The term "scapegoat" in English has its origins in the ancient Jewish ritual described in the Torah, specifically in the context of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. On Yom Kippur, the Kohen HaGadol would take two goats – one to be sacrificed to G-d as a sin offering, and the other, burdened with the community’s sins, to be sent into the wilderness to die there. This second goat was the Seir La’Azazel, which in English became known as the “scapegoat”.
The term "scapegoat" in English was coined by William Tyndale in his 1530 translation of the Bible. Tyndale rendered the Hebrew term "La’Azazel" as "the escape goat," which was later shortened to "scapegoat." The King James Version of the Bible (1611) adopted Tyndale’s term, ensuring that "scapegoat" became the standard term in English for the goat that was sent into the wilderness on Yom Kippur. This translation further embedded the term in the English lexicon, giving it both religious and cultural significance.
Over time, the term "scapegoat" evolved from its original, specific religious meaning to a more general figurative usage. In modern English, a scapegoat is someone who is unfairly blamed for the wrongdoings or failures of others. This shift reflects a broader cultural tendency to take concrete, ritualistic concepts and adapt them to more abstract, everyday situations.
Although we no longer have a Temple, a Kohen Gadol or a scapegoat, may G-d still forgive us for our sins and inscribe us all in the Book of Life.