And he who lets the goat go to Azazel shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp.
Parallel translations
- WEB “He who lets the goat go for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.
- KJV And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp.
- BSB The man who released the goat as the scapegoat must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may reenter the camp.
- NKJV And he who released the goat as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp.
- NASB The one who released the goat as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes and bathe his body with water; then afterward he shall come into the camp.
- NLT “The man chosen to drive the scapegoat into the wilderness of Azazel must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water. Then he may return to the camp.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The man who released the scapegoat must wash before re-entering the camp. Even handling the sin-laden goat conveyed uncleanness.
Overview
The one who led the scapegoat away must wash his clothes and bathe before returning to the camp, having contacted the sin-bearing animal. This shows how real and defiling sin is, even when symbolically borne by another. It magnifies the wonder of Christ, who bore our sins without being defiled, and cleanses all who come to Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Heb 7:19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
- Lev 16:10But the goat, on which the lot fell for the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before Yahweh, to make atonement for him, to send him away for the scapegoat into the wilderness.
- Num 19:7–8Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the evening.
- Lev 14:8“He who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water; and he shall be clean. After that he shall come into the camp, but shall dwell outside his tent seven days.
- Lev 15:27Whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
- Lev 16:21–22Aaron 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 in readiness.
- Num 19:21It shall be a perpetual statute to them. He who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touches the water for impurity shall be unclean until evening.
- Lev 11:25Whoever carries any part of their carcass shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening.
- Lev 16:28He who burns them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.
- Lev 15:5–11Whoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.
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Christ at the center
Every sacrifice, every priest, and every day of atonement points beyond itself to the one perfect offering and the great High Priest who, by his own blood, makes the unclean holy once for all.
How Leviticus 16:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.