Home/Topics/Scapegoat

What the Bible Says About Scapegoat

Overview

The Bible addresses scapegoat across 19 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in Leviticus. Closely related themes include High Priest, the, Atonement, Offerings and Sacrifices. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Aaron and Moses.

Key Bible verses about scapegoat

Old Testament

Leviticus

Leviticus 16:7

And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Leviticus 16:8

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

Leviticus 16:9

And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. fell: Heb. went up

Leviticus 16:10

But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

Leviticus 16:20

And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:

Leviticus 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: a fit: Heb. a man of opportunity

Leviticus 16:22

And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. not: Heb. of separation

Leviticus 16:23

And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there:

Leviticus 16:24

And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people.

Leviticus 16:25

And the fat of the sin offering shall he burn upon the altar.

Leviticus 16:26

And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp.

Leviticus 16:27

And the bullock for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall one carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung.

Leviticus 16:28

And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.

Leviticus 16:29

And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:

Leviticus 16:30

For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.

Leviticus 16:31

It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.

Leviticus 16:32

And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest's office in his father's stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments: consecrate: Heb. fill his hand

Leviticus 16:33

And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.

Leviticus 16:34

And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.

People in the Bible and scapegoat

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying scapegoat for yourself

  • Begin with Leviticus 16:7, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Consider the lives of Aaron and Moses and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: High Priest, the, Atonement, Offerings and Sacrifices.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about scapegoat?

The Bible addresses scapegoat across 19 verses, drawn from the Old Testament. These passages cluster most in Leviticus. Closely related themes include High Priest, the, Atonement, Offerings and Sacrifices. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Aaron and Moses.

How many Bible verses are about scapegoat?

The Bible references scapegoat in 19 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention scapegoat?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Leviticus 16:7: “And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.”

Which people in the Bible are associated with scapegoat?

Aaron and Moses.

Preach & teach

Outline a sermon or build a study series on scapegoat.

Preach a series on Scapegoat