Leviticus 16 8

Leviticus 16:8 kjv

And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.

Leviticus 16:8 nkjv

Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scapegoat.

Leviticus 16:8 niv

He is to cast lots for the two goats?one lot for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat.

Leviticus 16:8 esv

And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel.

Leviticus 16:8 nlt

He 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.

Leviticus 16 verses

Leviticus 16 8 Meaning

Leviticus 16:8 outlines a pivotal step in the annual Day of Atonement ritual, specifying that Aaron, the High Priest, must use lots to determine the fate of two identical goats. One lot is designated "for the Lord," meaning that goat will be sacrificed as a sin offering to God. The other lot is designated "for the scapegoat," meaning this goat will symbolically bear the sins of the people and be sent away into the wilderness. This verse highlights the divinely appointed distinction between the two goats, both integral to the comprehensive atonement process for Israel.

Leviticus 16 8 Context

Leviticus chapter 16 describes the elaborate ritual for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, the most solemn day in the Israelite calendar. This day was instituted after the tragic deaths of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, for offering "strange fire" (Lev 10:1-2), highlighting the strict purity and sanctity required in approaching God. The Day of Atonement addressed all the sins and impurities of the Israelites, priests, and the Tabernacle itself, providing a once-a-year comprehensive cleansing. It was the only time the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place. The selection and treatment of the two goats are central to this atonement process, with Leviticus 16:8 specifically detailing how their respective roles are divinely determined. This process underscored God's demand for holiness and His provision for dealing with sin, pointing forward to the ultimate, perfect sacrifice.

Leviticus 16 8 Word analysis

• And Aaron (וְאַהֲרֹן, wə'aharōn): Specifies the High Priest, the divinely appointed mediator, as the one who performs this sacred act. His unique office is essential for atonement rituals.
• shall cast lots (וְנָתַן עַל-שְׁנֵי הַשְּׂעִירִם גֹּרָלוֹת, wənātan ‘al-šəny has-sə‘irîm gōrālôt):
  • gōrā'āl (גֹּרָלֹות): Refers to stones or pebbles used for decision-making by divine providence.
  • yittēn (וְנָתַן): Hebrew verb meaning "he shall give" or "he shall place," used here for casting or presenting lots.
  This method indicates that the selection is not arbitrary human choice but divinely orchestrated. It removes human bias, signifying that the specific roles of the goats are God's design. This process also ensures the distinct, complementary fates are according to God's will.
• upon the two goats (עַל-שְׁנֵי הַשְּׂעִירִם, ‘al-šəny has-sə‘irîm): Specifies two identical, unblemished male goats presented for the sin offering (Lev 16:5). The fact that there are two and they are identical highlights that their differing fates are by divine designation, not intrinsic difference. They form a single unit in the atonement process.
• one lot (גּוֹרָל אֶחָד, gōrāl ’eḥāḏ): Literally "lot one." Denotes one outcome determined by the divine method.
• for the Lord (לַיהוָה, lYahweh): This signifies that the goat receiving this lot is exclusively designated for God. It implies dedication as a direct sacrifice to YHWH, highlighting His demand for justice and provision for atonement through substitutionary death. This goat will be sacrificed to propitiate God and cleanse from sin.
• and the other lot (וְגֹרָל אֶחָד, wəḡōrāl ’eḥāḏ): "And lot one" (the second). The parallel structure emphasizes the duality and equality of their initial status before the lot casting.
• for the scapegoat (לַעֲזָאזֵל, la‘ăzā’zēl): This is a highly significant and debated term.
  • Azazel (עֲזָאזֵל): Its precise meaning is a subject of scholarly discussion. Common interpretations include:
    1. A proper name, possibly referring to a demonic entity or wilderness spirit (rejected by most Orthodox Jewish and Christian interpretations as suggesting a sacrifice to demons, which is abhorrent to YHWH).
    2. A composite word, meaning "goat of removal" or "goat for sending away" (עֵז-אזַל, ‘ēz ’āzal). This aligns with the goat's eventual fate of carrying away sins into the wilderness.
    3. A rugged place or rocky outcrop in the wilderness to which the goat is sent.
    The prevailing understanding among Christian scholars is that Azazel does not denote a recipient of worship, but rather symbolizes the complete and utter removal of sin, banishing it from God's sight and from the community. It represents the outcome or purpose of the goat's sending away—the absolute severance of sins from the repentant. This element strongly counters pagan beliefs that require offerings to hostile deities to appease them, instead demonstrating YHWH's sovereign power over sin and its effects, effectively driving sin into desolation rather than appeasing a spiritual power in the wilderness.

Leviticus 16 8 Bonus section

• The ritual's meticulous detail highlights God's utter hatred of sin and His perfect provision for dealing with it. The repetition and specificity throughout Leviticus 16 underline the grave seriousness of sin and the equally profound need for atonement.
• The concept of the two goats, while representing two aspects, is crucial to understanding the unity and completeness of Christ's work on the cross. His death both paid the penalty for sin (represented by the goat for the Lord) and carried our sins far away from us (represented by the Azazel goat). It is a single, complete act of salvation.
• The annual nature of this sacrifice (Lev 16:34) subtly foreshadows its temporary and incomplete nature, which Hebrews fully develops by contrasting it with Christ's once-for-all, perfect sacrifice (Heb 9:11-14; 10:1-18).

Leviticus 16 8 Commentary

Leviticus 16:8 unveils the initial step of differentiating the roles of two essential animals in the Yom Kippur atonement ritual. The casting of lots upon the two otherwise identical goats is crucial, ensuring that God's sovereign will, not human preference, determines which goat fulfills which aspect of atonement. One goat is designated "for the Lord," symbolizing expiation through sacrifice and the satisfaction of divine justice—it is slain as a sin offering to deal with the guilt of sin. The other is for "Azazel," symbolizing the complete removal and bearing away of sins, consigning them to oblivion, never to be remembered against the people again. Together, these two goats powerfully illustrate the multifaceted nature of atonement: payment for sin through death and the subsequent banishment and complete removal of that sin from the presence of God and His people. This twin symbolism prefigures the work of Jesus Christ, who through His single, perfect sacrifice both dealt with the penalty of sin through His death and carried away the burden and guilt of sin through His resurrection and ascension, providing a full and final atonement for believers.