Goat

In the Bible, a scapegoat is a goat that is sent into the wilderness to carry away the sins of the community. The concept first appears in the Book of Leviticus, in which a goat is designated to be cast into the desert to carry away the sins of the people of Israel. The ritual is performed on the Day of Atonement, which is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. The high priest would lay his hands on the head of the goat and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel. He would then send the goat away into the wilderness, symbolically carrying away the sins of the people. This ritual is a powerful reminder that we are all sinners, and that we need to rely on God's grace to forgive us for our sins. It is also a reminder that God is willing to forgive us, no matter how great our sins may be.