Leviticus 16:21
19 He is to sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.
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.
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.
23 Then Aaron is to enter the Tent of Meeting, take off the linen garments he put on before entering the Most Holy Place, and leave them there.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- 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.
- KJV
- 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:
- WEB
- 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 their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is ready.
- ASV
- 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, even all their sins; and he shall put them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a man that is in readiness into the wilderness:
- DARBY
- and Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the living goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, and he shall put them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away to the wilderness by the hand of a man standing ready;
- BLB
- And Aaron shall lay his two hands on the head of the living goat, and he shall confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel, and all their transgressions for all their sins, and he shall put them on the head of the goat, and he shall send [it] away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man.
- ÅB
- Og Aron skal legge begge sine hender på den levende bukks hode og bekjenne over den alle Israels barns misgjerninger og alle deres overtredelser som de har forsyndet seg med; han skal legge dem på bukkens hode og sende den ut i ørkenen med en mann som står rede dertil.
- OTB
- Han skal legge begge hendene på hodet til den levende bukken og bekjenne over den all israelittenes ondskap og opprør – alle deres synder – og legge dem på bukkens hode. Han skal sende bukken ut i ørkenen i omsorgen til en mann som er utpekt for oppgaven.
- B1930
- Og Aron skal legge begge sine hender på den levende bukks hode og bekjenne over den alle Israels barns misgjerninger og alle deres overtredelser som de har forsyndet sig med; han skal legge dem på bukkens hode og sende den ut i ørkenen med en mann som står rede dertil.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Isaiah 53:6
We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.
Read in context2 Corinthians 5:21
God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Read in contextEzra 10:1
While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and falling facedown before the house of God, a very large assembly of Israelites—men, women, and children—gathered around him, and the people wept bitterly as well.
Read in contextPsalms 51:3
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
Read in contextProverbs 28:13
He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.
Read in contextPsalms 32:5
Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
Read in contextNehemiah 9:3–5
While they stood in their places, they read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day, and they spent another quarter of the day in confession and worship of the LORD their God.
Read in contextExodus 29:10
You are to present the bull at the front of the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on its head.
Read in context