Leviticus 16:22

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the goat {H8163} shall bear {H5375} upon him all their iniquities {H5771} unto a land {H776} not inhabited {H1509}: and he shall let go {H7971} the goat {H8163} in the wilderness {H4057}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The goat will bear all their transgressions away to some isolated place, and he is to let the goat go in the desert.

Berean Standard Bible

The goat will carry on itself all their iniquities into a solitary place, and the man will release it into the wilderness.

American Standard Version

and the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a solitary land: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 16:22 vividly depicts the culmination of the Day of Atonement ritual, where the high priest symbolically transfers the accumulated sins of the Israelite community onto a designated goat. This goat is then led away into a desolate, uninhabited land, signifying the complete removal and banishment of the nation's iniquities from God's holy presence and from the people themselves, thereby ensuring their purification and renewed fellowship with the Almighty for the coming year.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an indispensable part of the meticulous instructions for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, as detailed in [Leviticus 16](/leviticus/16 "Leviticus 16 - The Day of Atonement"). The chapter prescribes the high priest Aaron's solemn duties for this most sacred day of the Israelite calendar, which was the only day he was permitted to enter the Most Holy Place. The ritual involves two goats: one sacrificed "for the Lord" as a sin offering, its blood used to make atonement within the sanctuary, and the other, the "scapegoat" (often associated with "Azazel"), presented alive before the Lord. After the high priest completes atonement for the sanctuary, the tabernacle, and the altar, he performs the crucial act described in [Leviticus 16:21](/leviticus/16-21 "Leviticus 16:21 - Confession of Sins over the Scapegoat"), laying his hands on the live goat's head and confessing all the iniquities of the people of Israel over it. Our verse, [Leviticus 16:22](/leviticus/16-22 "Leviticus 16:22 - The Scapegoat Carries Away Iniquities"), then describes the final, decisive action of this symbolic transfer and removal of sin, bringing the ritual to its climactic conclusion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) was uniquely significant as the sole occasion when the high priest entered the Most Holy Place, emphasizing its profound importance for national atonement and purification. While other ancient Near Eastern cultures practiced rituals involving the symbolic transfer of evil or impurity onto animals or objects, Israel's ritual was distinct in its divine mandate and its singular focus on the one true God's provision for sin. The concept of "bearing" sin was understood as taking on the guilt, defilement, and consequences of transgression. The "land not inhabited" or "wilderness" (Hebrew: _midbar_) was not merely an empty space but a place of desolation, separation, and often, danger—a fitting, uninhabitable destination for sins that were to be utterly removed and forgotten, never to return to the community or God's holy sight. This annual ritual served as a powerful, tangible reminder to the Israelites of the gravity of sin and the gracious, yet costly, provision God made for their cleansing and continued covenant relationship.
* **Key Themes:** Leviticus 16, and particularly the ritual described in this verse, contributes significantly to several major theological and narrative themes within the book of [Leviticus](/leviticus/1 "Leviticus - The Book of Holiness"). Foremost among these is the theme of **Holiness and Purity**, emphasizing God's absolute holiness and the necessity for His people to be purified from sin to dwell in His presence. The ritual underscores **Atonement and Forgiveness**, demonstrating God's gracious provision for reconciling a sinful people to Himself through substitutionary sacrifice. The concept of **Substitution** is central, as the goat bears the iniquities in place of the people. Furthermore, the complete removal of sin highlights the theme of **Divine Forgiveness and Cleansing**, portraying sin as a burden that God desires to utterly banish. The detailed instructions also reinforce the theme of **Covenant Maintenance**, as these annual rites were crucial for Israel to remain in a right relationship with Yahweh, allowing His presence to continue among them in the tabernacle, as seen throughout [Leviticus](/leviticus/1 "Leviticus - The Book of Holiness").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Bear (Hebrew, _nâsâʼ_):** This verb (H5375) signifies "to lift," "to carry," or "to bear away." In the context of Leviticus 16:22, it powerfully conveys the transfer of a heavy burden—the collective guilt, defilement, and consequences of the nation's sins—from the people onto the goat. This act implies a complete assumption of responsibility for the iniquities by the goat, making it a substitute carrier, effectively taking the sins upon itself.
* **Iniquities (Hebrew, _ʻâvôn_):** The term (H5771) refers to "perversity, i.e. (moral) evil; fault, iniquity, mischief, punishment (of iniquity), sin." It encompasses not merely individual acts of transgression but the accumulated moral crookedness, guilt, and culpability of the entire community. The declaration that the goat bears "all their iniquities" underscores the comprehensive nature of the atonement provided through this ritual, addressing the full scope of the nation's sinfulness.
* **Not inhabited (Hebrew, _gᵉzêrâh_):** This term (H1509), used in conjunction with "land" (H776), describes a "desert (as separated); not inhabited." It emphasizes the desolate, remote, and isolated nature of the destination. This "land cut off" is a place from which there is no return, signifying the complete, irreversible, and permanent removal of the sins, ensuring they are utterly separated from the community and God's holy presence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities":** This initial clause encapsulates the core symbolic action of the scapegoat. Following the high priest's confession and laying on of hands, the goat is divinely appointed as the designated carrier of the nation's cumulative guilt and defilement. The phrase "all their iniquities" emphasizes the comprehensive scope of the sin transfer, encompassing every known and unknown transgression committed by the community throughout the year. This act is profoundly substitutionary, with the goat taking upon itself the spiritual burden that rightfully belonged to the people.
* **"unto a land not inhabited":** This specifies the crucial destination for the goat and, by extension, the sins it carries. The "land not inhabited" (Hebrew: _eretz gᵉzêrâh_, "a land cut off" or "a land of cutting off") refers to a desolate, uninhabitable, and remote region. This imagery powerfully conveys the idea of complete removal, banishment, and oblivion. The sins are not merely covered or forgiven; they are taken to a place from which they cannot return, ensuring they are utterly separated from the people and from the sight of God's holy presence.
* **"and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.":** This final action, performed by a designated man (not the high priest, to further emphasize the separation of the sins from the holy sanctuary), completes the ritual. The release of the goat into the _midbâr_ (H4057, wilderness)—a place of desolation and wildness—symbolizes the finality and irrevocability of the sin removal. The goat, laden with the nation's sins, disappears into the desolate expanse, never to be seen again, thus signifying that the sins are gone, forgotten, and no longer held against the people by God.

