Let us now examine the Scripture afresh, and go back beyond modern

speculation, to the interpretations of earlier times.  The Latin Vulgate

renders Azazel by Hircus emmisarius, which means 'a goat for sending away'.

The LXX translates Azazel by apopompaios, which is a word made up of apo,

'away', and pempo, 'to send'.  In non -Biblical usage this word meant 'the

turner away', 'the averter', and carried with it a good deal of superstition,

but there is no reason for rejecting the simple meaning of the LXX, 'the sent

away'.  Now 'the goat for sending away' is the literal meaning of the Hebrew

word azazel.  Ez is a Hebrew word for 'goat' and is so translated in the

Authorized Version fifty -five times.  In five other places it is translated

'she goat' and once 'kid'.  Some find a difficulty here, as the 'kids' taken

in Leviticus 16:5 are not 'she goats'.  On the other hand there are two words

available when 'he goats' are to be specified, attud (Num. 7:17 and in

sixteen other places), and tsaphir (2 Chron. 29:21 and in four other places).

The words used in Leviticus 16 are more general, and do not constitute

a legitimate objection.  Azel is the verb, 'to send away'.  With the simple

etymology of the word before us, coupled with the ancient testimony of the

Septuagint, of Symmachus, of Aquila and of the Latin Vulgate, we believe the

Authorized Version is correct and that the goat for Azazel is the goat for

sending away, the 'escape' goat, the one set free.

This live goat is atoned for.  Verse 10 reads, 'to make atonement with

him'.  There are some who uphold this rendering, but as the same preposition

is used in verses 6, 16 and 18, it must be rendered similarly 'to make an

atonement for him'.  The note in The Companion Bible on Leviticus 16:10 is as

'with him.  Heb. "for him".  See verses 16,18.  The scapegoat was not

used to make atonement, but atonement was made for it.  Hence he was to

be "let go" free.  See verse 22'.

The two goats are therefore to be considered together as exhibiting

God's method of dealing with His people's sin.  The idea expressed by some,

that the live goat symbolizes those whose sins are unforgiven is disposed of

by the following facts:

First, the goat on whom the Lord's lot fell is killed; its blood makes

'Because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of

their transgressions in all their sins' (Lev. 16:16).

'In all their sins'.  This must not be minimized.

Atonement has been

made concerning 'all' the sins of the people.

Secondly we read:

'And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place' (Lev.

This is

a reference to verse 16, and

assures us

that the work

of atonement was 'finished',

'ended', 'accomplished', as the

word kalah is

translated.  Even in dealing

with types of the offering of

Christ, it is

a serious thing to introduce

any measure of uncertainty.