The scape-goat— The opinions respecting this scape-goat, and the meaning of the original word, have been as various as absurd. The true and mystical meaning of the ceremony has been pointed out in the observation from Spencer on the 2nd verse. The sacrifice was evidently of the same kind with that of the two birds, appointed for the purification of the leper. It is not easy to devise a ceremony more strongly expressive of the great Sin-offering of the world; who, though impassible in his Divine Nature, yet suffered and died in his human, the iniquities of us all being laid upon him; fully expiating which, he entered into heaven itself, to appear in the presence of God for us, bearing our sins, upon our true confession, and as it were transferring them to him, Leviticus 16:21 into the land of separation or forgetfulness, never more to be remembered against us. Hebrews 9:24-26. With respect to the original word עזאזל azazel, or ozazel, it may be necessary just to remark, as so much has been said concerning it, that it is derived from עז ez, a goat, and אזל azel, to go away; a scapegoat: Accordingly the LXX, with us, render it by αποπομπαιος, sent away; Aquila, τραγον απολελυμενον, the goat dismissed; and Symmachus, απερχομενον, going away, See Parkhurst on the word.
Related Commentaries of Leviticus 16:10
Leviticus 16:10
10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.