Metaphysical meaning of Azazel (mbd)
Azazel, a-za'-zel (Heb.)--removal; scapegoat; a goat for going away.
"And Aaron . . . shall take the two goats, and set them before Jehovah at the door of the tent of meeting. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for Jehovah, and the other lot for Azazel. And Aaron shall present the goat upon which the lot fell for Jehovah, and offer him for a sin-offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell for Azazel, shall be set alive before Jehovah, to make atonement for him, to send him away for Azazel into the wilderness" (Lev. 16:610, 26).
Meta. The two goats of Leviticus 16 signify the twofold operation in consciousness that attends the putting away of sin. Sacrificing one goat as a sin offering to Jehovah signifies the process of uplifting and refining the energies that lie back of all action and have been used to do evil. These energies are good and must be refined and elevated to spiritual expression in the consciousness and organism of man, that he may become perfect even as the Father is perfect. (See Matt. 5: 48.)
Sending the other goat (Azazel--removed, separated, sent away) out into the wilderness bespeaks denial of error, putting away sin, or releasing from the consciousness all belief in and thought of sin and evil, and all condemnation for sin.
"As far as the east is from the west,So far hath he removed our transgressions from us" (Psa. 103:12).
"For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more" (Jer. 31:34). (See GOAT.)
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