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:

Leviticus 16:21 (KJV)

Context

Leviticus is part of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, traditionally attributed to Moses. It contains the laws and regulations given by God to the Israelites, especially concerning the priests and tabernacle worship.

Leviticus 16 describes the Day of Atonement, also called Yom Kippur, a sacred day of fasting and repentance. On this day, the high priest, here Aaron, made atonement for the sins of the people and the sanctuary. This was the only day when the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and it was a time of deep national humility.

Meaning

In verse 21, Aaron lays both his hands on the head of a live goat. This act is a deliberate and complete transfer of the people’s sins onto the animal. He confesses all their iniquities, transgressions, and sins, covering every wrong, not just some. The laying on of both hands shows that the transfer is total and done in the name of the whole community.

The goat, often called the scapegoat, is then sent away into the wilderness by a man appointed for the task. The wilderness is a place of separation and desolation, symbolizing the complete removal of sin from the community and from God’s presence. The appointed man acts as a servant in the ritual, showing that the removal of sin requires a designated agent.

The laying on of hands also signifies identification. Aaron identifies the people with the goat, and the goat carries their guilt away. This ritual shows that sin defiles and must be removed for the people to be reconciled to God. It is a visible demonstration of God’s grace, providing a means for cleansing and restoration.

Biblical connections

This ritual foreshadows the ultimate atonement through Jesus Christ. John the Baptist called Jesus the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus, like the scapegoat, bore our sins outside the camp, as Hebrews 13:12-13 explains, and through His sacrifice our sins are removed from us as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).

The laying on of hands also connects to the New Testament truth that believers are identified with Christ in His death and resurrection. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 states, “For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Christ took our place, bore our sins, and removed them forever. The scapegoat is a powerful type of Christ’s substitutionary atonement, where He bore our sins on the cross, taking the punishment we deserved.

Application

Leviticus 16:21 reminds us of the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement. Sin creates a barrier between us and God, and a sacrifice is necessary to restore the relationship. For Christians, Jesus is that perfect sacrifice, providing forgiveness and reconciliation.

Confession is essential. Just as Aaron confessed the sins of the people over the goat, believers are encouraged to confess their sins to God for forgiveness and cleansing, as 1 John 1:9 teaches. Confession leads to repentance, a turning away from sin and a desire to live righteously.

The sending away of the scapegoat teaches us to separate ourselves from sin. We are called to strive for holiness, knowing that God has provided a way for sin to be completely removed through Christ. This ritual underscores the seriousness of sin and the necessity of atonement, while also demonstrating God’s provision for dealing with sin.

Reflection

The ritual of the scapegoat is a profound picture of the gospel. It shows that God takes sin seriously, but also that He provides a way for it to be removed. The goat carried the sins away into the wilderness, never to be seen again.

In Christ, we see the perfect fulfillment. He bore our sins on the cross, taking the punishment we deserved. Through faith in Him, we can receive complete forgiveness and be reconciled to God, free from the guilt and power of sin. The confession of sins is a model for believers, who are encouraged to confess their sins to God for forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9).