עֲזָאזֵל (a.za.zel)

The Hebrew noun azazel appears only three times in the Old Testament, always within the ritual instructions for the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16. It refers to the goat designated for "entire removal," a symbolic act where the community’s sins and guilt are placed upon the animal and sent away into the wilderness. This practice served as a visual representation of complete forgiveness, ensuring that impurity was taken far from the sacred camp.

The exact etymology of the word remains uncertain among scholars. Some interpret it as a compound meaning "strong goat" or "goat of departure," while others view it as a proper name for a desert entity or demon associated with the wasteland. Regardless of its linguistic roots, the ritual function is clear: azazel represents the total removal of sin from God’s presence, contrasting with the other goat offered as a sacrifice to the Lord.

Translators often render azazel as "scapegoat," though this English term can imply a person or thing unfairly blamed for others' faults. In its original context, the word does not carry that negative connotation of blame but rather emphasizes the finality of cleansing. The ritual ensured that the holiness of the sanctuary was preserved by physically removing defilement to a place where it could no longer affect the community.