Scapegoat
Culture & Societyâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
A ritual goat designated in the Book of Leviticus to carry the sins of the community into the wilderness. This practice occurred annually during the Day of Atonement.
What is the meaning of Scapegoat in the Bible?
A ritual goat designated in the Book of Leviticus to carry the sins of the community into the wilderness. This practice occurred annually during the Day of Atonement.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding this ritual clarifies the mechanism of atonement in the Pentateuch, showing how guilt was physically removed from the sanctuary to restore communal holiness.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Scapegoat in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Scapegoat clarify?
Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.