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Leviticus 16:5
While the two goats together were used for this annual cleansing of sin, some have difficulty seeing the azazel was not a sin offering since it was not slain. But before excluding the live goat from being a sin offering, we should note that it was sacrificed in the sense that its life was completely dedicated to a sacrificial purpose. Its purpose was to bear sins as a substitute rather than to give its blood. Jesus Christ was alive while He bore our sins, but He was still a Sacrifice while that took place. The Hebrew word for “sin offering,” chatta'ah (Strong's #2403), is also the word for “sin.” It has multiple meanings. It can indicate sin, a sin offering, guilt resulting from sin, purification from sin, or punishment because of sin. In general, chatta'ah has to do with sin, its effects, or its remediation. The Hebrew in Leviticus 16:5 literally says, “two kids of the goats as a sin [chatta'ah].” When we substitute some of the other ways chatta'ah is used, verse 5 could be rendered as: “. . . two kids of the goats as a purification from sin . . .” or “. . . two kids of the goats because of sin . . ..” In a sin offering, the animal symbolizes the guilt incurred by sin. It then suffers the judgment of sin and is thus purified from sin. This is why the same word is used for both sin and sin offering: The animal becomes synonymous with sin and its atoning. In the case of the two goats, both became offerings on account of sin, yet they had differing roles in making atonement. The second goat, though not killed by the priest, was still an offering. It was still a substitutionary representative of sin, as chatta'ah is defined.
David C. Grabbe
Azazel: Endings
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