The Day of Atonement

16 The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of two of Aaron’s sons when they approached the presence(A) of[a] the Lord and died.(B) The Lord said to Moses, “Tell your brother Aaron that he may not come whenever he wants into the holy place(C) behind the curtain(D) in front of the mercy seat(E) on the ark or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud(F) above the mercy seat.(G)

“Aaron is to enter the most holy place(H) in this way: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.(I) He is to wear a holy linen tunic, and linen undergarments are to be on his body. He is to tie a linen sash around him and wrap his head with a linen turban.(J) These are holy garments; he must bathe his body with water before he wears them. He is to take from the Israelite community two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering.(K)

“Aaron will present the bull for his sin offering and make atonement for himself and his household. Next he will take the two goats and place them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. After Aaron casts lots(L) for the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other for an uninhabitable place,[b][c](M) he is to present the goat chosen by lot for the Lord and sacrifice it as a sin offering.(N) 10 But the goat chosen by lot for an uninhabitable place is to be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement with it by sending it into the wilderness(O) for an uninhabitable place.

11 “When Aaron presents the bull for his sin offering and makes atonement for himself and his household, he will slaughter the bull for his sin offering. 12 Then he is to take a firepan full of blazing coals from the altar before the Lord and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense,(P) and bring them inside the curtain.(Q) 13 He is to put the incense on the fire before the Lord, so that the cloud(R) of incense covers the mercy seat that is over the testimony,(S) or else he will die.(T) 14 He is to take some of the bull’s blood(U) and sprinkle it with his finger against the east side of the mercy seat; then he will sprinkle some of the blood with his finger before the mercy seat seven times.(V)

15 “When he slaughters the male goat for the people’s sin offering and brings its blood inside the curtain, he will do the same with its blood as he did with the bull’s blood: He is to sprinkle it against the mercy seat and in front of it. 16 He will make atonement for the most holy place in this way for all their sins because of the Israelites’ impurities and rebellious acts.(W) He will do the same for the tent of meeting that remains among them, because it is surrounded by their impurities. 17 No one may be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters 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.(X) 18 Then he will 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 the horns on all sides of the altar. 19 He is to sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse and set it apart(Y) from the Israelites’ impurities.(Z)

20 “When he has finished making atonement for the most holy place, the tent of meeting, and the altar, he is to present the live male goat. 21 Aaron will lay both his hands on the head of the live goat and confess(AA) over it all the Israelites’ iniquities(AB) and rebellious acts—all their sins.(AC) He is to put them on the goat’s head and send it away into the wilderness(AD) by the man appointed for the task.[d] 22 The goat will carry all their iniquities into a desolate land,(AE) and the man will release it there.

23 “Then Aaron is to enter the tent of meeting, take off the linen garments(AF) he wore when he entered the most holy place, and leave them there. 24 He will bathe his body with water in a holy place(AG) and put on his clothes.(AH) Then he must go out and sacrifice his burnt offering and the people’s burnt offering; he will make atonement for himself and for the people. 25 He is to burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar. 26 The man who released the goat for an uninhabitable place is to wash his clothes and bathe his body with water; afterward he may reenter the camp. 27 The bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought into the most holy place to make atonement, must be brought outside the camp(AI) and their hide,(AJ) flesh, and waste burned.(AK) 28 The one who burns them is to wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may reenter the camp.

29 “This is to be a permanent statute(AL) for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month you are to practice self-denial(AM) and do no work,(AN) both the native and the alien(AO) who resides among you. 30 Atonement will be made for you on this day to cleanse you,(AP) and you will be clean from all your sins before the Lord. 31 It is a Sabbath(AQ) of complete rest for you,(AR) and you must practice self-denial; it is a permanent statute. 32 The priest who is anointed and ordained[e](AS) to serve as high priest(AT) in place of his father will make atonement. He will put on the linen garments, the holy garments, 33 and make atonement for the most holy place. He will make atonement for the tent of meeting and the altar and will make atonement for the priests and all the people of the assembly. 34 This is to be a permanent statute for you, to make atonement for the Israelites once a year(AU) because of all their sins.” And all this was done as the Lord commanded Moses.