#### Literary Devices
Leviticus 16:22 is exceptionally rich in **Symbolism**. The goat itself serves as a potent symbol of a substitute, designated to bear the weighty burden of the nation's sin. Its journey "unto a land not inhabited" is a symbolic journey, representing the nation's sins being carried away to a place of oblivion and non-existence, never to return or be remembered. The very act of "letting go" the goat is a powerful symbolic release from the spiritual bondage, guilt, and defilement of sin. The entire ritual, particularly the scapegoat's role, functions as a profound **Metaphor** for divine forgiveness and cleansing, illustrating in a tangible way how God deals with human transgression. Furthermore, the detailed instructions for the Day of Atonement, and specifically the role of the scapegoat, act as significant **Foreshadowing** of a greater, ultimate atonement to come, pointing forward to the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 16:22 profoundly illustrates God's gracious and comprehensive provision for dealing with sin, highlighting the foundational theological themes of substitutionary atonement, the complete removal of guilt, and divine forgiveness. The ritual of the scapegoat was a divinely ordained object lesson, teaching Israel that sin incurs a heavy burden and demands a radical, divinely provided solution. The symbolic transfer of iniquities onto the goat and its subsequent banishment into the wilderness underscored God's fervent desire for a truly clean and purified people, free from the defilement of their transgressions. This annual cleansing was absolutely essential for maintaining the covenant relationship between a holy God and an often-unholy people, demonstrating that God Himself provides the means for reconciliation and the complete obliteration of sin's record.

