Back to Leviticus 16

Leviticus 16:5-15

He shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

“Aaron shall offer the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall take the two goats, and set them before Yahweh at the door of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for Yahweh, and the other lot for the scapegoat. Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for Yahweh, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat on which the lot fell for the scapegoat shall be presented alive before Yahweh, to make atonement for him, to send him away as the scapegoat into the wilderness.

“Aaron shall present the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull of the sin offering which is for himself. He shall take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before Yahweh, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil. He shall put the incense on the fire before Yahweh, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the covenant, so that he will not die. He shall take some of the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.

“Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat.

World English Bible · Public Domain
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Leviticus 16:5-15 sits inside this longer paragraph.

“Aaron shall come into the sanctuary with a young bull for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. He shall put on the holy linen tunic. He shall have the linen trousers on his body, and shall put on the linen sash, and he shall be clothed with the linen turban. They are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water, and put them on. He shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

“Aaron shall offer the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall take the two goats, and set them before Yahweh at the door of the Tent of Meeting. Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for Yahweh, and the other lot for the scapegoat. Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for Yahweh, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat on which the lot fell for the scapegoat shall be presented alive before Yahweh, to make atonement for him, to send him away as the scapegoat into the wilderness.

“Aaron shall present the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull of the sin offering which is for himself. He shall take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before Yahweh, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil. He shall put the incense on the fire before Yahweh, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the covenant, so that he will not die. He shall take some of the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.

“Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. He shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, even all their sins; and so he shall do for the Tent of Meeting that dwells with them in the middle of their uncleanness. No one shall be in the Tent of Meeting when he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, and has made atonement for himself and for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel.

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    He shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

    “Aaron shall offer the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house.

    He shall take the two goats, and set them before Yahweh at the door of the Tent of Meeting.

    Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for Yahweh, and the other lot for the scapegoat.

    Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for Yahweh, and offer him for a sin offering.

    But the goat on which the lot fell for the scapegoat shall be presented alive before Yahweh, to make atonement for him, to send him away as the scapegoat into the wilderness.

    “Aaron shall present the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull of the sin offering which is for himself.

    He shall take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before Yahweh, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil.

    He shall put the incense on the fire before Yahweh, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the covenant, so that he will not die.

    He shall take some of the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.

    “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat.

  • KJV King James Version

    And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

    And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.

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

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

    And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’s lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.

    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.

    And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself:

    And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:

    And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:

    And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.

    Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two he-goats for a sin-offering, and one ram for a burnt-offering.

    And Aaron shall present the bullock of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself, and for his house.

    And he shall take the two goats, and set them before the LORD at the door of the tent of meeting.

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

    And Aaron shall present the goat upon which the lot fell for the LORD, and offer him for a sin-offering.

    But the goat, on which the lot fell for Azazel, shall be set alive before the LORD, to make atonement over him, to send him away for Azazel into the wilderness.

    And Aaron shall present the bullock of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and shall make atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin-offering which is for himself.

    And he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil.

    And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the ark-cover that is upon the testimony, that he die not.

    And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the ark-cover on the east; and before the ark-cover shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.

    Then shall he kill the goat of the sin-offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the ark-cover, and before the ark-cover.

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Cross-references (92)

