King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"The man who let go the goat for 'Az'azel is to wash his clothes and bathe his body in water; afterwards, he may return to the camp.
Berean Standard Bible:
The man who released the goat as the scapegoat must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may reenter the camp.
American Standard Version:
And he that letteth go the goat for Azazel shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And he that let go{H7971} the goat{H8163} for the scapegoat{H5799} shall wash{H3526} his clothes{H899}, and bathe{H7364} his flesh{H1320} in water{H4325}, and afterward{H310} come{H935} into the camp{H4264}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Hebrews 7:19
- For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope [did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Leviticus 16:10
- 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.
Leviticus 16:28
- And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.
Leviticus 14:8
- And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.
Leviticus 15:27
- And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe [himself] in water, and be unclean until the even.
Leviticus 16:21
- And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send [him] away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:
Leviticus 16:22
- And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Leviticus 16:26
1. **Themes:**
- **Atonement and Purification:** The verse is part of the instructions for the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The ritual emphasizes the need for purification from sin and uncleanness.
- **Ritual Purity:** The requirement for the individual who releases the scapegoat to wash and bathe signifies the importance of ritual purity before re-entering the community.
- **Separation of Impurity:** The scapegoat ritual involves sending a goat into the wilderness, symbolically carrying the sins of the people away from the camp, which represents the community of Israel.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Time of Writing:** Leviticus is traditionally ascribed to Moses, who is believed to have lived around the 13th century BCE. The book contains laws and rituals given to the Israelites after their Exodus from Egypt.
- **Cultural Practices:** The detailed instructions for sacrifices and rituals reflect the religious practices of the ancient Israelites, who were commanded to observe these rituals to maintain their covenant relationship with God.
- **Day of Atonement:** Leviticus 16 outlines the specific rituals for Yom Kippur, which include the high priest's offerings for his own sins and the sins of the people, and the sending away of the scapegoat.
- **Priestly Code:** The verse is part of the Priestly source in the Torah, characterized by its focus on priestly duties, sacrifices, and laws concerning purity and holiness.
In summary, Leviticus 16:26 reflects the themes of atonement, purification, and the maintenance of ritual purity within the Israelite community. It is set against the backdrop of the Day of Atonement rituals, which were central to the religious life of ancient Israel.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H7971
There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלַח
Transliteration: shâlach
Pronunciation: shaw-lakh'
Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out). - Strong's Number: H8163
There are 57 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׂעִיר
Transliteration: sâʻîyr
Pronunciation: saw-eer'
Description: or שָׂעִר; from שָׂעַר; shaggy; as noun, a he-goat; by analogy, a faun; devil, goat, hairy, kid, rough, satyr. - Strong's Number: H5799
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֲזָאזֵל
Transliteration: ʻăzâʼzêl
Pronunciation: az-aw-zale'
Description: from עֵז and אָזַל; goat of departure; the scapegoat; scapegoat. - Strong's Number: H3526
There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כָּבַס
Transliteration: kâbaç
Pronunciation: kaw-bas'
Description: a primitive root; to trample; hence, to wash (properly, by stamping with the feet), whether literal (including the fulling process) or figurative; fuller, wash(-ing). - Strong's Number: H899
There are 190 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֶּגֶד
Transliteration: beged
Pronunciation: behg'-ed
Description: from בָּגַד; a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage; apparel, cloth(-es, ing), garment, lap, rag, raiment, robe, [idiom] very (treacherously), vesture, wardrobe. - Strong's Number: H7364
There are 71 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָחַץ
Transliteration: râchats
Pronunciation: raw-khats'
Description: a primitive root; to lave (the whole or a part of a thing); bathe (self), wash (self). - Strong's Number: H1320
There are 241 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּשָׂר
Transliteration: bâsâr
Pronunciation: baw-sawr'
Description: from בָּשַׂר; flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of aman; body, (fat, lean) flesh(-ed), kin, (man-) kind, [phrase] nakedness, self, skin. - Strong's Number: H4325
There are 525 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַיִם
Transliteration: mayim
Pronunciation: mah'-yim
Description: dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). - Strong's Number: H310
There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַחַר
Transliteration: ʼachar
Pronunciation: akh-ar'
Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with. - Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H4264
There are 190 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַחֲנֶה
Transliteration: machăneh
Pronunciation: makh-an-eh'
Description: from חָנָה; an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or even the sacred courts); army, band, battle, camp, company, drove, host, tents.