* [Psalm 103:12](/psalms/103-12 "Psalm 103:12 - God Removes Our Transgressions")
* [Isaiah 53:6](/isaiah/53-6 "Isaiah 53:6 - All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray")
* [Hebrews 9:28](/hebrews/9-28 "Hebrews 9:28 - Christ Bears the Sins of Many")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
For believers today, Leviticus 16:22 offers immense comfort, profound assurance, and a deep revelation of God's boundless grace and the completeness of His forgiveness. While the Old Testament ritual was a shadow, a temporary object lesson, its core message—that sin can be utterly removed and its guilt banished from God's sight—remains eternally true through the finished work of Jesus Christ. This verse invites us to fully embrace the glorious freedom that comes from knowing our sins have been carried away, not merely covered or temporarily appeased, but truly and permanently removed from God's memory and our spiritual record. It calls us to live in the liberating reality of our cleansed state, no longer burdened by the crushing weight of past transgressions, but empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk in newness of life, unhindered by guilt or shame. Our appropriate response to such profound, costly, and comprehensive grace should be one of humble gratitude, joyful obedience, and a renewed, passionate commitment to holiness, reflecting the purity and righteousness we have received in Christ.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of the goat bearing "all their iniquities" to a "land not inhabited" deepen your understanding of the comprehensive nature of God's forgiveness through Christ?**
* **In what ways might we, as believers, still carry the psychological or emotional burden of past sins, even after confessing them, and how does this verse encourage us to fully release that burden to Christ?**
* **What practical steps can you take this week to live more fully in the freedom and assurance of complete forgiveness, knowing your sins have been carried away by the ultimate Scapegoat?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the "land not inhabited" in this verse?**

Answer: The "land not inhabited" (Hebrew: _eretz gᵉzêrâh_, "a land cut off" or "a land of cutting off") is a profoundly significant symbolic element in [Leviticus 16:22](/leviticus/16-22 "Leviticus 16:22 - The Scapegoat Carries Away Iniquities"). It represents a desolate, remote, and uninhabitable wilderness from which there is no return. The purpose of sending the goat, laden with the nation's sins, to such a place was to convey the absolute, irreversible, and permanent removal of those sins. It was not enough for the sins to be merely covered or temporarily atoned for; they had to be taken far away, out of sight and out of mind, ensuring they would no longer defile the community or stand before God as a barrier to fellowship. This dramatic act underscored the complete separation of Israel's transgressions from them, highlighting the thoroughness and finality of God's provision for atonement on the Day of Atonement. It symbolized a spiritual cleansing so profound that the sins were effectively banished into oblivion.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 16:22 stands as a profound and vivid foreshadowing of the ultimate, once-for-all atonement accomplished by Jesus Christ. The scapegoat, symbolically bearing the sins of Israel into the desolate wilderness, perfectly illustrates Christ's redemptive work as the true and final "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Just as the goat carried the iniquities of the people, Jesus, our great High Priest, "himself bore our sins in his body on the tree" ([1 Peter 2:24](/1_peter/2-24 "1 Peter 2:24 - Christ Bore Our Sins")), becoming sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). He carried the full weight of humanity's transgressions, not merely to a "land not inhabited," but to the cross, where He utterly defeated sin, death, and the powers of darkness ([Colossians 2:14-15](/colossians/2-14-15 "Colossians 2:14-15 - Cancellation of Debt and Triumph over Powers")). Unlike the annual, repetitive ritual of the Day of Atonement, Christ's sacrifice was a "once for all" event ([Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Sanctified Through Christ's Sacrifice")), securing eternal redemption. Through His finished work, our sins are not just temporarily removed but are truly "as far as the east is from the west" ([Psalm 103:12](/psalms/103-12 "Psalm 103:12 - God Removes Our Transgressions")), remembered no more by God ([Hebrews 8:12](/hebrews/8-12 "Hebrews 8:12 - God Will Remember Their Sins No More")). In Christ, the symbolic removal of sin finds its perfect, eternal, and all-sufficient fulfillment, offering complete and lasting reconciliation with a holy God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 53:11

He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Isaiah 53:12

Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

1 Peter 2:24

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Hebrews 9:28

So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

John 1:29

¶ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Micah 7:19

He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Galatians 3:13

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree: