What Does Leviticus 16:8 Mean in the King James?

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

Leviticus 16:8 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

The two goats share one rite, but the lot assigns them different destinations before either one moves.

THE MEANING

The verse holds a matched pair in a sharp division: one lot is for the LORD, and the other for Azazel. Their different destinations are already assigned before either goat moves.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the assumption that the two goats share one fate simply because they begin as a pair.

THE ROOT

נָתַן

natan

GROWS FROM

נתן

To give, set, or place.

The verb is natan, whose range includes “give,” “set,” and “place”: Aaron places the lots upon the goats, then names their distinct destinations. English “cast lots” keeps the action vivid, while the Hebrew root also carries the sense of assigning each goat its place.

ALSO GROWS

mattanah: Gift; something given.

מַתָּנָה

This branch shows the root’s sense of giving: the lots assign each goat to a distinct destination.

natun: Given or placed.

נָתוּן

This form describes what has been set in place, echoing how the goats receive different assignments.

THE PATTERN

The lot turns an unresolved choice into an assigned place, with the outcome received rather than authored by preference.

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

Numbers 26:55 · KJVThe lot assigns each tribe a place in the land, just as it assigns each goat a distinct destination.

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

Proverbs 16:33 · KJVThe verse places the lot’s outcome within a larger ordering that exceeds the person casting it.

And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:26 · KJVThe lot resolves the choice by assigning Matthias his place among the eleven.

THE THREAD

But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

Leviticus 16:10 · KJV

Verse 8 assigns the goat’s destination; verse 10 shows what that assignment becomes: the living goat is sent into the wilderness. The Hebrew root ⁨שָׁלַח⁩ (shalach) means “send forth” or “release,” carrying the movement from designation to release.

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