Leviticus 16 · Verse 8

Leviticus 16:8

And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
Leviticus 16:8, King James Version

Leviticus 16:8 in other translations

BSBAfter Aaron casts lots for the two goats, one for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat,
WEBAaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
ASVAnd Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for Jehovah, and the other lot for Azazel.
YLT‘And Aaron hath given lots over the two goats, one lot for Jehovah, and one lot for a goat of departure;
DARBYAnd Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats: one lot for Jehovah, and the other lot for Azazel.
BBEAnd Aaron will make selection from the two goats by the decision of the Lord, one goat for the Lord and one for Azazel.
WebsterAnd Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scape-goat.

What does Leviticus 16:8 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Leviticus 16:5-10

5-10. shall take of the congregation ... two kids of the goats ... and one ram--The sacrifices were to be offered by the high priest, respectively for himself and the other priests, as well as for the people. The bullock (Le 16:3) and the goats were for sin offerings and the rams for burnt offerings. The goats, though used in different ways, constituted only one offering. They were both presented before the Lord…

Read the full comment on Leviticus 16:5-10 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats - The Jews inform us that there were two lots made either of wood, stone, or any kind of metal. On one was written לשם Lashshem, for the Name, i. e., יהוה Jehovah, which the Jews will neither write nor pronounce: on the other was written לעזאזל Laazazel, for the Scape-Goat: then they put the two lots into a vessel which was called קלפי kalpey, the goats standing with their faces towards the west. Then the priest came, and the goats stood before him, one on the right hand and the other on the left; the kalpey was then shaken, and the priest put in both his hands and brought out a lot in each: that which was in his right hand he laid on the goat that was on his right, and that in his left hand he laid on the goat that was on his left; and according to what was written on the lots, the scape-goat and the goat for sacrifice were ascertained. See the Mishna, in Tract. Yoma. The determining this solemn business by lot, the disposal of which is with the Lord, Pro 16:33, shows that God alone was to select and point out the person by whom this great atonement was to be made; hence he says: Behold I lay in Zion a stone, elect (that is, chosen by himself) and precious - of infinite value.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Leviticus 16:1-14

The sacrifices on it, The scape-goat. (15-34) Verses 1-14 Without entering into particulars of the sacrifices on the great day of atonement, we may notice that it was to be a statute for ever, till that dispensation be at an end. As long as we are continually sinning, we continually need the atonement. The law of afflicting our souls for sin, is a statue which will continue in force till we arrive where all tears…

Read the full comment on Leviticus 16:1-14 →

Leviticus 16:8 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְנָתַ֧ןve.na.Tanand he will putH5414
אַהֲרֹ֛ן'a.ha.RonAaronH175
עַל\־'al-onH5921
שְׁנֵ֥יshe.Nei[the] twoH8147
הַשְּׂעִירִ֖םha.se.'i.Rimthe male goatsH8163
גּוֹרָל֑וֹתgo.ra.LotlotsH1486
גּוֹרָ֤לgo.Rala lotH1486
אֶחָד֙'e.ChadoneH259
לַיהוָ֔הla.Yah.wehfor YahwehH3068
וְגוֹרָ֥לve.go.Raland a lotH1486
אֶחָ֖ד'e.ChadoneH259
לַעֲזָאזֵֽל\׃la.'a.za.Zelfor [the] escape goatH5799

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Leviticus 16:8

  • Acts 1:23-26

    And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

  • Proverbs 16:33

    The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.

  • Jonah 1:7

    And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.

  • Numbers 26:55

    Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.

  • 1 Samuel 14:41-42

    Therefore Saul said unto the Lord God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped. And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

  • Ezekiel 48:29

    This is the land which ye shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their portions, saith the Lord God.

  • Numbers 33:54

    And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families: and to the more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance: every man’s inheritance shall be in the place where his lot falleth; according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit.

  • Joshua 18:10-11

    And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions. And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families: and the coast of their lot came forth between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
cast lots.
Nu 26:55; 33:54; Jos 18:10,11; 1Sa 14:41,42; Pr 16:33; Eze 48:29
Jon 1:7; Ac 1:23-26
scape goat. Heb. Azazel, that is, the goat-gone-away.The Hebrew [ ] has been supposed by some to be the name of a place, either a mountain or cliff, to which the goat was led. But no place of that name has ever been pointed out, except a mountain near Sinai, which was too distant for the goat to be conducted there from Jerusalem. Other learned men think it was the name of the devil, who was worshipped by the heathen in the form of a goat. But Bp. Patrick justly objects to this opinion; for it is difficult to conceive, that when the other goat was offered to God, this should be sent among demons. The more probable opinion seems to be, that it was name given to the goat itself, on account of his being let go; from {aiz,} a goat, and {azal,} to depart. So LXX. [\~apopompaov\~,] and Vulgate {emissarius,} sent away; Aquila and Symmachus [\~tragov apercomenov\~,] or [\~apolelumenov\~:] the goat going away, or dismissed.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Leviticus 16:7

    And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

  • Leviticus 16:8

    And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat.

  • Leviticus 16:9

    And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.

Read all of Leviticus 16

Leviticus 16:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y echará suertes Aarón sobre los dos machos de cabrío; la una suerte por Jehová, y la otra suerte por Azazel.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Aaron jettera le sort sur les deux boucs, un sort pour l’ Éternel et un sort pour azazel.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Aaron soll Lose werfen über die zwei Böcke, ein Los für Jehova und ein Los für Asasel.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		mittensque super utrumque sortem, unam Domino, alteram capro emissario: