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

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

2And 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.

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

4He 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.

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

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

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

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

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

10But 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 LORDיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularspokeוַיְדַבֵּ֤רH1696Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionMosesמֹשֶׁ֔הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularafterאַחֲרֵ֣יH310Prepositionthe deathמ֔וֹתH4194Noun - masculine singular constructof twoשְׁנֵ֖יH8147Number - masculine dual constructof Aaron’sאַהֲרֹ֑ןH175Noun - proper - masculine singularsonsבְּנֵ֣יH1121Noun - masculine plural constructwhen they approachedבְּקָרְבָתָ֥םH7126Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine pluralthe presenceלִפְנֵי־H6440Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural constructof the LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular-וַיָּמֻֽתוּ׃H4191Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Verse 2

Original words

And the LORDיְהוָ֜הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionMosesמֹשֶׁ֗הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularTellדַּבֵּר֮H1696Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singularאֶל־אֶל־H413Prepositionyour brotherאָחִיךָ֒H251Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularAaronאַהֲרֹ֣ןH175Noun - proper - masculine singularnotוְאַל־H408Conjunctive waw | Adverbto enterיָבֹ֤אH935Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularfreelyבְכָל־H3605Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct. . .עֵת֙H6256Noun - common singularintoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe Most Holy Placeהַקֹּ֔דֶשׁH6944Article | Noun - masculine singularbehindמִבֵּ֖יתH1004Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructthe veilלַפָּרֹ֑כֶתH6532Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singularinאֶל־H413Prepositionfrontפְּנֵ֨יH6440Noun - common plural constructof the mercy seatהַכַּפֹּ֜רֶתH3727Article | Noun - feminine singular-אֲשֶׁ֤רH834Pronoun - relativeonעַל־H5921Prepositionthe arkהָאָרֹן֙H727Article | Noun - common singularor elseוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlehe will dieיָמ֔וּתH4191Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularbecauseכִּ֚יH3588ConjunctionI appearאֵרָאֶ֖הH7200Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common singularin the cloudבֶּֽעָנָ֔ןH6051Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularaboveעַל־H5921Prepositionthe mercy seatהַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃H3727Article | 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 howבְּזֹ֛אתH2063Preposition-b | Pronoun - feminine singularAaronאַהֲרֹ֖ןH175Noun - proper - masculine singularis to enterיָבֹ֥אH935Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .אֶל־H413Prepositionthe Holy Placeהַקֹּ֑דֶשׁH6944Article | Noun - masculine singularwith a young bullבְּפַ֧רH6499Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular. . .בֶּן־H1121Noun - masculine singular construct. . .בָּקָ֛רH1241Noun - masculine singularfor a sin offeringלְחַטָּ֖אתH2403Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singularand a ramוְאַ֥יִלH352Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularfor a burnt offeringלְעֹלָֽה׃H5930Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 4

Original words

He is to wearיִלְבָּ֗שׁH3847Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularthe sacredקֹ֜דֶשׁH6944Noun - masculine singularlinenבַּ֨דH906Noun - masculine singular constructtunicכְּתֹֽנֶת־H3801Noun - feminine singular constructwith linenבַד֮H906Noun - masculine singularundergarmentsוּמִֽכְנְסֵי־H4370Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine dual construct-יִהְי֣וּH1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural-עַל־H5921Preposition-בְּשָׂרוֹ֒H1320Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularHe must tieיַחְגֹּ֔רH2296Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singulara linenבַּד֙H906Noun - masculine singularsashוּבְאַבְנֵ֥טH73Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructaround himבַּ֖דH906Noun - masculine singularand put on the linenיִצְנֹ֑ףH6801Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularturbanוּבְמִצְנֶ֥פֶתH4701Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructTheseהֵ֔םH1992Pronoun - third person masculine plural[are] holyקֹ֣דֶשׁH6944Noun - masculine singulargarmentsבִּגְדֵי־H899Noun - masculine plural constructand he must batheוְרָחַ֥ץH7364Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularhimselfבְּשָׂר֖וֹH1320Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularwith waterבַּמַּ֛יִםH4325Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerbefore he wears themוּלְבֵשָֽׁם׃H3847Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Verse 5