Footnotes

  1. 16:1 LXX, Tg, Syr, Vg read they brought strange fire before; Nm 3:4
  2. 16:8 Lit for Azazel, also in vv. 10 (2x),26
  3. 16:8 Traditionally “for the scapegoat”; perhaps a term that means “for the goat that departs,” or “for removal,” or “for a rough, difficult place,” or “for a goat-demon”; Hb obscure, also in vv. 10,26
  4. 16:21 Lit wilderness in the hand of a ready man
  5. 16:32 Lit and will fill his hand

16 Y HABLO Jehová á Moisés, después que murieron los dos hijos de Aarón, cuando se llegaron delante de Jehová, y murieron;

Y Jehová dijo á Moisés: Di á Aarón tu hermano, que no en todo tiempo entre en el santuario del velo adentro, delante de la cubierta que está sobre el arca, para que no muera: porque yo apareceré en la nube sobre la cubierta.

Con esto entrará Aarón en el santuario: con un becerro por expiación, y un carnero en holocausto.

La túnica santa de lino se vestirá, y sobre su carne tendrá pañetes de lino, y ceñiráse el cinto de lino; y con la mitra de lino se cubrirá: son las santas vestiduras: con ellas, después de lavar su carne con agua, se ha de vestir.

Y de la congregación de los hijos de Israel tomará dos machos de cabrío para expiación, y un carnero para holocausto.

Y hará allegar Aarón el becerro de la expiación, que es suyo, y hará la reconciliación por sí y por su casa.

Después tomará los dos machos de cabrío, y los presentará delante de Jehová á la puerta del tabernáculo del testimonio.

Y echará suertes Aarón sobre los dos machos de cabrío; la una suerte por Jehová, y la otra suerte por Azazel.

Y hará allegar Aarón el macho cabrío sobre el cual cayere la suerte por Jehová, y ofrecerálo en expiación.

10 Mas el macho cabrío, sobre el cual cayere la suerte por Azazel, lo presentará vivo delante de Jehová, para hacer la reconciliación sobre él, para enviarlo á Azazel al desierto.

11 Y hará llegar Aarón el becerro que era suyo para expiación, y hará la reconciliación por sí y por su casa, y degollará en expiación el becerro que es suyo.

12 Después tomará el incensario lleno de brasas de fuego, del altar de delante de Jehová, y sus puños llenos del perfume aromático molido, y meterálo del velo adentro:

13 Y pondrá el perfume sobre el fuego delante de Jehová, y la nube del perfume cubrirá la cubierta que está sobre el testimonio, y no morirá.

14 Tomará luego de la sangre del becerro, y rociará con su dedo hacia la cubierta al lado oriental: hacia la cubierta esparcirá siete veces de aquella sangre con su dedo.

15 Después degollará en expiación el macho cabrío, que era del pueblo, y meterá la sangre de él del velo adentro; y hará de su sangre como hizo de la sangre del becerro, y esparcirá sobre la cubierta y delante de la cubierta:

16 Y limpiará el santuario, de las inmundicias de los hijos de Israel, y de sus rebeliones, y de todos sus pecados: de la misma manera hará también al tabernáculo del testimonio, el cual reside entre ellos en medio de sus inmundicias.

17 Y ningún hombre estará en el tabernáculo del testimonio cuando él entrare á hacer la reconciliación en el santuario, hasta que él salga, y haya hecho la reconciliación por sí, y por su casa, y por toda la congregación de Israel.

18 Y saldrá al altar que está delante de Jehová, y lo expiará; y tomará de la sangre del becerro, y de la sangre del macho cabrío, y pondrá sobre los cuernos del altar alrededor.

19 Y esparcirá sobre él de la sangre con su dedo siete veces, y lo limpiará, y lo santificará de las inmundicias de los hijos de Israel.

20 Y cuando hubiere acabado de expiar el santuario, y el tabernáculo del testimonio, y el altar, hará llegar el macho cabrío vivo:

21 Y pondrá Aarón ambas manos suyas sobre la cabeza del macho cabrío vivo, y confesará sobre él todas las iniquidades de los hijos de Israel, y todas sus rebeliones, y todos sus pecados, poniéndolos así sobre la cabeza del macho cabrío, y lo enviará al desierto por mano de un hombre destinado para esto.

22 Y aquel macho cabrío llevará sobre sí todas las iniquidades de ellos á tierra inhabitada: y dejará ir el macho cabrío por el desierto.

