Scripture Post #1,989: *SCAPEGOAT ORIGIN*

 

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.

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: 

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. 

The origin of the scapegoat comes from Levitical law. It states that the sins of those seeking atonement would be placed upon the head of a goat (scapegoat) that would be let loose into the wild in an uninhabited land. The sins of the people would be transferred from them to the scapegoat, leaving the people rectified of their wrongdoings. 

Originally Published: Thu. 2 • 22 • 18