Focused Passage

Leviticus 16:11-19

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

11 When Aaron presents the bull for his sin offering and makes atonement for himself and his household, he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering.

12 Then he must take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense, and take them inside the veil.

13 He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the cloud of incense will cover the mercy seat above the Testimony, so that he will not die.

14 And he is to take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the east side of the mercy seat; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the mercy seat.

15 Aaron shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and bring its blood behind the veil, and with its blood he must do as he did with the bull’s blood: He is to sprinkle it against the mercy seat and in front of it.

16 So he shall make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the impurities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to do the same for the Tent of Meeting which abides among them in the midst of their impurities.

17 No one may be in the Tent of Meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he leaves, after he has made atonement for himself, his household, and the whole assembly of Israel.

18 Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement for it. He is to take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar.

19 He is to sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 11

Original words

When Aaron אַהֲרֹ֜ן H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker presents וְהִקְרִ֨יב H7126 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular the bull פַּ֤ר H6499 Noun - masculine singular construct for his sin offering הַֽחַטָּאת֙ H2403 Article | Noun - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative and makes atonement וְכִפֶּ֥ר H3722 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular for himself בַּֽעֲד֖וֹ H1157 Preposition | third person masculine singular . . . וּבְעַ֣ד H1157 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and his household בֵּית֑וֹ H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular he is to slaughter וְשָׁחַ֛ט H7819 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the bull פַּ֥ר H6499 Noun - masculine singular construct for his own sin offering הַֽחַטָּ֖את H2403 Article | Noun - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative
Verse 12

Original words

Then he must take וְלָקַ֣ח H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular a censer הַ֠מַּחְתָּה H4289 Article | Noun - feminine singular full מְלֹֽא־ H4393 Noun - masculine singular construct of burning אֵ֞שׁ H784 Noun - common singular coals גַּֽחֲלֵי־ H1513 Noun - masculine plural construct from מֵעַ֤ל H5921 Preposition-m the altar הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ H4196 Article | Noun - masculine singular before מִלִּפְנֵ֣י H6440 Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular and two handfuls וּמְלֹ֣א H4393 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct . . . חָפְנָ֔יו H2651 Noun - masculine dual construct | third person masculine singular of finely ground דַּקָּ֑ה H1851 Adjective - feminine singular fragrant סַמִּ֖ים H5561 Noun - masculine plural incense קְטֹ֥רֶת H7004 Noun - feminine singular construct and take them וְהֵבִ֖יא H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular inside מִבֵּ֥ית H1004 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct the veil לַפָּרֹֽכֶת׃ H6532 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 13

Original words

He is to put וְנָתַ֧ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶֽת־ H853 Direct object marker the incense הַקְּטֹ֛רֶת H7004 Article | Noun - feminine singular on עַל־ H5921 Preposition the fire הָאֵ֖שׁ H784 Article | Noun - common singular before לִפְנֵ֣י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the LORD יְהוָ֑ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular and the cloud עֲנַ֣ן H6051 Noun - masculine singular construct of incense הַקְּטֹ֗רֶת H7004 Article | Noun - feminine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker will cover וְכִסָּ֣ה׀ H3680 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular the mercy seat הַכַּפֹּ֛רֶת H3727 Article | Noun - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative above עַל־ H5921 Preposition the Testimony הָעֵד֖וּת H5715 Article | Noun - feminine singular so that he will not וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle die יָמֽוּת׃ H4191 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • The Testimony refers to the stone tablets in the ark of the covenant inscribed with the Ten Commandments.
Verse 14

Original words

And he is to take וְלָקַח֙ H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular some of the bull’s הַפָּ֔ר H6499 Article | Noun - masculine singular blood מִדַּ֣ם H1818 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct and sprinkle וְהִזָּ֧ה H5137 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular it with his finger בְאֶצְבָּע֛וֹ H676 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular on עַל־ H5921 Preposition the east קֵ֑דְמָה H6924 Adverb | third person feminine singular side פְּנֵ֥י H6440 Noun - common plural construct of the mercy seat הַכַּפֹּ֖רֶת H3727 Article | Noun - feminine singular then he shall sprinkle יַזֶּ֧ה H5137 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular some of מִן־ H4480 Preposition [it] הַדָּ֖ם H1818 Article | Noun - masculine singular with his finger בְּאֶצְבָּעֽוֹ׃ H676 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular seven שֶֽׁבַע־ H7651 Number - feminine singular times פְּעָמִ֛ים H6471 Noun - feminine plural before וְלִפְנֵ֣י H6440 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct the mercy seat הַכַּפֹּ֗רֶת H3727 Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 15