23 Después vendrá Aarón al tabernáculo del testimonio, y se desnudará las vestimentas de lino, que había vestido para entrar en el santuario, y pondrálas allí.

24 Lavará luego su carne con agua en el lugar del santuario, y después de ponerse sus vestidos saldrá, y hará su holocausto, y el holocausto del pueblo, y hará la reconciliación por sí y por el pueblo.

25 Y quemará el sebo de la expiación sobre el altar.

26 Y el que hubiere llevado el macho cabrío á Azazel, lavará sus vestidos, lavará también con agua su carne, y después entrará en el real.

27 Y sacará fuera del real el becerro del pecado, y el macho cabrío de la culpa, la sangre de los cuales fué metida para hacer la expiación en el santuario; y quemarán en el fuego sus pellejos, y sus carnes, y su estiércol.

28 Y el que los quemare, lavará sus vestidos, lavará también su carne con agua, y después entrará en el real.

29 Y esto tendréis por estatuto perpetuo: En el mes séptimo, á los diez del mes, afligiréis vuestras almas, y ninguna obra haréis, ni el natural ni el extranjero que peregrina entre vosotros:

30 Porque en este día se os reconciliará para limpiaros; y seréis limpios de todos vuestros pecados delante de Jehová.

31 Sábado de reposo es para vosotros, y afligiréis vuestras almas, por estatuto perpetuo.

32 Y hará la reconciliación el sacerdote que fuere ungido, y cuya mano hubiere sido llena para ser sacerdote en lugar de su padre; y se vestirá las vestimentas de lino, las vestiduras sagradas:

33 Y expiará el santuario santo, y el tabernáculo del testimonio; expiará también el altar, y á los sacerdotes, y á todo el pueblo de la congregación.

34 Y esto tendréis por estatuto perpetuo, para expiar á los hijos de Israel de todos sus pecados una vez en el año. Y Moisés lo hizo como Jehová le mandó.

The Day of Atonement(A)

16 The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the Lord.(B) The Lord said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses(C) into the Most Holy Place(D) behind the curtain(E) in front of the atonement cover(F) on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear(G) in the cloud(H) over the atonement cover.

“This is how Aaron is to enter the Most Holy Place:(I) He must first bring a young bull(J) for a sin offering[a] and a ram for a burnt offering.(K) He is to put on the sacred linen tunic,(L) with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban.(M) These are sacred garments;(N) so he must bathe himself with water(O) before he puts them on.(P) From the Israelite community(Q) he is to take two male goats(R) for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.

“Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household.(S) Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He is to cast lots(T) for the two goats—one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat.[b](U) Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering. 10 But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord to be used for making atonement(V) by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat.

11 “Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household,(W) and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering. 12 He is to take a censer full of burning coals(X) from the altar before the Lord and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense(Y) and take them behind the curtain. 13 He is to put the incense on the fire before the Lord, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover(Z) above the tablets of the covenant law, so that he will not die.(AA) 14 He is to take some of the bull’s blood(AB) and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover.(AC)

15 “He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people(AD) and take its blood behind the curtain(AE) and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood: He shall sprinkle(AF) it on the atonement cover and in front of it. 16 In this way he will make atonement(AG) for the Most Holy Place(AH) because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the tent of meeting,(AI) which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 17 No one is to be in the tent of meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he comes out, having made atonement for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel.

18 “Then he shall come out to the altar(AJ) that is before the Lord and make atonement for it. He shall take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar.(AK) 19 He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and to consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.(AL)

20 “When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat.(AM) 21 He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat(AN) and confess(AO) over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. 22 The goat will carry on itself all their sins(AP) to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.

23 “Then Aaron is to go into the tent of meeting and take off the linen garments(AQ) he put on before he entered the Most Holy Place, and he is to leave them there.(AR) 24 He shall bathe himself with water in the sanctuary area(AS) and put on his regular garments.(AT) Then he shall come out and sacrifice the burnt offering for himself and the burnt offering for the people,(AU) to make atonement for himself and for the people.(AV) 25 He shall also burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar.

