And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Leviticus 16:8
What does Leviticus 16:8 mean?
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Leviticus 16:8
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The text highlights a crucial, often overlooked, distinction: one goat is designated "for the LORD" (meaning for sacrifice to God), while the other is for "Azazel." This isn't just a naming convention; it signifies two distinct aspects of atonement: one for appeasing God's wrath through sacrifice, and the other, the "Azazel" goat, representing the removal and banishment of sin away from God's presence entirely.
And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of the detailed instructions for the Day of Atonement, a solemn annual ritual meant to cleanse Israel from their sins. Just after the death of Aaron's sons for improper worship, God gives Moses specific commands for his brother Aaron to enter the Most Holy Place with blood offerings. Central to this ritual is the selection of two goats, where lots are cast to determine their distinct roles in the atonement process.
Why did God use two goats? And why cast lots to decide their fate?
The ritual of the two goats, especially the casting of lots, highlights God's sovereign choice in the work of atonement. One goat is designated 'for the LORD,' signifying its role in direct sacrifice to God. The other is designated 'for Azazel,' a term often understood to represent a place of banishment or even a symbolic figure of sin's ultimate destination.
Casting lots wasn't about chance; it was an act of divine appointment. Proverbs 16:33 says, 'The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.' This ritual ensured that the assignment of each goat's purpose was directly from God, underscoring that atonement is not a human invention but a divine provision.
This points forward to Christ. One goat represents Christ's sacrificial death for our sins ('for the LORD'). The other represents His work in carrying away our sins completely ('for Azazel'). God's choice determined the specific roles these symbols would play, just as His choice led to sending His Son to fulfill these roles.
What or who is 'Azazel,' and why was a goat sent there?
The identity of 'Azazel' is debated, but its role in this ceremony is clear: it represents the ultimate removal and banishment of sin.
Some scholars suggest 'Azazel' refers to a place, a desolate wilderness, symbolizing a remote, uninhabited area where sin could be sent away, never to be found again. Others propose it might symbolize a spiritual entity, the source of sin, against whom the goat is sent as a symbolic rejection.
Regardless of the precise meaning, the goat sent to Azazel carried the sins of the entire nation. This act vividly demonstrated that sin is not merely covered but completely removed and banished. This foreshadows how Christ, by bearing our sins, casts them away from us, as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). The wilderness represents a place of separation, where sins are taken away from the presence of God and His people.
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Understand the original words
goral · Hebrew Noun
A ritual method used in the ancient Near East to determine the divine will or decision in a situation where human judgment was insufficient, trusting in God's sovereignty over the outcome.
Azazel · Hebrew Proper Noun
A complex term traditionally interpreted as a proper name for a demonic entity, a desolate place, or a symbolic figure representing the removal of sin, marking the destination of the scapegoat that carried away the iniquity of the people.
This passage identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, echoing the sacrificial role of the goat chosen 'for the LORD' in Leviticus 16:8.
Hebrews 9:11-14The author of Hebrews explains how Christ's sacrifice, through his own blood, is a more perfect atonement than the repeated sacrifices of the Old Covenant, including the rituals described in Leviticus 16.
2 Corinthians 5:21This verse states that Christ, who knew no sin, was made sin for us, mirroring the concept of the second goat bearing the sins of Israel and being sent away, representing the removal of sin.
Isaiah 53:4-6This prophecy powerfully describes the Suffering Servant bearing our iniquities and transgressions, much like the two goats represented the comprehensive atonement for the sins of the people.
1 Peter 3:18Peter connects Christ's suffering and death to making atonement for sins, highlighting the significance of his sacrifice for the unjust, which parallels the dual nature of the atonement symbolized by the two goats.
bensonLeviticus 16:8: "And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat."
Leviticus 16:8 . One lot for the Lord — To be sacrificed to him upon his altar. Both this and the other goat typified Christ; this in his death and passion for us, that in his resurrection for our deliverance. The other lot for the scape-goat — The Jewish doctors tell us that this goat, on which the sins of the nation were transferred, was loaded with all marks of reproach,…
calvinLeviticus 16:1-34: "And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;"
And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
Dixitque Jellova ad Mosen, Loquere ad Aharon fratrem tuum, ut ne ingrediatnr omni tempore sanctuarium intra velum…
The text highlights a crucial, often overlooked, distinction: one goat is designated "for the LORD" (meaning for sacrifice to God), while the other is for "Azazel." This isn't just a naming convention; it signifies two distinct aspects of atonement: one for appeasing God's wrath through sacrifice, and the other, the "Azazel" goat, representing the removal and banishment of sin away from God's presence entirely.
This passage is part of the detailed instructions for the Day of Atonement, a solemn annual ritual meant to cleanse Israel from their sins. Just after the death of Aaron's sons for improper worship, God gives Moses specific commands for his brother Aaron to enter the Most Holy Place with blood offerings. Central to this ritual is the selection of two goats, where lots are cast to determine their distinct roles in the atonement process.
This passage is part of the detailed instructions for the Day of Atonement, a solemn annual ritual meant to cleanse Israel from their sins. Just after the death of Aaron's sons for improper worship, God gives Moses specific commands for his brother Aaron to enter the Most Holy Place with blood offerings. Central to this ritual is the selection of two goats, where lots are cast to determine their distinct roles in the atonement process.
"And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel." — The text highlights a crucial, often overlooked, distinction: one goat is designated "for the LORD" (meaning for sacrifice to God), while the other is for "Azazel." This isn't just a naming conventio…
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Last reviewed October 2026