Reconsider the Meaning of Scapegoat Ritual in Leviticus 16:20-22

The scapegoating ritual in Leviticus 16 is central to ancient Jewish religion as part of the Yom Kippur celebration.The sacrifice of a scapegoat thrown into the desert is a unique ritual because it only appears in Leviticus 16 of the entire biblical text, and the only story that uses an animal to take away all the sins of the Israelites.The issue that will be discussed in this study is to find the origins and meaning of this ritual.From the historical criticism interpretation approach to the text of Leviticus 16:20-22, it can be concluded that the meaning of this ritual can be used as a warning (threat) for the Israelites, in which expulsion/exile is a real possibility if they live in sin, and also as a means (ceremony) to reconcile God and man.

Publication Details

Journal
Universitas Sanata Dharma Repository (Universitas Sanata Dharma)
Published
2025-01-01
Primary Topic
Biblical Studies and Interpretation
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Reconsider the Meaning of Scapegoat Ritual in Leviticus 16:20-22

Universitas Sanata Dharma Repository (Universitas Sanata Dharma)
Biblical Studies and Interpretation
article

Reconsider the Meaning of Scapegoat Ritual in Leviticus 16:20-22

article en

Abstract

The scapegoating ritual in Leviticus 16 is central to ancient Jewish religion as part of the Yom Kippur celebration.The sacrifice of a scapegoat thrown into the desert is a unique ritual because it only appears in Leviticus 16 of the entire biblical text, and the only story that uses an animal to take away all the sins of the Israelites.The issue that will be discussed in this study is to find the origins and meaning of this ritual.From the historical criticism interpretation approach to the text of Leviticus 16:20-22, it can be concluded that the meaning of this ritual can be used as a warning (threat) for the Israelites, in which expulsion/exile is a real possibility if they live in sin, and also as a means (ceremony) to reconcile God and man.

Universitas Sanata Dharma Repository (Universitas Sanata Dharma)
Openalex Percentile: Top 47%
Biblical Studies and Interpretation
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

Reconsider the Meaning of Scapegoat Ritual in Leviticus 16:20-22 · Universitas Sanata Dharma Repository (Universitas Sanata Dharma) (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS