Azazel

Japanese: アザゼル

A word in the Bible that is commonly cited as the source of "scapegoat" in the form of "Azazel's sheep." It is mentioned in the Old Testament, Leviticus Chapter 16, in connection with the ceremony of atonement, but the interpretation of Azazel itself has been divided since ancient times. The Septuagint (Old Testament) sees it as a sheep that is banished, and rabbinic documents understand it as a place where sheep are banished, but researchers today usually understand it as a hairy monster of the wilderness that receives the sheep. In some Old Testament Apocrypha, Azazel is the leader of the fallen angels. [Namiki Koichi]

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

〈スケープゴート〉の典拠として〈アザゼルの羊〉の形での引用が一般的な聖書中の語。旧約聖書《レビ記》16章に贖罪行事とのかかわりで言及があるが，アザゼル自体の解釈は古来分かれている。《七十人訳聖書》(旧約)はこれを追放される羊と見，ラビ文献は羊の追放場所と解するが，今日の研究者はふつうこれを羊の受取手としての荒野の毛深い魔物と理解している。旧約外典の一部では，アザゼルは堕落天使の指導者である。【並木浩一】

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

<<: Asada - Asada (English spelling) hop-hornbeam

>>: Asashina [village] - Asashina