Leviticus 16:20 Study Bible: "When he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat.

Bible > Leviticus > Chapter 16 > Verse 20

◄ Leviticus 16:20 ►

When Aaron has finished purifying the Most Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he is to bring forward the live goat.

Study Bible

When Aaron has finished
The phrase indicates a completion of a sacred duty. Aaron, as the high priest, had a unique role in the spiritual life of Israel. The Hebrew root for "finished" is "kalah," which implies bringing something to completion or fulfillment. This completion signifies the thoroughness required in the purification process, emphasizing the seriousness of sin and the need for meticulous atonement.

purifying
The Hebrew word "kaphar" is used here, which means to cover, make atonement, or cleanse. This purification is not merely a physical cleaning but a spiritual act that symbolizes the removal of sin and impurity. It reflects the holiness of God and the necessity for His people to be cleansed to maintain a relationship with Him.

the Most Holy Place
This refers to the innermost part of the tabernacle, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. It was the earthly dwelling place of God's presence. The Hebrew term "Qodesh HaQodashim" underscores the supreme sanctity of this space. Only the high priest could enter, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement, highlighting the separation between a holy God and sinful humanity.

the Tent of Meeting
Known in Hebrew as "Ohel Moed," this was the place where God met with Moses and the Israelites. It served as a central point for worship and communication with God. The Tent of Meeting represents God's desire to dwell among His people and the structured way in which He established His presence among them.

and the altar
The altar was central to the sacrificial system, symbolizing the place where atonement for sin was made. The Hebrew word "mizbeach" comes from a root meaning "to slaughter," indicating its primary function. The altar's purification was essential to ensure that the sacrifices offered were acceptable to God.

he shall bring forward
This action signifies a transition in the ritual. The Hebrew verb "qarab" means to approach or bring near, indicating the movement towards the next phase of the atonement process. It reflects the ongoing nature of atonement and the need for continual intercession.

the live goat
This refers to the "scapegoat," or "Azazel" in Hebrew, which was part of the Day of Atonement ritual. The live goat symbolized the removal of the people's sins, as it was sent into the wilderness. This act foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who bore the sins of humanity and removed them as far as the east is from the west.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Aaron
The first high priest of Israel, brother of Moses, who performs the purification rituals on the Day of Atonement.

2. Most Holy Place
The innermost part of the Tabernacle, where the Ark of the Covenant is kept, symbolizing God's presence.

3. Tent of Meeting
The portable earthly dwelling place of God among the Israelites, where the priests perform their duties.

4. Altar
The structure used for sacrifices, central to the atonement rituals.

5. Live Goat
Part of the ritual of the Day of Atonement, representing the removal of the people's sins.

Teaching Points

The Role of the High Priest
Aaron's role as high priest is a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, our ultimate High Priest, who intercedes on our behalf.

The Significance of Atonement
The Day of Atonement highlights the seriousness of sin and the need for purification. It points to the ultimate atonement made by Christ on the cross.

The Symbolism of the Live Goat
The live goat, or scapegoat, symbolizes the removal of sin from the community. In Christ, our sins are not only forgiven but removed from us.

The Holiness of God
The purification of the Most Holy Place underscores God's holiness and the need for His people to be cleansed before approaching Him.

The Continuity of Scripture
The rituals in Leviticus find their fulfillment in the New Testament, showing the continuity and consistency of God's redemptive plan.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the role of Aaron as high priest in Leviticus 16:20 help us understand the role of Jesus as our High Priest?

2. In what ways does the Day of Atonement ritual reflect the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement in our lives today?

3. How can the concept of the scapegoat in Leviticus 16:20 deepen our understanding of forgiveness and the removal of sin through Christ?

4. What does the purification of the Most Holy Place teach us about the holiness of God and our approach to Him in worship?

5. How do the rituals described in Leviticus 16 connect to the New Testament teachings on atonement and sacrifice, and how can this understanding impact our daily walk with Christ?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Hebrews 9
This chapter discusses the role of Christ as the ultimate high priest, drawing parallels to the Day of Atonement rituals and emphasizing the superiority of Christ's sacrifice.

Isaiah 53
The suffering servant passage, which can be seen as a foreshadowing of the ultimate atonement through Jesus Christ.

John 1:29
John the Baptist refers to Jesus as the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," connecting to the concept of atonement and sacrifice.

Sermons

The Climax of Sacrificial Worship: the Day of Atonement	R.M. Edgar	Leviticus 16:1-34
The Great Day of Atonement	R.A. Redford	Leviticus 16:1-34
A Proffered Substitute	W. Thompson.	Leviticus 16:3-34
Christ Typified by the Two Goats	J. Burns, D. D.	Leviticus 16:3-34
Christian's Confession of Sin	Spurgeon, Charles Haddon	Leviticus 16:3-34
Christ's Anesthesia for the Remembrance of Sin		Leviticus 16:3-34
Hindrances to Repentance Removed	J. Spencer.	Leviticus 16:3-34
Intercession of Christ	S. Thodey.	Leviticus 16:3-34
Lessons	A. Willet, D. D.	Leviticus 16:3-34
Moral Observations	A. Willet, D. D.	Leviticus 16:3-34
Moses and Christ; the Day of Atonement	W. Clarkson, B. A.	Leviticus 16:3-34
Need for the Great Atonement	J. Hamilton, D. D.	Leviticus 16:3-34
Sinners Always Ready to Conceal Their Sin	T. Adams.	Leviticus 16:3-34
Spiritual Significance of the Ceremonies on the Day of Atonement	T. M. Morris.	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Annual Atonement	Spurgeon, Charles Haddon	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Ceremonies of the Day of Atonement	F. E. Clark.	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Climax of Sacrificial Worship	R. M.,Edgar, M. A.	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Day of Atonement	Spurgeon, Charles Haddon	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Day of Atonement	D. O. Mears.	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Day of Atonement	D. C. Hughes, M. A.	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Day of Atonement	H. Melvill, B. D.	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Day of Atonement	J. A. Seiss, D. D.	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Garments of the Priest	F. E. Clark.	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Two Goats	F. E. Clark.	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Two Goats -- Various Interpretations	J. Cumming, D. D.	Leviticus 16:3-34
There Shalt be no Man in the Tabernacle	H. C. Trumbull.	Leviticus 16:3-34
True Repentance	H. W. Beecher.	Leviticus 16:3-34
Trusting in the Substitute		Leviticus 16:3-34
Value of Repentance	J. Spencer.	Leviticus 16:3-34
The Sacrifices of the Day of Atonement	J.A. Macdonald	Leviticus 16:5-28
Type and Antitype - the Offering	W. Clarkson	Leviticus 16:7-10, 15, 21, 22
And the Goat Shall Bear Upon Him All Their Iniquities unto a Land not Inhabited	H. G. Trurnbull.	Leviticus 16:20-22
Heathen Imitations of the Scapegoat	Bp. Babington.	Leviticus 16:20-22
Man's Need of a Scapegoat	T. M. Morris.	Leviticus 16:20-22
The Scapegoat	J. Burns, D. D.	Leviticus 16:20-22
The Scapegoat	J. C. Gray.	Leviticus 16:20-22
The Scapegoat	Homilist	Leviticus 16:20-22
The Scapegoat a Type of Christ	C. Bradley, M. A.	Leviticus 16:20-22
The Solitary Sin-Bearer	W. Hay Aitken, M. A.	Leviticus 16:20-22

People

Aaron, Israelites, Moses

Places

Teman

Topics

Altar, Atonement, Atoning, Bring, Ceased, Congregation, Ended, Finished, Finishes, Forward, Free, Goat, Holy, Making, Meeting, Necessary, Offer, Present, Reconciling, Sanctuary, Sin, Tabernacle, Tent, Whatever

