Leviticus 16:1-4

The Day of Atonement

1 The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the LORD.
2 The LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.
3 “This is how Aaron is to enter the Most Holy Place: He must first bring a young bull for a sin offering[a] and a ram for a burnt offering.
4 He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on.

Leviticus 16:1-4 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 16

This chapter treats of the day of atonement, and of the rites, sacrifices, and services of it, directs when Aaron should come into the holy of holies, Le 16:1,2; and in what habit he should then appear, and with what offerings both for himself, and for the people, Le 16:3-10; and that having slain his own sin offering, and that for the people, he should offer incense before the mercy seat, and sprinkle that with the blood of both, Le 16:11-15; and by these offerings make atonement for the holy place, the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, Le 16:16-19; and having done this, he was to take the live goat, lay his hands on it, confess over it, and put upon it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and then send it away by a fit man into the wilderness, Le 16:20-22; upon which he was to put off his linen garments, wash his flesh, and put them on again, and offer the burnt offering for himself, and for the people, Le 16:23-25; also he that let go the goat, and he that carried and burnt the sin offerings without the camp, were to wash themselves and clothes also, Le 16:26-28; the observance of this day, once a year, which was on the tenth of the seventh month, as a day of affliction and atonement, was to be a statute for ever to the children of Israel, Le 16:29-34.

Cross References 15

  • 1. S Leviticus 10:1
  • 2. Exodus 30:10; Hebrews 9:7
  • 3. S Exodus 26:33; Hebrews 9:25; Hebrews 10:19
  • 4. S Exodus 26:33; Hebrews 6:19
  • 5. S Exodus 26:34
  • 6. S Exodus 25:22
  • 7. S Exodus 40:34; S 2 Samuel 22:10
  • 8. ver 6; Leviticus 4:1-12; Hebrews 9:24,25
  • 9. S Leviticus 4:3
  • 10. ver 5
  • 11. S Leviticus 8:13
  • 12. S Exodus 28:39
  • 13. ver 32; S Exodus 28:42; Exodus 29:29,30; Leviticus 21:10; Numbers 20:26,28
  • 14. ver 24; S Exodus 29:4; Hebrews 10:22
  • 15. Ezekiel 9:2; Ezekiel 44:17-18

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or "purification offering" ; here and throughout this chapter
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