Focused Passage

Leviticus 16:1-10

The Day of Atonement: Cleansing the Sanctuary and Bearing Away Israel's Sins

After recalling the death of Aaron's sons, the LORD restricts Aaron's access to the Most Holy Place and commands the Day of Atonement ritual: Aaron must enter with proper sacrifices and linen garments, offer for himself, use incense to cover the atonement cover, sprinkle blood for sanctuary cleansing, lay Israel's sins on the live goat sent into the wilderness, cleanse the altar, change garments, complete burnt offerings, and establish an annual Sabbath-like day of self-denial and atonement for Israel.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of two of Aaron’s sons when they approached the presence of the LORD.

2 And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.

3 This is how Aaron is to enter the Holy Place: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.

4 He is to wear the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments. He must tie a linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are holy garments, and he must bathe himself with water before he wears them.

5 And he shall take from the congregation of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering.

6 Aaron is to present the bull for his sin offering and make atonement for himself and his household.

7 Then he shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

8 After Aaron casts lots for the two goats, one for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat,

9 he shall present the goat chosen by lot for the LORD and sacrifice it as a sin offering.

10 But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement by sending it into the wilderness as the scapegoat.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Now the LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular spoke וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר H1696 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Moses מֹשֶׁ֔ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular after אַחֲרֵ֣י H310 Preposition the death מ֔וֹת H4194 Noun - masculine singular construct of two שְׁנֵ֖י H8147 Number - masculine dual construct of Aaron’s אַהֲרֹ֑ן H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular sons בְּנֵ֣י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct when they approached בְּקָרְבָתָ֥ם H7126 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural the presence לִפְנֵי־ H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct of the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - וַיָּמֻֽתוּ׃ H4191 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Verse 2

Original words

And the LORD יְהוָ֜ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֨אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Moses מֹשֶׁ֗ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular Tell דַּבֵּר֮ H1696 Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular אֶל־ אֶל־ H413 Preposition your brother אָחִיךָ֒ H251 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Aaron אַהֲרֹ֣ן H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular not וְאַל־ H408 Conjunctive waw | Adverb to enter יָבֹ֤א H935 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular freely בְכָל־ H3605 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct . . . עֵת֙ H6256 Noun - common singular into אֶל־ H413 Preposition the Most Holy Place הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ H6944 Article | Noun - masculine singular behind מִבֵּ֖ית H1004 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct the veil לַפָּרֹ֑כֶת H6532 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular in אֶל־ H413 Preposition front פְּנֵ֨י H6440 Noun - common plural construct of the mercy seat הַכַּפֹּ֜רֶת H3727 Article | Noun - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁ֤ר H834 Pronoun - relative on עַל־ H5921 Preposition the ark הָאָרֹן֙ H727 Article | Noun - common singular or else וְלֹ֣א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle he will die יָמ֔וּת H4191 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular because כִּ֚י H3588 Conjunction I appear אֵרָאֶ֖ה H7200 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common singular in the cloud בֶּֽעָנָ֔ן H6051 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular above עַל־ H5921 Preposition the mercy seat הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃ H3727 Article | Noun - feminine singular

BSB notes

  • Or the Holy Place; also in verses 16, 17, 20, 23, and 27
  • Or atonement cover; here and throughout this chapter
Verse 3

Original words

This is how בְּזֹ֛את H2063 Preposition-b | Pronoun - feminine singular Aaron אַהֲרֹ֖ן H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular is to enter יָבֹ֥א H935 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition the Holy Place הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ H6944 Article | Noun - masculine singular with a young bull בְּפַ֧ר H6499 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular . . . בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct . . . בָּקָ֛ר H1241 Noun - masculine singular for a sin offering לְחַטָּ֖את H2403 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular and a ram וְאַ֥יִל H352 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular for a burnt offering לְעֹלָֽה׃ H5930 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 4

Original words

He is to wear יִלְבָּ֗שׁ H3847 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the sacred קֹ֜דֶשׁ H6944 Noun - masculine singular linen בַּ֨ד H906 Noun - masculine singular construct tunic כְּתֹֽנֶת־ H3801 Noun - feminine singular construct with linen בַד֮ H906 Noun - masculine singular undergarments וּמִֽכְנְסֵי־ H4370 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine dual construct - יִהְי֣וּ H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural - עַל־ H5921 Preposition - בְּשָׂרוֹ֒ H1320 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular He must tie יַחְגֹּ֔ר H2296 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular a linen בַּד֙ H906 Noun - masculine singular sash וּבְאַבְנֵ֥ט H73 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct around him בַּ֖ד H906 Noun - masculine singular and put on the linen יִצְנֹ֑ף H6801 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular turban וּבְמִצְנֶ֥פֶת H4701 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct These הֵ֔ם H1992 Pronoun - third person masculine plural [are] holy קֹ֣דֶשׁ H6944 Noun - masculine singular garments בִּגְדֵי־ H899 Noun - masculine plural construct and he must bathe וְרָחַ֥ץ H7364 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular himself בְּשָׂר֖וֹ H1320 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular with water בַּמַּ֛יִם H4325 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker before he wears them וּלְבֵשָֽׁם׃ H3847 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Verse 5

