New International VersionHe is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat.
New Living TranslationHe is to cast sacred lots to determine which goat will be reserved as an offering to the LORD and which will carry the sins of the people to the wilderness of Azazel.
English Standard VersionAnd Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel.
Berean Standard BibleAfter Aaron casts lots for the two goats, one for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat,
King James BibleAnd Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
New King James VersionThen Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scapegoat.
New American Standard BibleAaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scapegoat.
NASB 1995“Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scapegoat.
NASB 1977“And Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scapegoat.
Legacy Standard BibleAnd Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for Yahweh and the other lot for the scapegoat.
Amplified BibleAaron shall cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the LORD, the other lot for the scapegoat.
Christian Standard BibleAfter Aaron casts lots for the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other for an uninhabitable place,
Holman Christian Standard BibleAfter Aaron casts lots for the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other for azazel,
American Standard VersionAnd Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for Jehovah, and the other lot for Azazel.
Contemporary English Versionwhere I will show you which goat will be sacrificed to me and which one will be sent into the desert to the demon Azazel.
English Revised VersionAnd Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for Azazel.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationThen Aaron must throw lots for the two goats. One lot will be for the LORD and the other for Azazel.
Good News TranslationThere he shall draw lots, using two stones, one marked "for the LORD" and the other "for Azazel."
International Standard VersionAaron is to cast lots over the two male goats—one lot for the LORD and the other one for the scapegoat.
NET Bibleand Aaron is to cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the LORD and one lot for Azazel.
New Heart English BibleAaron shall cast lots for the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scape-goat. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAfter Aaron casts lots for the two goats, one for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat,
World English BibleAaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for Yahweh, and the other lot for the scapegoat. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Aaron has given lots over the two goats, one lot for YHWH and one lot for a goat of departure;
Young's Literal Translation 'And Aaron hath given lots over the two goats, one lot for Jehovah, and one lot for a goat of departure;
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd Aaron gave lots upon the two he goats; one lot for Jehovah, and one lot for the goat set apart. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd casting lots upon them both, one to be offered to the Lord, and the other to be the emissary goat:
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd casting lots over them both, one is to be offered to the Lord, and the other is to be the emissary goat.
New American Biblehe shall cast lots to determine which one is for the LORD and which for Azazel.
New Revised Standard Versionand Aaron shall cast lots on the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazael.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd Ahron shall cast lots for both kids; one lot for LORD JEHOVAH and one lot for Azazayel. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats: one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for Azazel.
Brenton Septuagint Translationand Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats, one lot for the Lord, and the other for the scape-goat.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context The Law of Atonement… 7Then he shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 8After Aaroncastslotsforthe twogoats,onefor the LORDand the otherfor the scapegoat,9he shall present the goat chosen by lot for the LORD and sacrifice it as a sin offering.…
Cross References Hebrews 9:7-12But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. / By this arrangement the Holy Spirit was showing that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. / It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper. ...
Hebrews 9:24-28For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God. / Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. / Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself. ...
Hebrews 10:1-4For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. It can never, by the same sacrifices offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. / If it could, would not the offerings have ceased? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt the guilt of their sins. / Instead, those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, ...
Hebrews 10:19-22Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, / by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body, / and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ...
2 Corinthians 5:21God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Romans 3:25God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.
John 1:29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
1 John 2:2He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 4:10And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Matthew 27:15-26Now it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing. / At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner named Barabbas. / So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” ...
Mark 15:6-15Now it was Pilate’s custom at the feast to release to the people a prisoner of their choosing. / And a man named Barabbas was imprisoned with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. / So the crowd went up and began asking Pilate to keep his custom. ...
Luke 23:13-25Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, / and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined Him here in your presence and found Him not guilty of your charges against Him. / Neither has Herod, for he sent Him back to us. As you can see, He has done nothing deserving of death. ...
Acts 3:14You rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.
Isaiah 53:4-6Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. / But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. / We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:10-12Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. / After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. / Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.
