In the account of Jesus Christ's crucifixion, the choice of which man should die or be released was not made for the LORD, as God specifies that the high priest must seek His will in such matters. The people and leaders did not choose Jesus for crucifixion because they recognized His role before the LORD, but to condemn Him and continue their lives without disruption. They had Jesus destroyed because they despised Him, not because they valued His pure blood for cleansing as the LORD intended. Isaiah declares that the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all, showing that Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled the role of bearing sins for the LORD, a role that no other could fulfill.

The phrase "for the LORD" in the context of the Day of Atonement ritual, as described in Leviticus 16:8, does not imply a representation of the Lord, but rather designates the first goat as belonging to the LORD. This goat's role is to appease the Lord and to be sacrificed to Him, fulfilling the purpose of satisfying His justice in the ritual. It is in the same sense that sacred incense was holy for the LORD, that a tribute was levied for the LORD in wartime, and that an idolatrous city was to be completely burned for the LORD your God. The Israelites understood that this goat was a sacrifice to the Lord, not a symbol of Him, as their comprehension of the sacrificial system did not include the later fulfillment through the Messiah. Thus, the first goat was set apart for the LORD to cleanse His house, encompassing both the Tabernacle and His people.