  • Hebrews 9:7 (vv6, 11, 14, 15) but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offers for himself, and for the errors of the…
  • Exodus 30:34-38 (v12) Yahweh said to Moses, “Take to yourself sweet spices, gum resin, onycha, and galbanum; sweet spices with pure frankincense. There shall be…
  • Leviticus 10:1 (v12) Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and offered strange fire before…
  • 1 John 2:2 (v10) And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.
  • Revelation 8:3-4 (vv12–13) Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of…
Show all 85 cross-references
  • Numbers 16:46 (vv12–13) Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, put fire from the altar in it, lay incense on it, carry it quickly to the congregation, and make…
  • Leviticus 4:5-6 (v14) The anointed priest shall take some of the blood of the bull, and bring it to the Tent of Meeting. The priest shall dip his finger in the…
  • Leviticus 9:7 (v6) Moses said to Aaron, “Draw near to the altar, and offer your sin offering, and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself, and…
  • Hebrews 9:25 (v14) nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place year by year with blood not his own,
  • Numbers 16:18 (vv12–13) They each took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the Tent of Meeting with Moses and Aaron.
  • Exodus 25:21 (v13) You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the covenant that I will give you.
  • Exodus 31:11 (v12) the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”
  • Leviticus 16:21-22 (v10) Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all…
  • 2 Chronicles 29:21 (v5) They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for…
  • Isaiah 6:6-7 (v12) Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. He touched my…
  • Acts 1:23-26 (v8) They put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. They prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the…
  • Hebrews 2:17 (v15) Therefore he was obligated in all things to be made like his brothers, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things…
  • Hebrews 9:3 (v15) After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,
  • Hebrews 9:12 (v15) nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained…
  • Hebrews 9:13 (v14) For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the cleanness of the…
  • Hebrews 9:23-24 (v10) It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves…
  • Exodus 30:1 (v13) “You shall make an altar to burn incense on. You shall make it of acacia wood.
  • Exodus 30:7-8 (v13) Aaron shall burn incense of sweet spices on it every morning. When he tends the lamps, he shall burn it. When Aaron lights the lamps at…
  • Leviticus 4:17 (v14) The priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before Yahweh, before the veil.
  • Leviticus 8:2 (v5) “Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and the bull of the sin offering, and the two rams, and the…
  • Leviticus 8:11 (v14) He sprinkled it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its vessels, and the basin and its base, to sanctify them.
  • Leviticus 16:2 (v15) and Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Most Holy Place within the veil, before the mercy…
  • Leviticus 16:6 (v11) “Aaron shall offer the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house.
  • Numbers 29:11 (v5) one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and its meal offering,…
  • Ezra 6:17 (v5) They offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all…
  • Proverbs 16:33 (v8) The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh.
  • Isaiah 53:4-11 (v10) Surely he has borne our sickness and carried our suffering; yet we considered him plagued, struck by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced…
  • Jonah 1:7 (v8) They all said to each other, “Come! Let’s cast lots, that we may know who is responsible for this evil that is on us.” So they cast lots,…
  • Romans 12:1 (v7) Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your…
  • Hebrews 5:3 (v15) Because of this, he must offer sacrifices for sins for the people, as well as for himself.
  • Hebrews 6:19 (v15) This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil;
  • Hebrews 9:14 (v12) how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to God, cleanse your conscience from…
  • Hebrews 10:4 (v14) For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
  • 1 John 2:1-2 (v13) My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ,…
  • 1 John 3:16 (v10) By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
  • Hebrews 7:27 (vv6, 11) who doesn’t need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For…
  • Exodus 28:43 (v13) They shall be on Aaron and on his sons, when they go in to the Tent of Meeting, or when they come near to the altar to minister in the holy…
  • Exodus 37:29 (v12) He made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, after the art of the perfumer.
  • Leviticus 1:3 (v7) “ ‘If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without defect. He shall offer it at the door of the Tent of…
  • Leviticus 4:4 (v7) He shall bring the bull to the door of the Tent of Meeting before Yahweh; and he shall lay his hand on the head of the bull, and kill the…
  • Leviticus 4:13-21 (v5) “ ‘If the whole congregation of Israel sins, and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done any of the things…
  • Leviticus 8:14 (v5) He brought the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering.
  • Leviticus 8:14-17 (v6) He brought the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering. He killed it;…
  • Leviticus 9:8-16 (v5) So Aaron came near to the altar, and killed the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself. The sons of Aaron presented the blood to…
  • Leviticus 12:6-7 (v7) “ ‘When the days of her purification are completed for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the door of the Tent of…
  • Leviticus 14:7 (v10) He shall sprinkle on him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird…
  • Leviticus 16:3 (v11) “Aaron shall come into the sanctuary with a young bull for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.
  • Leviticus 16:5-9 (v15) He shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. “Aaron…
  • Leviticus 22:9 (v13) “ ‘They shall therefore follow my commandment, lest they bear sin for it and die in it, if they profane it. I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.
  • Numbers 16:7 (v13) put fire in them, and put incense on them before Yahweh tomorrow. It shall be that the man whom Yahweh chooses, he shall be holy. You have…
  • Ezra 10:18-19 (v6) Among the sons of the priests there were found who had married foreign women: of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers,…
  • Job 1:5 (v6) It was so, when the days of their feasting had run their course, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and…
  • Ezekiel 43:19 (v6) You shall give to the Levitical priests who are of the offspring of Zadok, who are near to me, to minister to me,’ says the Lord Yahweh, ‘a…
  • Ezekiel 43:27 (v6) When they have accomplished the days, it shall be that on the eighth day, and forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings on the…
  • Ezekiel 45:22-23 (v5) On that day the prince shall prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bull for a sin offering. The seven days of the feast…
  • Matthew 16:21 (v7) From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and…
  • Acts 2:23 (v9) him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed;
  • Acts 4:27-28 (v9) “For truly, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together against your holy servant,…
  • Romans 3:24-26 (v14) being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus; whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith…
  • Romans 3:25 (v10) whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of…
  • Romans 4:25 (v10) who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.
  • Romans 8:3 (v5) For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for…
  • 2 Corinthians 5:21 (v10) For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
  • Hebrews 4:14-16 (v13) Having then a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let’s hold tightly to our confession. For we…
  • Hebrews 5:2-3 (v6) The high priest can deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray, because he himself is also surrounded with weakness. Because…
  • Hebrews 7:25 (v13) Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make…
  • Hebrews 7:26-27 (v10) For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who…
  • Hebrews 7:27-28 (v5) who doesn’t need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For…
  • Hebrews 9:24 (v13) For Christ hasn’t entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in…
  • Hebrews 9:25-26 (v15) nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place year by year with blood not his own, or else he…
  • Hebrews 10:5-14 (v5) Therefore when he comes into the world, he says, “You didn’t desire sacrifice and offering, but you prepared a body for me. You had no…
  • Hebrews 10:10-12 (v14) by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every priest indeed stands day by day…
  • Hebrews 10:19 (v14) Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
  • Hebrews 12:24 (v14) to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.
  • 1 John 1:7 (v12) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses…
  • Numbers 26:55 (v8) Notwithstanding, the land shall be divided by lot. According to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.
  • Numbers 33:54 (v8) You shall inherit the land by lot according to your families; to the more you shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer you shall…
  • Joshua 18:10-11 (v8) Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before Yahweh. There Joshua divided the land to the children of Israel according to their divisions.…
  • 1 Samuel 14:41-42 (v8) Therefore Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, “Show the right.” Jonathan and Saul were chosen, but the people escaped. Saul said, “Cast…
  • Ezekiel 48:29 (v8) “This is the land which you shall divide by lot to the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their several portions, says the…