Treasury of Scripture And Aaron shall cast lots on the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. cast lots Numbers 26:55 Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. Numbers 33:54 And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families:and to the more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance: every man'sinheritance shall be in the place where his lot falleth; according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit. Joshua 18:10,11 And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions… Jump to Previous AaronAzazelAza'zelCastDecisionDepartureGoatGoatsLotsScapegoatScape-GoatSelectionJump to Next AaronAzazelAza'zelCastDecisionDepartureGoatGoatsLotsScapegoatScape-GoatSelectionLeviticus 16 1.how the high priest must enter into the holy place11.The sin offering for himself15.The sin offering for the people20.The scapegoat29.The yearly feast of the expiationsAfter Aaron casts lots for the two goatsIn the ancient Israelite context, casting lots was a common practice used to discern God's will. This method ensured that the decision was not influenced by human bias but was seen as divinely guided. The use of lots is seen elsewhere in Scripture, such as in the selection of Matthias as an apostle in Acts 1:26. The two goats were central to the Day of Atonement, a significant annual event for Israel, emphasizing the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement. one for the LORD
The goat designated for the LORD was to be sacrificed as a sin offering. This act symbolized the need for blood to atone for sin, a theme that runs throughout the Old Testament sacrificial system. The shedding of blood was necessary for the forgiveness of sins, as stated inHebrews 9:22. This goat represents the substitutionary atonement, pointing forward to Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 10:10). and the other for the scapegoat
The term "scapegoat" comes from the Hebrew word "Azazel," which has been interpreted in various ways, including as a reference to a wilderness demon or as a symbolic representation of the removal of sin. The scapegoat was sent into the wilderness, symbolically carrying the sins of the people away from the camp. This act illustrates the concept of expiation, where sin is not only forgiven but also removed. This foreshadows the work of Christ, who not only forgives sin but also removes it from us, as seen inPsalm 103:12, where God removes our transgressions as far as the east is from the west. Persons / Places / Events 1. AaronThe high priest who performs the ritual of casting lots for the two goats as part of the Day of Atonement ceremony. 2. Two GoatsCentral to the ritual, one goat is designated for the LORD and the other as the scapegoat (Azazel). 3. The LORDThe recipient of the sacrificial goat, symbolizing atonement for the people's sins. 4. Scapegoat (Azazel)The goat that is sent into the wilderness, symbolically carrying away the sins of the people. 5. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)A significant annual event in the Israelite calendar for the atonement of sins. Teaching Points Understanding AtonementThe ritual of the two goats illustrates the dual aspects of atonement—sacrifice and removal of sin. This foreshadows Christ's work on the cross. Symbolism of the ScapegoatThe scapegoat represents the complete removal of sin from the community, pointing to the comprehensive forgiveness available through Christ. Role of the High PriestAaron's role as the mediator between God and the people prefigures Christ's role as our eternal high priest. Divine Sovereignty and Human ResponsibilityThe casting of lots signifies God's sovereign choice, yet it requires human obedience to carry out His commands. Living in ForgivenessJust as the scapegoat carried away the sins of Israel, believers are called to live in the freedom and forgiveness that Christ provides. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Leviticus 16
How can Leviticus 16:8–10 justify transferring a community’s sins onto a literal goat to be set free?
What does casting lots mean in the Bible?
Why does Leviticus 16 not address inevitable scientific gaps in the concept of sin transference and ritual purification despite later translations or commentaries?
How does statistical randomness contradict the idea of divine control?(8) And Aaron shall cast lots.--The lots consisted of two small tablets which at an earlier time were of box or ebony wood, but which during the later part of the second Temple were made of gold, and were kept in a wooden chest. On the one was engraved the words "For Jehovah," and on the other "For Azazel," the expression in the original, which is translated scapegoatin the Authorised Version. The high priest, after shaking the chest, put both his hands into the urn and simultaneously took out the two tablets, one in each hand. Hereupon he put the tablet which he had in his right hand upon the goat that was standing on his right side, whilst the tablet in his left hand he put on the goat on his left side. If the tablet with the in scription "For Jehovah was in his right hand the chief priest who stood at the right of the pontiff exclaimed "Hold up thy right hand on high!" and if it happened to be in the left hand, the chief of the principal household, who stood on his left, called out to him "Hold up thy left hand." Hereupon the high priest laid the two lots on the two goats, the one in the right hand on the goat at his right, and the one in the left hand on the animal at his left, exclaiming at the same time, "To the Lord a sin offering!" And the other lot for the scapegoat.--Better,and the other lot for Azazel.The word, which only occurs in this chapter, probably denotes the utterly banished demon, the prince of the evil spirits, who with his legions occupies the desert regions and desolated places. (Comp.Isaiah 13:21;Isaiah 34:14;Matthew 12:43;Luke 11:24;Revelation 18:2.) As the removal or pardon of sin is often represented in the Bible by its being banished into the uttermost parts of the earth and seas (Micah 7:19;Psalm 103:12), nothing could be more striking or convey to the people the idea of absolute forgiveness better than this symbolical act of sending the goat laden with the sins of the congregation to the wilderness, the abode of the prince of darkness, back to the author of all sin. The rendering,scapegoat,is contrary to the manifest antithesis of the verse. If the one member "For Jehovah" denotes a person, the second member "For Azazel," which forms the contrast, must,prima facie,also denote a person. Besides, the translationscapegoatcannot be admitted in the next verse but one, where, if adopted, it would literally be "to send the goat to the scapegoat in the wilderness" .(seeLeviticus 16:10), or inLeviticus 16:26, where it is, "and he who taketh away the goat to the scapegoat." . . .
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew After Aaronאַהֲרֹ֛ן(’a·hă·rōn)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 175:Aaron -- an elder brother of Mosescastsוְנָתַ֧ן(wə·nā·ṯan)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414:To give, put, setlotsגּוֹרָל֑וֹת(gō·w·rā·lō·wṯ)Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1486:Lot -- a lot (for casting)forעַל־(‘al-)Preposition
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, againstthe twoשְׁנֵ֥י(šə·nê)Number - mdc
Strong's 8147:Two (a cardinal number)goats,הַשְּׂעִירִ֖ם(haś·śə·‘î·rim)Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8163:Shaggy, a he-goat, a faunoneאֶחָד֙(’e·ḥāḏ)Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259:United, one, firstfor the LORDלַיהוָ֔ה(Yah·weh)Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israeland the otherאֶחָ֖ד(’e·ḥāḏ)Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259:United, one, firstfor the scapegoat,לַעֲזָאזֵֽל׃(la·‘ă·zā·zêl)Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5799:Goat of departure, the scapegoat
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OT Law: Leviticus 16:8 Aaron shall cast lots for the two (Le Lv Lev.) |
