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Ramban on Leviticus 16:21/רמב"ן על ויקרא ט״ז:כ״א

אוְנָתַן אֹתָם עַל רֹאשׁ הַשָּׂעִיר לֹא נֶאֱמַר בְּפָרוֹ שֶׁל אַהֲרֹן וְלֹא בִּשְׂעִיר הַחַטָּאת שֶׁל שֵׁם וְלֹא בְּשׁוּם סְמִיכָה שֶׁבַּקָּרְבָּנוֹת כַּלָּשׁוֹן הַזֶּה, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהַקָּרְבָּנוֹת לְרָצוֹן עַל אִשֵּׁי ה' וְהִנָּם מְרַצִּים וּמְכַפְּרִים, אֲבָל זֶה שֶׁאֵינוֹ לַשֵּׁם וְהַמְּקַבְּלוֹ אֵינוֹ מְכַפֵּר וְלֹא מְרַצֶּה, אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא נוֹשֵׂא עֲוֹנֹתָם וְעוֹנֶה אָמֵן בְּעַל כָּרְחוֹ. וּבִהְיוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל נְקִיִּים מִכָּל חֵטְא וָפֶשַׁע הוּא יִשָּׂא חַטָּאתָם, כַּאֲשֶׁר בִּפְסוּקִים רַבִּים בַּתּוֹרָה וּבַנְּבִיאִים. וְזֶהוּ "וְנָשָׂא הַשָּׂעִיר עָלָיו". וּלְכָךְ לָשׁוֹן שֶׁל זְהוֹרִית מַלְבִּין בִּשְׁעַת שִׁלּוּחוֹ שֶׁל שָׂעִיר בִּדְחִיָּתוֹ לַצּוּק כְּשֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה אֵבָרִים אֵבָרִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמֻּזְכָּר בְּדִבְרֵי חֲכָמִים (יומא סז):

1AND HE SHALL PUT THEM UPON THE HEAD OF THE GOAT. Such an expression is not used with reference to the bullock of Aaron [over which he confessed his own sins and those of the other priests], nor in relation to the goat of the sin-offering of the Eternal, nor regarding the leaning of hands upon any of the offerings. This is because all offerings were brought for acceptance upon the fires of G-d⁸⁴ [which burnt on the altar], and thus they effected pardon and atonement. But this [goat that was sent away to Azazel], since it was not for G-d, and the recipient thereof [i.e. Sammael] has no power to offer atonement or pardon, therefore the goat merely carries the people’s sins away, and [the accusing angel] must answer “Amen” against his will.¹⁰⁵ When the Israelites are free from all sins and transgressions [as after the moment of confession of sins over the goat sent to Azazel], he indeed carries their sins away, as is mentioned in many verses in the Torah¹⁰⁶ (Deuteronomy 11:29). and the prophets. This then is [the meaning of the expression], and the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities.¹⁰⁷ That was the reason why the thread of crimson wool¹⁰⁸, 67a). There was also a thread of crimson wool tied to the door of the Sanctuary (ibid., 68 b). At the moment of the fulfillment of the Divine command concerning this goat, the threads miraculously turned white as a sign of the Divine forgiveness, as it is said, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow (Isaiah 1:18) (Yoma 68 b). turned white at the time when the goat was sent away to Azazel, i.e., at the moment that he pushed it over the cliff, when it was broken in pieces, as is mentioned in the words of the Sages.¹⁰⁹, 67 a.