Focused Passage

Leviticus 16:20-22

The Day of Atonement: Cleansing the Sanctuary and Bearing Away Israel's Sins

After recalling the death of Aaron's sons, the LORD restricts Aaron's access to the Most Holy Place and commands the Day of Atonement ritual: Aaron must enter with proper sacrifices and linen garments, offer for himself, use incense to cover the atonement cover, sprinkle blood for sanctuary cleansing, lay Israel's sins on the live goat sent into the wilderness, cleanse the altar, change garments, complete burnt offerings, and establish an annual Sabbath-like day of self-denial and atonement for Israel.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

20 When Aaron has finished purifying the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he is to bring forward the live goat.

21 Then he is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to put them on the goat’s head and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man appointed for the task.

22 The goat will carry on itself all their iniquities into a solitary place, and the man will release it into the wilderness.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 20

Cross-references

Ezekiel 45:20 Classic cross-references Leviticus 16:16 Classic cross-references

Original words

When [Aaron] has finished וְכִלָּה֙ H3615 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular purifying מִכַּפֵּ֣ר H3722 Preposition-m | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the Most Holy Place הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ H6944 Article | Noun - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker the Tent אֹ֥הֶל H168 Noun - masculine singular construct of Meeting מוֹעֵ֖ד H4150 Noun - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and the altar הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ H4196 Article | Noun - masculine singular he is to bring forward וְהִקְרִ֖יב H7126 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the live הֶחָֽי׃ H2416 Article | Adjective - masculine singular goat הַשָּׂעִ֥יר H8163 Article | Noun - masculine singular

Verse 21

Cross-references

John 1:29 Classic cross-references Isaiah 53:6 Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 5:21 Classic cross-references Leviticus 5:5 Classic cross-references Ezra 10:1 Classic cross-references

Original words

Then [he] אַהֲרֹ֜ן H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker is to lay וְסָמַ֨ךְ H5564 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular both שְׁתֵּ֣י H8147 Number - feminine dual construct hands יָדוֹ H3027 Noun - feminine dual construct | third person masculine singular on עַ֨ל H5921 Preposition the head רֹ֣אשׁ H7218 Noun - masculine singular construct of the live הַחַי֒ H2416 Article | Adjective - masculine singular goat הַשָּׂעִיר֮ H8163 Article | Noun - masculine singular and confess וְהִתְוַדָּ֣ה H3034 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular over עָלָ֗יו H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular it אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the iniquities עֲוֺנֹת֙ H5771 Noun - common plural construct and rebellious acts פִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֖ם H6588 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural vvv בְּנֵ֣י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of the Israelites יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular - וְאֶת־ H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker in regard to לְכָל־ H3605 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct their sins חַטֹּאתָ֑ם H2403 Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural He is to put וְנָתַ֤ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular them אֹתָם֙ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine plural on עַל־ H5921 Preposition the goat’s הַשָּׂעִ֔יר H8163 Article | Noun - masculine singular head רֹ֣אשׁ H7218 Noun - masculine singular construct and send it away וְשִׁלַּ֛ח H7971 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular into the wilderness הַמִּדְבָּֽרָה׃ H4057 Article | Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular by the hand בְּיַד־ H3027 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct of a man אִ֥ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular appointed for the task עִתִּ֖י H6261 Adjective - masculine singular

Verse 22

Cross-references

1 Peter 2:24 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 4:4 Classic cross-references Isaiah 53:11 Classic cross-references John 1:29 Classic cross-references

Original words

The goat הַשָּׂעִ֥יר H8163 Article | Noun - masculine singular will carry וְנָשָׂ֨א H5375 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular on עָלָ֛יו H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular itself אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct their iniquities עֲוֺנֹתָ֖ם H5771 Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine plural into אֶל־ H413 Preposition a solitary גְּזֵרָ֑ה H1509 Noun - feminine singular place אֶ֣רֶץ H776 Noun - feminine singular construct and [the man] will release וְשִׁלַּ֥ח H7971 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker [it] הַשָּׂעִ֖יר H8163 Article | Noun - masculine singular into the wilderness בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ H4057 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular

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