Original words

And וּמֵאֵ֗ת H854 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Direct object marker he shall take יִקַּ֛ח H3947 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular from the congregation עֲדַת֙ H5712 Noun - feminine singular construct . . . בְּנֵ֣י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular two שְׁנֵֽי־ H8147 Number - masculine dual construct male goats שְׂעִירֵ֥י H8163 Noun - masculine plural construct . . . עִזִּ֖ים H5795 Noun - feminine plural for a sin offering לְחַטָּ֑את H2403 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular and one אֶחָ֖ד H259 Number - masculine singular ram וְאַ֥יִל H352 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular for a burnt offering לְעֹלָֽה׃ H5930 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 6

Original words

Aaron אַהֲרֹ֛ן H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker is to present וְהִקְרִ֧יב H7126 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular the bull פַּ֥ר H6499 Noun - masculine singular construct for his sin offering הַחַטָּ֖את H2403 Article | Noun - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative and make atonement וְכִפֶּ֥ר H3722 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular for בַּעֲד֖וֹ H1157 Preposition | third person masculine singular himself וּבְעַ֥ד H1157 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and his household בֵּיתֽוֹ׃ H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 7

Original words

Then he shall take וְלָקַ֖ח H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the two שְׁנֵ֣י H8147 Number - masculine dual construct goats הַשְּׂעִירִ֑ם H8163 Article | Noun - masculine plural and present וְהֶעֱמִ֤יד H5975 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular them אֹתָם֙ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine plural before לִפְנֵ֣י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular at the entrance פֶּ֖תַח H6607 Noun - masculine singular construct to the Tent אֹ֥הֶל H168 Noun - masculine singular construct of Meeting מוֹעֵֽד׃ H4150 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 8

Original words

After Aaron אַהֲרֹ֛ן H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular casts וְנָתַ֧ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular lots גּוֹרָל֑וֹת H1486 Noun - masculine plural for עַל־ H5921 Preposition the two שְׁנֵ֥י H8147 Number - masculine dual construct goats הַשְּׂעִירִ֖ם H8163 Article | Noun - masculine plural one אֶחָד֙ H259 Number - masculine singular - גּוֹרָ֤ל H1486 Noun - masculine singular for the LORD לַיהוָ֔ה H3068 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . וְגוֹרָ֥ל H1486 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular and the other אֶחָ֖ד H259 Number - masculine singular for the scapegoat לַעֲזָאזֵֽל׃ H5799 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Literally the other to Azazel; similarly twice in verse 10 and once in verse 26
Verse 9

Original words

he אַהֲרֹן֙ H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker shall present וְהִקְרִ֤יב H7126 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular the goat הַשָּׂעִ֔יר H8163 Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative chosen עָלָ֥ה H5927 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular . . . עָלָ֛יו H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular by lot הַגּוֹרָ֖ל H1486 Article | Noun - masculine singular for the LORD לַיהוָ֑ה H3068 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular and sacrifice וְעָשָׂ֖הוּ H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular it as a sin offering חַטָּֽאת׃ H2403 Noun - feminine singular
Verse 10

Original words

But the goat וְהַשָּׂעִ֗יר H8163 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁר֩ H834 Pronoun - relative chosen עָלָ֨ה H5927 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular by עָלָ֤יו H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular lot הַגּוֹרָל֙ H1486 Article | Noun - masculine singular as the scapegoat לַעֲזָאזֵ֔ל H5799 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular shall be presented יָֽעֳמַד־ H5975 Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular alive חַ֛י H2416 Adjective - masculine singular before לִפְנֵ֥י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular to make atonement לְכַפֵּ֣ר H3722 Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct . . . עָלָ֑יו H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular by sending לְשַׁלַּ֥ח H7971 Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct - אֹת֛וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular it into the wilderness הַמִּדְבָּֽרָה׃ H4057 Article | Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular as the scapegoat לַעֲזָאזֵ֖ל H5799 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.