I forget how much of our modern quirky words and phrases derive from biblical references. One such example is scapegoat.

We use the word when blaming someone, particularly an individual who may or may not be responsible for the problem at hand, but is available when we need someone to blast. I blamed the president when I couldn’t find Rice Crispies to make treats, even though I really don’t believe he oversees their distribution (nor should he). But, the man made for a convenient scapegoat.

The original scapegoat carried away sins. He (Aaron) is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.

The complex system created for sacrificing animals and grains for the forgiveness of sins failed to cover every possible issue. The scapegoat took care of the rest.

The high priest put the people’s sins on the head of the goat who bore them away, removed forever into the wilderness. Of course, this practice points us to Jesus, who himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness (1 Peter 2:24).

Turns out, those of us who are sons of Adam and daughters of Eve, need a scapegoat now more than ever.

Leviticus 16 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by Florian van Duyn