עזאזל

Hebrew

Etymology

Uncertain; perhaps from עָזַז‎ (azáz, “to be strong, impudent”) +‎ אֵל‎ (él, “god, God”). The English word scapegoat comes from an interpretation as coming from עֵז‎ (éz, “goat”) +‎ אזֵל‎ (ozél, “escapes”).

Proper noun

עֲזָאזֵל • (azazél) m

  1. Azazel.
    • Leviticus 16:8, with translation from the King James Version:
      ונתן אהרן על שני השעירם גורלות גורל אחד לה׳ וגורל אחד לעזאזל׃‎
      And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scapegoat.

Usage notes
  • It is unclear to what exactly עזאזל‎ refers. One common theory is that it refers to the wilderness where the scapegoat was to be released; another is that it refers to a demon, a Canaanite deity. The Talmud identifies עזאזל‎ as a cliff over which the scapegoat was driven. One theory, reflected in early Bible translations and in the English word scapegoat itself, is that עזאזל‎ refers to the actual scapegoat.

Derived terms
  • לעזאזל‎ (la'azazél), לך לעזאזל‎ (lekh la'azazél)

Further reading
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