עֲזָאזֵל
𐤏𐤆𐤀𐤆𐤋
Azazel
H5799 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
The proper noun עֲזָאזֵל designates a being or entity associated with the Day of Atonement ritual, to whom one of two goats is sent or assigned. In Leviticus 16, the term specifically refers to the destination or recipient of the 'sent away' goat, which symbolically carries away the transgressions of the Israelite community into the wilderness. In post-biblical literature, the word is later understood as the name of a demon or supernatural being, but in the Torah it primarily functions as a personified destination or force outside the Israelite camp.
Semantic Range
proper noun referring to the supernatural recipient or destination of the 'sent away' goat in the atonement ritual; later: a wilderness demon; later Jewish and Christian tradition: a figure associated with evil or impurity
Root / Etymology
The etymology is uncertain. While Strong's suggests derivation from עֵז ('goat') and אָזַל ('to go away'), this is speculative and not definitively supported by linguistic evidence. Alternative proposals include relating the term to an abstract sense of 'complete removal' or treating it as a proper name of an entity known in apotropaic ritual contexts. Rabbinic and medieval commentators variously understand it as 'the goat that goes away' or as the name of a wilderness demon, but its formation and meaning remain debated among scholars.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Leviticus 16, עֲזָאזֵל refers to the ritual scapegoat practice, where one goat is designated 'for YHWH' and the other 'for Azazel,' the latter being sent into the wilderness, symbolically carrying the Israelites' sins. In the Second Temple period (e.g., 1 Enoch), Azazel is interpreted as a demonic figure, which influenced later Jewish and Christian literature. The term is a hapax legomenon in the Hebrew Bible, appearing only in Leviticus 16, and is not used elsewhere for 'scapegoat.' English versions render the word as 'scapegoat,' but this translation obscures the original reference to a distinct entity or destination. Later interpretation as 'the scapegoat' (the goat itself) does not match the likely ancient Israelite understanding, where the term pointed to the goat's supernatural or wilderness recipient.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עֵז and אָזַל; goat of departure; the scapegoat; scapegoat.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
uncertain (uncertain) — uncertain; possibly removal, departure, or a proper name of a wilderness entity
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1085 | בִּלְדַּד | Bildad |
| H1095 | בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר | Belteshatsar |
| H1114 | בִּלְשָׁן | Bilshan |
| H1150 | בִּנְעָא | Bin'a |
| H116 | אֱדַיִן | and then |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5799-01 |
לַ/עֲזָאזֵֽל | laazazel | HR/Np |
for Azazel | to Azazel | 4 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5799-01 |
Leviticus 16:8 | לַ/עֲזָאזֵֽל | laazazel | HR/Np |
for Azazel | to Azazel |
H5799-01 |
Leviticus 16:10 | לַ/עֲזָאזֵ֔ל | laazazel | HR/Np |
for Azazel | to Azazel |
H5799-01 |
Leviticus 16:10 | לַ/עֲזָאזֵ֖ל | laazazel-2 | HR/Np |
for Azazel | to Azazel |
H5799-01 |
Leviticus 16:26 | לַֽ/עֲזָאזֵ֔ל | laazazel | HR/Np |
to Azazel | to Azazel |