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Leviticus 16:22 - Scapegoat atones in wilderness

Leviticus 16:22 - ויקרא 16:22

Hebrew Text

וְנָשָׂא הַשָּׂעִיר עָלָיו אֶת־כָּל־עֲוֺנֹתָם אֶל־אֶרֶץ גְּזֵרָה וְשִׁלַּח אֶת־הַשָּׂעִיר בַּמִּדְבָּר׃

English Translation

and the goat shall bear upon it all their iniquities to a barren land: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

Transliteration

Ve'nasa hasa'ir alav et-kol-avonotam el-eretz gezerah ve'shilach et-hasa'ir bamidbar.

Hebrew Leining Text

וְנָשָׂ֨א הַשָּׂעִ֥יר עָלָ֛יו אֶת־כׇּל־עֲוֺנֹתָ֖ם אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ גְּזֵרָ֑ה וְשִׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־הַשָּׂעִ֖יר בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃
וְנָשָׂ֨א הַשָּׂעִ֥יר עָלָ֛יו אֶת־כׇּל־עֲוֺנֹתָ֖ם אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ גְּזֵרָ֑ה וְשִׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־הַשָּׂעִ֖יר בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

The Scapegoat Ritual on Yom Kippur

The verse (Vayikra 16:22) describes the central avodah of Yom Kippur—the sending of the sa'ir la'Azazel (scapegoat) into the wilderness. This act symbolizes the removal of Bnei Yisrael's sins through a divinely ordained process of atonement.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi explains that the goat carries away the sins of the Jewish people to a desolate land (eretz gezeirah), emphasizing that this is not a literal transfer of sins but a symbolic act representing teshuvah (repentance). The wilderness represents a place of spiritual desolation, mirroring the state of one who remains in sin.

Rambam's Perspective

In Hilchot Teshuvah (1:2), Rambam teaches that the scapegoat ritual serves as a powerful visual lesson—sin must be completely cast away from one's life, just as the goat is sent far into the wilderness. The act reinforces the need for sincere repentance.

Midrashic Insights

  • Vayikra Rabbah (21:10): The Midrash compares the scapegoat to one who carries a burden—just as the goat is weighed down by the sins placed upon it, so too does sin burden the soul.
  • Zohar (Acharei Mot): The Zohar teaches that the goat's journey to the wilderness parallels the soul's journey toward purification, distancing itself from impurity.

Theological Significance

The ritual underscores that atonement requires both human effort (teshuvah) and divine grace (the Kohen Gadol's service). The goat's fate—cast into an uninhabitable land—teaches that true repentance means ensuring sins do not return, just as the goat does not come back.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Yoma 67b
The verse is discussed in the context of the Yom Kippur service, particularly regarding the scapegoat ritual and its significance in atoning for the sins of Israel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does the goat symbolize in Leviticus 16:22?
A: The goat in Leviticus 16:22 is known as the 'scapegoat' (שעיר לעזאזל). According to Rashi and the Talmud (Yoma 67b), this goat symbolically carries away the sins of the Jewish people on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) to purify them. It represents the removal of transgressions through sincere repentance.
Q: Why was the goat sent to the wilderness?
A: The wilderness (מדבר) was a desolate, uninhabited place, as explained in the Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah 21:11). Sending the goat there symbolizes the complete removal of sins—far from the community—teaching that true repentance means abandoning wrongdoing entirely, just as the goat is sent away permanently.
Q: How does Leviticus 16:22 relate to Yom Kippur today?
A: Although we no longer offer the scapegoat since the Temple’s destruction, the verse teaches a timeless lesson about repentance (תשובה). The Rambam (Hilchot Teshuvah 2:4) explains that Yom Kippur atones only when combined with sincere change. The scapegoat reminds us to 'send away' our sins by abandoning negative behaviors.
Q: What does 'bearing iniquities' mean in this verse?
A: The phrase 'bearing iniquities' (נשא עונות) does not mean the goat literally carries sins. Rather, as the Talmud (Yoma 39b) teaches, it represents the people’s accountability. Through the ritual, they visualize their sins being removed—but only if they genuinely repent, as the verse underscores the need for personal responsibility.