MAKNA TEOLOGIS AZAZEL DALAM IMAMAT 16: ANALISIS RITUAL PENDAMAIAN DALAM PERSPEKTIF PERJANJIAN LAMA

The Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16 occupies a central position in the Israelite cultic system as a means of restoring the relationship between YHWH and His people. One of the most problematic elements in this ritual is the identity and function of Azazel, which only appears in this context and opens up a wide range of interpretations. The ambiguity of Azazel's meaning creates hermeneutical tension because it has implications for the understanding of sin and the value of atonement. In ancient Israeli liturgical practice, the symbols of the wilderness and the goat for Azazel continue to spark debate. This indicates the need for an integrative reading of the atonement ritual. This study aims to analyse the theological meaning of Azazel in Leviticus 16 as a symbol of chaos subject to the sovereignty of YHWH. The method used is a literature study with a grammatical-historical exegetical approach. The results of the study show that Azazel in Leviticus 16 cannot be reduced to a mere demonological figure or a topographical reference, but rather a cosmological symbol that connects the spiritual dimension, liminal space, and the reality of sin. The ritual of transferring sin through goats to Azazel reveals a mechanism for eliminating impurity from the community to a realm of chaos that lies outside the sacred order. Through this structure, Levitical theology affirms that all space, including marginal areas, remains under the absolute sovereignty of YHWH, so that atonement is understood as a comprehensive cosmic restoration.