Original words

[Aaron] shall then slaughter וְשָׁחַ֞ט H7819 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the goat שְׂעִ֤יר H8163 Noun - masculine singular construct for the sin offering הַֽחַטָּאת֙ H2403 Article | Noun - feminine singular - אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative for the people לָעָ֔ם H5971 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular and bring וְהֵבִיא֙ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker its blood דָּמ֔וֹ H1818 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition behind מִבֵּ֖ית H1004 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct the veil לַפָּרֹ֑כֶת H6532 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular . . . אֶת־ H854 Preposition and with its blood דָּמ֗וֹ H1818 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular he must do וְעָשָׂ֣ה H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular as כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative he did עָשָׂה֙ H6213 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular with the bull’s הַפָּ֔ר H6499 Article | Noun - masculine singular blood לְדַ֣ם H1818 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct He is to sprinkle וְהִזָּ֥ה H5137 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular - אֹת֛וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular it against עַל־ H5921 Preposition the mercy seat הַכַּפֹּ֖רֶת H3727 Article | Noun - feminine singular and in front וְלִפְנֵ֥י H6440 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct of it הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃ H3727 Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 16

Original words

So he shall make atonement וְכִפֶּ֣ר H3722 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular for עַל־ H5921 Preposition the Most Holy Place הַקֹּ֗דֶשׁ H6944 Article | Noun - masculine singular because of the impurities מִטֻּמְאֹת֙ H2932 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct and rebellious acts וּמִפִּשְׁעֵיהֶ֖ם H6588 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural vvv בְּנֵ֣י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of the Israelites יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular in regard to all לְכָל־ H3605 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct their sins חַטֹּאתָ֑ם H2403 Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural He is to do יַעֲשֶׂה֙ H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the same וְכֵ֤ן H3651 Conjunctive waw | Adverb for the Tent לְאֹ֣הֶל H168 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct of Meeting מוֹעֵ֔ד H4150 Noun - masculine singular which abides הַשֹּׁכֵ֣ן H7931 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular among them אִתָּ֔ם H854 Preposition | third person masculine plural in the midst בְּת֖וֹךְ H8432 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of their impurities טֻמְאֹתָֽם׃ H2932 Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Verse 17

Original words

No וְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct . . . לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle one אָדָ֞ם H120 Noun - masculine singular may be יִהְיֶ֣ה׀ H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular in the Tent בְּאֹ֣הֶל H168 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of Meeting מוֹעֵ֗ד H4150 Noun - masculine singular from the time [Aaron] goes in בְּבֹא֛וֹ H935 Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular to make atonement לְכַפֵּ֥ר H3722 Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct in the Most Holy Place בַּקֹּ֖דֶשׁ H6944 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular until עַד־ H5704 Preposition he leaves צֵאת֑וֹ H3318 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular after he has made atonement וְכִפֶּ֤ר H3722 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular for himself בַּעֲדוֹ֙ H1157 Preposition | third person masculine singular . . . וּבְעַ֣ד H1157 Conjunctive waw | Preposition his household בֵּית֔וֹ H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular . . . וּבְעַ֖ד H1157 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and the whole כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct assembly קְהַ֥ל H6951 Noun - masculine singular construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 18

Original words

Then he shall go out וְיָצָ֗א H3318 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition the altar הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַ H4196 Article | Noun - masculine singular that אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative is before לִפְנֵֽי־ H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular and make atonement וְכִפֶּ֣ר H3722 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular for it עָלָ֑יו H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular He is to take וְלָקַ֞ח H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular some of the bull’s הַפָּר֙ H6499 Article | Noun - masculine singular blood מִדַּ֤ם H1818 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct and some of the goat’s הַשָּׂעִ֔יר H8163 Article | Noun - masculine singular blood וּמִדַּ֣ם H1818 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct and put it וְנָתַ֛ן H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular on עַל־ H5921 Preposition all סָבִֽיב׃ H5439 Adverb the horns קַרְנ֥וֹת H7161 Noun - feminine plural construct of the altar הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ H4196 Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 19

Original words

He is to sprinkle וְהִזָּ֨ה H5137 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular some of מִן־ H4480 Preposition the blood הַדָּ֛ם H1818 Article | Noun - masculine singular on it עָלָ֧יו H5921 Preposition | third person masculine singular with his finger בְּאֶצְבָּע֖וֹ H676 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular seven שֶׁ֣בַע H7651 Number - feminine singular times פְּעָמִ֑ים H6471 Noun - feminine plural to cleanse it וְטִהֲר֣וֹ H2891 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular and consecrate it וְקִדְּשׁ֔וֹ H6942 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular from the uncleanness מִטֻּמְאֹ֖ת H2932 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct vvv בְּנֵ֥י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of the Israelites יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ H3478 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.