Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Leviticus 16
Leviticus 16:2and the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.
This verse sets a serious tone, reminding Aaron (and all of Israel) that God's holy presence in the Most Holy Place is not to be entered casually, establishing the need for the specific instructions that follow.Leviticus 16:22And the goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.
This is the powerful image of the scapegoat physically carrying the nation's sins away into a remote area, symbolizing the complete removal and forgetting of their guilt before God.Leviticus 16:34And this shall be a statute forever for you, that atonement may be made for the people of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.” And Aaron did as the Lord commanded Moses.
God establishes this entire ceremony not as a one-time event, but as a permanent statute - an annual reminder of their need for forgiveness and God's faithful provision for it.
Historical & Cultural Context
A Life-and-Death Warning
This chapter opens under a dark cloud, referencing the death of Aaron's two sons, Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10). They had approached God with 'unauthorized fire' and died instantly, a shocking reminder that God's holiness is not to be taken lightly. This event provides the crucial backdrop for the instructions that follow. The rules for the Day of Atonement are critical. They are a matter of life and death, designed to protect the priest and honor God's awesome presence.
An Annual Reset for the Nation
The Day of Atonement, or 'Yom Kippur,' was the one day a year the high priest could enter the innermost sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, where God's presence dwelled above the ark of the covenant. This annual ceremony served as a spiritual reset for the entire nation. It was designed to deal with all the sins - known and unknown - that had accumulated over the year, purifying not only the people but the tabernacle itself, which was considered defiled by being in the midst of a sinful people.
The Day of Atonement Ceremony
Leviticus 16 unfolds as a highly structured, step-by-step ritual performed by Aaron, the high priest. The scene is the Tabernacle, God's dwelling place among the Israelites in the wilderness. The instructions given by God to Moses are precise, covering everything from the priest's clothing to the specific animals required, all pointing toward the goal of cleansing the nation from sin.
Preparation and the Two Goats (Leviticus 16:1-10)
1 The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the Lord and died,
2 and the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat that is on the ark, so that he may not die. For I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.
3 But in this way Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with a bull from the herd for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.
4 He shall put on the 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. He shall bathe his body in water and then put them on.
5 And he shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.
6 “Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make 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 Azazel.
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 Azazel shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel.
Commentary:
God gives strict instructions for the high priest's preparation and introduces the two goats, one for sacrifice and one for removal of sin.
Atonement in the Most Holy Place (Leviticus 16:11-19)
11 "Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house.
12 And he shall take a 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 and put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is over the testimony, so that he does not die.
14 And he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat on the east side, and in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.
15 "Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat."
16 Thus he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel and because of their transgressions, all their sins. And so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which dwells with them in the midst of their uncleannesses.
17 There shall be no man in the tent of meeting when he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel.
18 Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around.
19 He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times and cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleannesses of the people of Israel.
Commentary:
The high priest enters the Most Holy Place with incense and blood to purify it, first for his own sin and then for the sins of the people.
Related Verse Analysis
The Scapegoat Carries Away Sin (Leviticus 16:20-28)
20 "And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat."
21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.
22 And the goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.
23 Then Aaron shall come into the tent of meeting and shall take off the linen garments that he put on when he went into the Holy Place and shall leave them there.
24 And he shall bathe his body in water in a holy place and put on his garments and come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people and make atonement for himself and for the people.
25 And the fat of the sin offering he shall burn on the altar.
26 And he who lets the goat go to Azazel shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp.
27 And the bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be carried outside the camp.
28 And he who burns them shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp.
Commentary:
Aaron transfers the nation's sins onto a live goat, which is then sent into the wilderness to symbolize the complete removal of their guilt.
A Permanent Day of Rest and Cleansing (Leviticus 16:29-34)
29 “And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you.
30 for on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the Lord from all your sins.
31 It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; it is a statute forever.
32 And the priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father's place shall make atonement, wearing the holy linen garments.
33 and make atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.
34 And this shall be a statute forever for you, that atonement may be made for the people of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.” And Aaron did as the Lord commanded Moses.
Commentary:
God commands that the Day of Atonement be observed annually as a solemn day of rest and cleansing for all of Israel's sins.