26 “The man who releases the goat as a scapegoat(AW) must wash his clothes(AX) and bathe himself with water;(AY) afterward he may come into the camp. 27 The bull and the goat for the sin offerings, whose blood was brought into the Most Holy Place to make atonement, must be taken outside the camp;(AZ) their hides, flesh and intestines are to be burned up. 28 The man who burns them must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may come into the camp.(BA)

29 “This is to be a lasting ordinance(BB) for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month(BC) you must deny yourselves[c](BD) and not do any work(BE)—whether native-born(BF) or a foreigner residing among you— 30 because on this day atonement will be made(BG) for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins.(BH) 31 It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves;(BI) it is a lasting ordinance.(BJ) 32 The priest who is anointed and ordained(BK) to succeed his father as high priest is to make atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen garments(BL) 33 and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the tent of meeting and the altar, and for the priests and all the members of the community.(BM)

34 “This is to be a lasting ordinance(BN) for you: Atonement is to be made once a year(BO) for all the sins of the Israelites.”

And it was done, as the Lord commanded Moses.

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 16:3 Or purification offering; here and throughout this chapter
  2. Leviticus 16:8 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain; also in verses 10 and 26.
  3. Leviticus 16:29 Or must fast; also in verse 31

The Day of Atonement

16 Now the Lord spoke to Moses after (A)the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered profane fire before the Lord, and died; and the Lord said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother (B)not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for (C)I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.

[a]“Thus Aaron shall (D)come into the Holy Place: (E)with the blood of a young bull as a sin offering, and of a ram as a burnt offering. He shall put the (F)holy linen tunic and the linen trousers on his body; he shall be girded with a linen sash, and with the linen turban he shall be attired. These are holy garments. Therefore (G)he shall wash his body in water, and put them on. And he shall take from (H)the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats as a sin offering, and one ram as a burnt offering.

“Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering, which is for himself, and (I)make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering. 10 But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make (J)atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness.

11 “And Aaron shall bring the bull of the sin offering, which is for (K)himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull as the sin offering which is for himself. 12 Then he shall take (L)a censer full of burning coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, with his hands full of (M)sweet incense beaten fine, and bring it inside the veil. 13 (N)And he shall put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of incense may cover the (O)mercy seat that is on the Testimony, lest he (P)die. 14 (Q)He shall take some of the blood of the bull and (R)sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.

15 (S)“Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood (T)inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. 16 So he shall (U)make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins; and so he shall do for the tabernacle of meeting which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 17 There shall be (V)no man in the tabernacle of meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, that he may make atonement for himself, for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel. 18 And he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord, and make atonement for (W)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 Then he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, cleanse it, and (X)consecrate[b] it from the [c]uncleanness of the children of Israel.

20 “And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place, the tabernacle of meeting, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat. 21 Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, (Y)confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, (Z)putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. 22 The goat [d]shall (AA)bear on itself all their iniquities to an [e]uninhabited land; and he shall (AB)release the goat in the wilderness.

23 “Then Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of meeting, (AC)shall take off the linen garments which he put on when he went into the Holy Place, and shall leave them there. 24 And he shall wash his body with water in a holy place, put on his garments, come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, and make [f]atonement for himself and for the people. 25 (AD)The fat of the sin offering he shall burn on the altar. 26 And he who released the goat as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes (AE)and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp. 27 (AF)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. And they shall burn in the fire their skins, their flesh, and their offal. 28 Then he who burns them shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp.

29 This shall be a statute forever for you: (AG)In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall [g]afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who [h]dwells among you. 30 For on that day the priest shall make [i]atonement for you, to (AH)cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord. 31 (AI)It is a sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever. 32 (AJ)And the priest, who is anointed and (AK)consecrated to minister as priest in his father’s place, shall make atonement, and put on the linen clothes, the holy garments; 33 then he shall make [j]atonement for [k]the Holy Sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tabernacle of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. 34 (AL)This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel, for all their sins, (AM)once a year.” And he did as the Lord commanded Moses.

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 16:3 Lit. With this
  2. Leviticus 16:19 set it apart
  3. Leviticus 16:19 impurity
  4. Leviticus 16:22 shall carry
  5. Leviticus 16:22 solitary land
  6. Leviticus 16:24 Lit. covering
  7. Leviticus 16:29 humble yourselves
  8. Leviticus 16:29 As a resident alien
  9. Leviticus 16:30 Lit. covering
  10. Leviticus 16:33 Lit. covering
  11. Leviticus 16:33 The Most Holy Place