The Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, was the most sacred day in the ancient Israelite calendar, featuring a unique set of sacrifices designed to “reset” the nation’s relationship with God. The primary offerings included a bull for the high priest’s own sins and two goats for the sins of the people. One goat was sacrificed as a sin offering to pay the penalty for sin, while the other—the “scapegoat”—was sent into the wilderness to symbolically carry the people’s guilt away, both of which point directly to the work of Jesus Christ.
A Sacrifice for the Priest
The rituals of the Day of Atonement began with the high priest himself. Before he could represent the nation, he had to address his own imperfections. According to Leviticus 16, he first sacrificed a bull as a sin offering for himself and his household. This was a powerful reminder that even the highest spiritual leader was a flawed human being in need of God’s mercy.
Unlike other days when the high priest wore ornate, colorful robes, on this day he wore simple white linen. This change in clothing symbolized humility and purity as he prepared to enter the Most Holy Place. By offering the bull first, the priest was cleansed so that he could safely enter the immediate presence of God to intercede for the rest of the people.
The Two Goats: One for the Lord
The most distinctive part of the day involved two identical male goats. The high priest would cast lots to determine their fates. The first goat, chosen “for the Lord,” was sacrificed as a sin offering for the entire nation. Its blood was taken behind the thick curtain into the Most Holy Place—the only time all year anyone was allowed inside—and sprinkled on the “mercy seat” of the Ark of the Covenant.
Leviticus 16:15-16 Then Aaron must slaughter the first goat as a sin offering for the people and carry its blood behind the inner curtain. There he will sprinkle the goat’s blood over the atonement cover… In this way, he will purify the Most Holy Place.
This sacrifice represented “propitiation,” which is a big word for satisfying the requirements of God’s justice. Because sin leads to death, a life had to be given. The blood on the mercy seat showed that the price of the people’s rebellion had been paid, allowing a holy God to continue dwelling in the midst of a sinful people for another year.
The Mystery of the Scapegoat
The second goat served a completely different purpose. Instead of being killed, the high priest would lay both hands on its head and confess all the sins, rebellions, and failures of the Israelites. This act symbolically transferred the collective guilt of the nation onto the animal. This goat is famously known as the “scapegoat.”
An appointed man would then lead the goat deep into the wilderness and release it, never to be seen again. While the first goat represented the payment for sin, the scapegoat represented the removal of sin. It was a visual promise to the people that God hadn’t just forgiven their debt; he had sent their guilt far away from the camp, out of sight and out of mind.
Jesus: Our Perfect Atonement
For Christians, these ancient rituals are a “shadow” of the reality found in Jesus. The Bible teaches that Jesus fulfilled both roles on the Day of Atonement. As our Great High Priest, he didn’t need to offer a bull for his own sins because he was perfect. Instead, he offered his own blood to pay our debt once and for all.
Hebrews 9:11-12 So Christ has now become the High Priest… With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.
Jesus is also our ultimate scapegoat. The book of Hebrews explains that Jesus was taken “outside the city gate” to suffer, just as the scapegoat was sent outside the camp. When we trust in Jesus, he doesn’t just cover our mistakes; he carries our shame and guilt away forever. Because his sacrifice was perfect, the “Day of Atonement” never needs to be repeated. It is finished.
The Takeaway
The sacrifices on the Day of Atonement—the bull, the sacrificed goat, and the scapegoat—showed Israel that sin is a serious matter that requires both a payment and a removal. These rituals provided a temporary “reset” for the nation, but they ultimately pointed to Jesus. Through Christ, we have a permanent atonement where our sins are paid for by his blood and our guilt is carried away forever, giving us a clear conscience and direct access to God.
