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:

Cross-references

Leviticus 16:10 identifies the scapegoat as the goat for Azazel, setting up the same ritual where Aaron later confesses sins over it.

Leviticus 16:26 describes the cleansing required for the man who releases the scapegoat — a necessary step after the sins are carried away.

Leviticus 4:4 describes the same hand-laying for a sin offering, transferring sin onto the animal—strong ritual parallel.

Leviticus 4:15 has the elders lay hands on a bull for the congregation's sin, mirroring the scapegoat's corporate confession.

Leviticus 8:14 also involves laying hands on the animal's head for a sin offering — a parallel ritual action for transferring guilt.

Leviticus 4:21 takes the sin offering outside the camp, like the scapegoat is sent away—both remove sin from the community.

Leviticus 5:5 requires personal confession of sin for a guilt offering, paralleling the confession in the scapegoat ritual but on an individual scale.

Leviticus 1:4 also uses hand-laying on an animal for atonement, but for an individual burnt offering.

Leviticus 26:40 Related theme

Leviticus 26:40 commands confession of sins, echoing the confession Aaron makes over the scapegoat.

2 Corinthians 5:21 applies the scapegoat imagery to Christ, who was made sin for us—a typological fulfillment.

Daniel 9:3-20 models corporate confession of national sins, echoing the high priest's confession over the scapegoat.

Isaiah 53:6 Typology

Isaiah 53:6 directly echoes the scapegoat: 'the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all'—a clear typology of Christ bearing sins.

Hebrews 10:3 notes that yearly sacrifices only remind of sins — contrasting with the scapegoat's limited effect compared to Christ's once-for-all work.

Hebrews 9:26 says Christ appeared to put away sin once for all — the ultimate typological fulfillment of the scapegoat's removal of sin.

John 1:29 Typology

John 1:29 declares Jesus as the Lamb who takes away sin — a typological fulfillment of the scapegoat bearing the sins of the people.

John 19:17 Typology

John 19:17 shows Jesus carrying his own cross outside the city, echoing the scapegoat being led away bearing the people's sins.

Proverbs 28:13 Related theme

Proverbs 28:13 applies the same principle of confessing sin to obtain mercy, but to personal, not ritual, confession.

Psalm 32:5 Related theme

Psalm 32:5 describes personal confession and forgiveness, paralleling the removal of sin via the scapegoat.

Numbers 8:12 shows Levites laying hands on bulls for purification — a similar hand-laying ritual for atonement in a different context.

Nehemiah 1:6 Related theme

Nehemiah 1:6 records Nehemiah confessing the sins of Israel, mirroring the national confession in the scapegoat ritual.

Ezra 10:1 Related theme

Ezra 10:1 shows Ezra and the people weeping and confessing, a corporate confession parallel to the scapegoat ritual.