Azazel

[ uh-zey-zuhl, az-uh-zel ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Bible.

the demon or place in the wilderness to which a sacrificial goat is released in an atonement ritual.
scapegoat ( def 2 ).

Azazel

/ əˈzeɪzəl; ˈæzəˌzɛl /

Old Testament a desert demon to whom the scapegoat bearing the sins of Israel was sent out once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:1–28)
(in later Jewish and Gnostic writings and in Muslim tradition) a prince of demons

Origin of Azazel¹

From the Hebrew word ʿăzāzēl

I wonder if it be supposed by any one that Azazel is in any way a distinct being from the goat.

And undoubtedly, when he had got to the spot where the ledge came to an end, Azazel seemed puzzled to know what to do next.

I sat myself down with pain and difficulty, for Azazel had bruised me all over, and I felt fearfully stiff and sore.

Azazel, Statistics Chief, glanced at a roll of incombustible microfilm, and cleared his throat.

The sending of the scape-goat to Azazel marked the abomination in which this lascivious cult was held.

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