Definition: 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.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Leviticus 16:22. It's a pretty interesting and symbolic passage about holiness and separation. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is saying that when a person acts in a way that shows God’s displeasure or impurity, they need to be isolated from the rest of the world – essentially, they need to go into a wilderness area. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities” : This is the key part. “Iniquities” means something that’s wrong or dirty, like sin, wickedness, or disobedience. The goat is symbolically representing a person – and its sins are represented by the things they do. “unto a land not inhabited” : The goat is being taken to a completely empty area - a wilderness. This isn't about actually going to the wilderness; it’s a metaphor for a place where there’s no human presence. It’s a symbolic separation from the normal, populated world. “and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness” : The goat is being released into this wilderness. This means the person is being allowed to be free from the influence of their own sinful nature and the expectations of society. What’s the point? This verse is a reminder that God demands holiness and separation. It's about recognizing when we are not worthy of God's presence and needing to distance ourselves from those who are flawed or unclean. It’s a way for God to keep us separate from temptation and sin, allowing us to grow in righteousness. In short: This verse describes a symbolic act – isolating oneself from the world to be cleansed and purified by God's grace. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of this verse in more detail? Connect it to a specific story or example?