Original words

Andוּמֵאֵ֗תH854Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Direct object markerhe shall takeיִקַּ֛חH3947Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularfrom the congregationעֲדַת֙H5712Noun - feminine singular construct. . .בְּנֵ֣יH1121Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singulartwoשְׁנֵֽי־H8147Number - masculine dual constructmale goatsשְׂעִירֵ֥יH8163Noun - masculine plural construct. . .עִזִּ֖יםH5795Noun - feminine pluralfor a sin offeringלְחַטָּ֑אתH2403Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singularand oneאֶחָ֖דH259Number - masculine singularramוְאַ֥יִלH352Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularfor a burnt offeringלְעֹלָֽה׃H5930Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 6

Original words

Aaronאַהֲרֹ֛ןH175Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markeris to presentוְהִקְרִ֧יבH7126Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularthe bullפַּ֥רH6499Noun - masculine singular constructfor his sin offeringהַחַטָּ֖אתH2403Article | Noun - feminine singular-אֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeand make atonementוְכִפֶּ֥רH3722Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularforבַּעֲד֖וֹH1157Preposition | third person masculine singularhimselfוּבְעַ֥דH1157Conjunctive waw | Prepositionand his householdבֵּיתֽוֹ׃H1004Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 7

Original words

Then he shall takeוְלָקַ֖חH3947Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe twoשְׁנֵ֣יH8147Number - masculine dual constructgoatsהַשְּׂעִירִ֑םH8163Article | Noun - masculine pluraland presentוְהֶעֱמִ֤ידH5975Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularthemאֹתָם֙H853Direct object marker | third person masculine pluralbeforeלִפְנֵ֣יH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural constructthe LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularat the entranceפֶּ֖תַחH6607Noun - masculine singular constructto the Tentאֹ֥הֶלH168Noun - masculine singular constructof Meetingמוֹעֵֽד׃H4150Noun - masculine singular
Verse 8

Original words

After Aaronאַהֲרֹ֛ןH175Noun - proper - masculine singularcastsוְנָתַ֧ןH5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularlotsגּוֹרָל֑וֹתH1486Noun - masculine pluralforעַל־H5921Prepositionthe twoשְׁנֵ֥יH8147Number - masculine dual constructgoatsהַשְּׂעִירִ֖םH8163Article | Noun - masculine pluraloneאֶחָד֙H259Number - masculine singular-גּוֹרָ֤לH1486Noun - masculine singularfor the LORDלַיהוָ֔הH3068Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .וְגוֹרָ֥לH1486Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularand the otherאֶחָ֖דH259Number - masculine singularfor the scapegoatלַעֲזָאזֵֽל׃H5799Preposition-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

heאַהֲרֹן֙H175Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markershall presentוְהִקְרִ֤יבH7126Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularthe goatהַשָּׂעִ֔ירH8163Article | Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativechosenעָלָ֥הH5927Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular. . .עָלָ֛יוH5921Preposition | third person masculine singularby lotהַגּוֹרָ֖לH1486Article | Noun - masculine singularfor the LORDלַיהוָ֑הH3068Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularand sacrificeוְעָשָׂ֖הוּH6213Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singularit as a sin offeringחַטָּֽאת׃H2403Noun - feminine singular
Verse 10

Original words

But the goatוְהַשָּׂעִ֗ירH8163Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁר֩H834Pronoun - relativechosenעָלָ֨הH5927Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularbyעָלָ֤יוH5921Preposition | third person masculine singularlotהַגּוֹרָל֙H1486Article | Noun - masculine singularas the scapegoatלַעֲזָאזֵ֔לH5799Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularshall be presentedיָֽעֳמַד־H5975Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularaliveחַ֛יH2416Adjective - masculine singularbeforeלִפְנֵ֥יH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural constructthe LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularto make atonementלְכַפֵּ֣רH3722Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct. . .עָלָ֑יוH5921Preposition | third person masculine singularby sendingלְשַׁלַּ֥חH7971Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct-אֹת֛וֹH853Direct object marker | third person masculine singularit into the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּֽרָה׃H4057Article | Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singularas the scapegoatלַעֲזָאזֵ֖לH5799Preposition-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.