Core Truths from the Day of Atonement
The Holiness of God and the Seriousness of Sin
The elaborate, precise, and dangerous nature of this ritual underscores a vital truth: God is perfectly holy. Sin is a deep stain that defiles people and even the physical space around them. This creates a necessary separation from a pure God.
Atonement: God's Gracious Solution
Despite the problem of sin, God does not abandon His people. He provides the way for 'atonement' - a term that means to cover, cleanse, and make things right again. This entire chapter is an act of grace, showing God's desire to maintain a relationship with Israel by giving them a path to forgiveness.
Substitution and the Removal of Guilt
The two goats provide a complete picture of forgiveness. The first goat dies in the people's place, a substitute paying the penalty for sin. The second goat, the scapegoat, physically carries their sins away, demonstrating that their guilt is paid for and completely removed from them.
Applying the Day of Atonement Today
This chapter helps you appreciate the cost of forgiveness. It shows that sin has always required a serious, God-provided solution. It points forward to Jesus, who fulfilled this ceremony once and for all as the perfect high priest and the ultimate sacrifice, meaning you can approach God confidently through Him (Hebrews 9:11-12).
The scapegoat teaches that God's forgiveness is total. When you confess your sins, He pardons and completely removes them. This is symbolized by the goat disappearing into the wilderness (Leviticus 16:22). This means you can live free from the burden of past guilt, knowing your sins are gone for good.
Aaron's need for personal atonement (Leviticus 16:6) is a powerful reminder of our shared human condition. It shows that no one is righteous on their own, not even spiritual leaders. This encourages humility, reminding you that your access to God is based entirely on His grace, not your own goodness.
God's Gracious Plan for Forgiveness
Leviticus 16 reveals that God is holy and sin is a serious barrier, but His primary desire is to dwell with His people. He graciously provides the solution Himself through the detailed rituals of the Day of Atonement. This annual ceremony showed Israel that their sins could be both paid for and carried away, allowing the entire nation to be cleansed and their relationship with God fully restored.
What This Means for Us Today
The Day of Atonement was a powerful shadow of the reality we now have in Jesus. His sacrifice was the final, perfect fulfillment of this ritual, tearing the veil and granting us direct access to God. This chapter invites us to stand in awe of God's holiness and to deeply appreciate the incredible cost of the complete and permanent forgiveness we have received.
- In what area of your life do you need to fully accept that your sin has been 'carried away'?
- How does understanding the seriousness of the old covenant ritual deepen your gratitude for Jesus's sacrifice?
- Since we no longer need a priest to go before us, how can you personally approach God with confidence and humility this week?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter details laws about ritual uncleanness from bodily discharges, setting the stage for the ultimate cleansing needed on the Day of Atonement.
Following the Day of Atonement, this chapter gives further laws about the sanctity of blood and the proper location for sacrifices.
Connections Across Scripture
This New Testament chapter explicitly explains how Jesus Christ serves as the greater High Priest and perfect sacrifice, fulfilling the symbolism of the Day of Atonement once for all.
This prophecy describes a suffering servant who will 'bear their iniquities,' providing a powerful parallel to the function of the scapegoat.
Paul explains the concept of atonement through faith in Jesus, whom God put forward as a 'propitiation' (a covering for sin, related to the mercy seat) by His blood.
Discussion Questions
- The Day of Atonement was a very physical, sensory experience (incense, blood, laying hands on a goat). How does this tangible ritual help you understand the spiritual reality of sin and forgiveness better than abstract concepts alone?
- The scapegoat carried the nation's sins far away, never to be seen again. How does this image challenge the way you might hold onto guilt or past mistakes, even after asking for forgiveness?
- The people were commanded to rest and practice self-denial on this day. What is the connection between humility, rest, and our ability to fully receive God's cleansing and forgiveness?
Glossary
places
figures
theological concepts
Atonement
The act of making things right between God and humanity, which involves covering, cleansing, and paying the penalty for sin.
Mercy Seat
The golden lid on the Ark of the Covenant, where the blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled to make atonement for sin.
Sin Offering
A specific sacrifice required to atone for unintentional sins and purify from defilement.