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Leviticus 16:3-13

Listen to Leviticus 16:3-13
3 But in this way Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: 1with a bull from the herd for a sin offering and 2a ram for a burnt offering.
4 He shall put on 3the holy linen coat and shall have the linen undergarment on his body, and he shall tie the linen sash around his waist, and wear the linen turban; these are the holy garments. 4He shall bathe his body in water and then put them on.
5 And he shall take from 5the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
6 “Aaron shall 6offer the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall 7make atonement for himself and for his house.
7 Then he shall take the two goats and set them before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
8 And Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for 8Azazel. [a]
9 And Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the Lord and use it as a sin offering,
10 but the goat on which the lot fell for 9Azazel shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to 10Azazel.
11 “Aaron shall present 11the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself.
12 And he shall take 12a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil
13 13and put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover 14the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die.

Leviticus 16:3-13 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.

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Cross References 14

  • 1. 16:3 ch. 4:3
  • 2. 16:3 ch. 1:10; 8:18
  • 3. 16:4 ch. 6:10; 8:7; Ezek. 44:17, 18; See Ex. 28:39-43
  • 4. 16:4 ch. 8:6, 7; Ex. 30:20
  • 5. 16:5 ch. 4:14; Num. 29:11; 2 Chr. 29:21; Ezra 6:17
  • 6. 16:6 Ezek. 45:22
  • 7. 16:6 ver. 17, 24; ch. 9:7; Heb. 7:27, 28; 9:7
  • 8. 16:8 ver. 26
  • 9. 16:10 [See ver. 8 above]
  • 10. 16:10 [See ver. 8 above]
  • 11. 16:11 [See ver. 6 above]
  • 12. 16:12 ch. 10:1; Num. 16:46; Rev. 8:3-5
  • 13. 16:13 Ex. 30:1, 7, 8
  • 14. 16:13 Ex. 25:21

Footnotes 1

  • [a] 16:8 The meaning of 'Azazel' is uncertain; possibly the name of a place or a demon, traditionally a scapegoat; also verses 10, 26
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025

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