sent away into the wilderness, representing the removal of sin from God's sight and from the people's midst.
This verse describes a pivotal moment in the Day of Atonement ritual, where the high priest, Aaron, symbolically transfers the sins of the entire nation onto a live goat. This act follows the atonement for the sanctuary and priesthood itself, signifying the complete cleansing process that extends from the sacred space to the people. The goat, now laden with the community's transgressions, is then sent away into the wilderness, representing the removal of sin from God's sight and from the people's midst.
"And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away i…" — The text mentions "all the iniquities... and all their transgressions, all their sins," using three distinct terms for sin. This isn't just redundancy; it emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the a…
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Last reviewed October 2026
