The term "scapegoat" is derived from the Hebrew words "sa'ir" (meaning "goat") and "azazel" (the name of a demon or a barren place in the wilderness). The concept of the scapegoat is prominent in the ancient Jewish ritual of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
In the Yom Kippur ritual, two goats were selected. One goat, called the "Lord's goat," was sacrificed as an offering to God, while the other, called the "scapegoat," was symbolically burdened with the sins of the people and then driven into the wilderness to "Azazel."
This ritual symbolized the transfer of the sins and impurities of the community to the scapegoat, which was then removed, thereby cleansing and purifying the community.
The concept of the scapegoat has been used metaphorically and figuratively in various contexts to refer to a person or group that is blamed or held responsible for the problems or failures of others, often unjustly or unfairly.