85 distinct cross-references across this passage (92 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (19 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv8, 12, 13, 14 In Hebrew it is called Azazel, which some say,…

In Hebrew it is called Azazel, which some say, is a mountain near Sinai, whither this goat was sent, but rather it is called the Scapegoat, because it was not offered, but sent into the desert, as verse 11.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14 Lev 16:5 And he shall take of the congregation…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 i.e. His family, as Gen 7:1, to wit, the…
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On vv5, 15 The Jewish writers say that for seven days before…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv5–15 And he shall take of the congregation of the…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 For the Lord - For the Lord's use by…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv7, 8, 10 Verse 7. And he shall take the two goats]…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15 Lev 16:7. He shall present them before the Lord…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv5, 6, 8, 10, 11 Take of the congregation - i. e. they were…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv6, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15 Calf, or young bull, which Aaron offered for himself…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv5, 11 shall take of the congregation . . . two…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 5. Two kids of the goats — This expression…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13 5. The two he-goats are described as one Sin-Offering.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv5–15 (5) And he shall take of the congregation.—On this…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15 And he shall take of the congregation of the…
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On vv5, 6, 11 The two goats. The offering of the high priest…
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v15 The offerings for the People
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv6, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15 the sin offering, which will be for himself
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv6, 8 16:6 The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews…
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