A scapegoat is an animal that carries away sin, as in Leviticus 16:7-10.
In ancient times, the Israelite ritual used two goats. One was designated for the Lord and offered as a sin offering (Leviticus 16:9), the other goat, the scapegoat, bore the people’s iniquities (Leviticus 16:11).
In this ritual, Israel released a live animal to carry away impurities. The scapegoat was sent into the wilderness. First, however, the priest placed his hands on the goat and then confessed the sins of his people. The ritual symbolized the removal or taking away of the people’s sin (Leviticus 16:21-22).
The ritual described here is the origin of the term scapegoat, a term that is still in use today. Sending a live animal away instead of killing it is a unique feature of the Day of Atonement.
Quoted from THE CHRONOLOGICAL STUDY BIBLE (NKJV), THOMAS NELSON, INC. Copyright 2008