Definition: 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:

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from Leviticus 16:21. It’s a really significant and somewhat complex verse that speaks about how God will handle the sacrificial animal offering. Here's an explanation in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a ritual sacrifice – specifically for a goat – where Aaron, one of the priests, would confess to God all the wrongdoings and sins committed by the Israelites. It’s a powerful act of repentance and acknowledging God's judgment. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat…” This is the core action. Aaron, as a high priest, is physically placing his hands on the head of the goat. It’s a symbolic gesture of acknowledging and accepting responsibility for the sins of the people. “…and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel…” This means Aaron is actively proclaiming to God what was wrong with the Israelites – their wickedness, their broken promises, their disobedience. "Iniquities" refers to things that are morally wrong or sinful. "...and all their transgressions in all their sins..." This is a broad statement acknowledging that the Israelites have committed many wrongs throughout their history. It's not just one big mistake, but a collection of many small and large offenses. “putting them upon the head of the goat…” This is where it gets symbolic. The sins are being placed on the goat’s head as a visual representation of these wrongs being acknowledged. "...and shall send [him] away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:” This is the crucial part. Aaron is told to send the goat – and therefore, his confession – into the wilderness. This signifies that this act is a final, serious trial and judgment for the Israelites. It's a way for God to show His displeasure with their behavior. Why was this done? The Old Testament describes this as part of a larger system of atonement - offering a sacrifice to cleanse the earth of sin. This ritual was a way for God to ensure that the sins of the Israelites were washed away, and they would be forgiven. In short: This verse is about acknowledging and accepting responsibility for the sins of the people through a symbolic act – placing his hands on the goat’s head – and ultimately sending it into the wilderness as a demonstration of God's judgment. --- Do you want me to explain any part of this in more detail, perhaps focusing on: The symbolism behind the act? Its importance within the larger context of the Old Testament? How this relates to other stories or teachings about atonement and repentance?