Leviticus 16:21

Authorized King James Version

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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:

Original Language Analysis

וְסָמַ֨ךְ shall lay H5564
וְסָמַ֨ךְ shall lay
Strong's: H5564
Word #: 1 of 31
to prop (literally or figuratively); reflexively, to lean upon or take hold of (in a favorable or unfavorable sense)
אַֽהֲרֹ֜ן And Aaron H175
אַֽהֲרֹ֜ן And Aaron
Strong's: H175
Word #: 2 of 31
aharon, the brother of moses
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 3 of 31
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
שְׁתֵּ֣י both H8147
שְׁתֵּ֣י both
Strong's: H8147
Word #: 4 of 31
two; also (as ordinal) twofold
בְּיַד by the hand H3027
בְּיַד by the hand
Strong's: H3027
Word #: 5 of 31
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
עַ֨ל H5921
עַ֨ל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 6 of 31
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
רֹ֣אשׁ them upon the head H7218
רֹ֣אשׁ them upon the head
Strong's: H7218
Word #: 7 of 31
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
הַשָּׂעִ֔יר goat H8163
הַשָּׂעִ֔יר goat
Strong's: H8163
Word #: 8 of 31
shaggy; as noun, a he-goat; by analogy, a faun
הַחַי֒ of the live H2416
הַחַי֒ of the live
Strong's: H2416
Word #: 9 of 31
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
וְהִתְוַדָּ֣ה and confess H3034
וְהִתְוַדָּ֣ה and confess
Strong's: H3034
Word #: 10 of 31
physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the ha
עָלָ֗יו H5921
עָלָ֗יו
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 11 of 31
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 12 of 31
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל H3605
כָּל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 13 of 31
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
עֲוֹנֹת֙ over him all the iniquities H5771
עֲוֹנֹת֙ over him all the iniquities
Strong's: H5771
Word #: 14 of 31
perversity, i.e., (moral) evil
בְּנֵ֣י of the children H1121
בְּנֵ֣י of the children
Strong's: H1121
Word #: 15 of 31
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל of Israel H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל of Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 16 of 31
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
וְאֶת H853
וְאֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 17 of 31
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל H3605
כָּל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 18 of 31
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
פִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֖ם and all their transgressions H6588
פִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֖ם and all their transgressions
Strong's: H6588
Word #: 19 of 31
a revolt (national, moral or religious)
לְכָל H3605
לְכָל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 20 of 31
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
חַטֹּאתָ֑ם in all their sins H2403
חַטֹּאתָ֑ם in all their sins
Strong's: H2403
Word #: 21 of 31
an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender
וְנָתַ֤ן putting H5414
וְנָתַ֤ן putting
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 22 of 31
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
אֹתָם֙ H853
אֹתָם֙
Strong's: H853
Word #: 23 of 31
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 24 of 31
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
רֹ֣אשׁ them upon the head H7218
רֹ֣אשׁ them upon the head
Strong's: H7218
Word #: 25 of 31
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
הַשָּׂעִ֔יר goat H8163
הַשָּׂעִ֔יר goat
Strong's: H8163
Word #: 26 of 31
shaggy; as noun, a he-goat; by analogy, a faun
וְשִׁלַּ֛ח and shall send him away H7971
וְשִׁלַּ֛ח and shall send him away
Strong's: H7971
Word #: 27 of 31
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
בְּיַד by the hand H3027
בְּיַד by the hand
Strong's: H3027
Word #: 28 of 31
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
אִ֥ישׁ man H376
אִ֥ישׁ man
Strong's: H376
Word #: 29 of 31
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
עִתִּ֖י of a fit H6261
עִתִּ֖י of a fit
Strong's: H6261
Word #: 30 of 31
timely
הַמִּדְבָּֽרָה׃ into the wilderness H4057
הַמִּדְבָּֽרָה׃ into the wilderness
Strong's: H4057
Word #: 31 of 31
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert

Analysis & Commentary

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:

This verse falls within the section on Day of Atonement. The most sacred day in Israel's calendar, when the high priest entered the Holy of Holies to make atonement for all Israel's sins.

The Aaronic priesthood mediated between God and Israel, offering sacrifices and maintaining the tabernacle. This prefigured Christ's superior priesthood after the order of Melchizedek.
The New Testament reveals that Christ's sacrifice accomplishes what the Levitical system could only symbolize—complete forgiveness and restoration of relationship with God.

Historical Context

The most sacred day in Israel's calendar, when the high priest entered the Holy of Holies to make atonement for all Israel's sins. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) described in chapter 16 became Israel's most sacred day. Only on this annual day could the high priest enter the Holy of Holies, making atonement for the entire nation. This ceremony, still observed in Judaism, found ultimate fulfillment in Christ's entrance into heaven itself (Hebrews 9:11-12). Israel received these laws while encamped at Sinai, before entering Canaan. The laws prepared them for life in the promised land, distinguishing them from Canaanite practices and establishing their identity as God's holy nation. The portable tabernacle, central to Levitical worship, accompanied them through wilderness wanderings and eventually found permanent form in Solomon's temple. Archaeological discoveries at sites like Ugarit reveal Canaanite religious practices Israel's laws explicitly rejected, confirming the Bible's historical reliability and the distinctiveness of Israelite worship.

Questions for Reflection

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