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Leviticus 16:1-22

7316 blood, OT sacrifices

Leviticus 16:1-33

6616 atonement, in OT

Leviticus 16:1-34

1680 types
7422 ritual

Leviticus 16:2-34

5378 law, OT

Leviticus 16:3-34

6648 expiation
8629 worship, times

Leviticus 16:15-22

6750 sin-bearer
8272 holiness, growth in

Leviticus 16:20-22

6029 sin, forgiveness
7440 scapegoat

Leviticus 16:20-24

4293 water

Leviticus 16:20-31

7308 Atonement, Day of

Leviticus 16:20-34

6175 guilt, removal of

Library

August 9. "He Shall Lay Both his Hands Upon the Head of the Live Goat, and Confess Over Him all the Iniquities of the Children of Israel; Transgressions and Sins" (Lev. xvi. 21).
"He shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel; transgressions and sins" (Lev. xvi. 21). As any evil comes up, and the consciousness of any unholy thing touches our inner senses, it is our privilege at once to hand it over to the Holy Ghost and to lay it upon Jesus, as something already crucified with Him, and as of old, in the case of the sin offering, it will be carried without the camp and burned to ashes. There may …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Day of Atonement
'And the Lord spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron when they offered before the Lord, and died; 2. And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy-seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy-seat. 3. Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place; with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. 4. He shall put on the …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Day of Atonement
Now, I shall invite your attention to the ceremonies of this solemn day, taking the different parts in detail. First, we shall consider the person who made the atonement; secondly, the sacrifice whereby the atonement was typically made; thirdly, the effects of the atonement; and fourthly, our behaviour on the recollection of the atonement, as well set forth by the conduct prescribed to the Israelites on that day. I. First, THE PERSON WHO WAS TO MAKE THE ATONEMENT. And at the outset, we remark that …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856

The Fact of the Redeemer's Return was Foreshadowed in the Ritual on the Annual Day of Israel's Atonement.
The order of events on the Day of Atonement are described in Leviticus 16, a chapter which is exceedingly rich in its typical signification. The Day of Atonement had to do with the putting away of Israel's sins, therefore, its dispensational application refers mainly to Israel though, as we shall see, the Church was also typically represented. We shall not now attempt anything more than a bare outline of the happenings of that most memorable day on Israel's sacred calendar. The order of its ritual …
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return

The Great High-Priest.
"Having then a great High-priest, Who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high-priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but One that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need. For every high-priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

Fifth Sunday in Lent
Text: Hebrews 9, 11-15. 11 But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling them that have been defiled, sanctify unto the cleanness of the flesh: …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Parable of the Pharisee and Publican.
^C Luke XVIII. 9-14. ^c 9 And he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others at nought [It is commonly said that this parable teaches humility in prayer, but the preface and conclusion (see verse 14) show that it is indeed to set forth generally the difference between self-righteousness and humility, and that an occasion of prayer is chosen because it best illustrates the point which the Lord desired to teach. The parable shows that …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Intercession of Christ
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us! T he Redemption of the soul is precious. Fools make mock of sin (Proverbs 14:9) . But they will not think lightly of it, who duly consider the majesty, authority, and goodness of Him, against whom it is committed; and who are taught, by what God actually has done, what sin rendered necessary to be done, before a sinner could have a well-grounded …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

The Call of Matthew - the Saviour's Welcome to Sinners - Rabbinic Theology as Regards the Doctrine of Forgiveness in Contrast to the Gospel of Christ
In two things chiefly does the fundamental difference appear between Christianity and all other religious systems, notably Rabbinism. And in these two things, therefore, lies the main characteristic of Christ's work; or, taking a wider view, the fundamental idea of all religions. Subjectively, they concern sin and the sinner; or, to put it objectively, the forgiveness of sin and the welcome to the sinner. But Rabbinism, and every other system down to modern humanitarianism - if it rises so high in …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Sundry Exhortations.
HEBREWS xiii. Let love of the brethren continue. Forget not to shew love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are evil entreated, as being yourselves also in the body. Let marriage be had in honour among all, and let the bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for Himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

The Cavils of the Pharisees Concerning Purification, and the Teaching of the Lord Concerning Purity - the Traditions Concerning Hand-Washing' and Vows. '
As we follow the narrative, confirmatory evidence of what had preceded springs up at almost every step. It is quite in accordance with the abrupt departure of Jesus from Capernaum, and its motives, that when, so far from finding rest and privacy at Bethsaida (east of the Jordan), a greater multitude than ever had there gathered around Him, which would fain have proclaimed Him King, He resolved on immediate return to the western shore, with the view of seeking a quieter retreat, even though it were …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Christ a Complete Saviour:
OR, THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST, AND WHO ARE PRIVILEGED IN IT. BY JOHN BUNYAN Advertisement by the Editor. However strange it may appear, it is a solemn fact, that the heart of man, unless prepared by a sense of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, rejects Christ as a complete Saviour. The pride of human nature will not suffer it to fall, as helpless and utterly undone, into the arms of Divine mercy. Man prefers a partial Saviour; one who had done so much, that, with the sinner's aid, the work might be …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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