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Leviticus 16 Bible study: Once in the year

The two goats of Leviticus 16 were taken together "for a sin offering" (16:5). One goat's blood went within the veil onto the mercy seat (16:15); the other carried "all their iniquities" away into the wilderness (16:22). Hebrews describes this day: "into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood" (Hebrews 9:7).

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“for on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you. You shall be clean from all your sins before the LORD.”
Leviticus 16:30 · World English Bible

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“In Leviticus 16:5, Aaron takes the two male goats together for a sin offering.”

Is that in Leviticus 16, or not? Make your call.

What's really going on

Not at just any time

In the text

The chapter opens by looking back: "The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they came near before the LORD, and died" (16:1). Nadab and Abihu had "offered strange fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them" (10:1). Now the LORD tells Moses when and how Aaron may come near: "Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Most Holy Place within the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark; lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat" (16:2). The rest of the chapter gives the how, "with a young bull for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering" (16:3), and the when, "once in the year" (16:34).

Where it leads to Jesus

Within the veil

In the text

Leviticus 16:2leads toHebrews 6:19-20

Aaron may not come "at just any time into the Most Holy Place within the veil" (16:2). Hebrews describes this day: "into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood" (Hebrews 9:7). And it speaks of the same place for Jesus: a hope "entering into that which is within the veil" (Hebrews 6:19), "where as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek" (Hebrews 6:20).

Honest questions

Questions people ask about Leviticus 16

That was a taste

The rest of Leviticus 16 is waiting in Favor

  • Two goats, two directions
  • The tent is cleansed too
  • Hebrews and this day
  • Two birds, two goats
  • The day the jubilee is sounded
  • 11 questions as you read
  • 12 more Hebrew words
  • A short check at the end
  • Your notes, saved as you go
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The Hebrew word behind it

כָּפַרkafarsay ka-FAR

Brown-Driver-Briggs: "cover over (fig.), pacify, make propitiation", and in the law, "atone for sin and persons by legal rites". Strong's: "to cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively, to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel". This chapter uses the verb 16 times, more than any other chapter of the Hebrew Bible. Atonement is made for people, "for himself and for his house" (16:6), and for places: "for the Holy Place" (16:16) and the altar (16:18). The chapter gives the purpose: "on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you" (16:30). Its last use sums the day up: "to make atonement for the children of Israel once in the year because of all their sins" (16:34). The day's name, "the day of atonement" (Leviticus 23:27), uses the related noun kippurim (H3725).

For your group

Leviticus 16 Bible study questions

  1. 1Aaron was to "confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel" (16:21). What helps you name your sins to God plainly, rather than in general?
  2. 2Aaron could not come "at just any time" (16:2). Hebrews says, "Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace" (Hebrews 4:16). How might that change the way you pray this week?
  3. 3The goat carried "all their iniquities" away "to a solitary land" (16:22). Is there something you've confessed that you still carry? What would it look like to leave it there?

Leading a group? In Favor, everyone reads Leviticus 16 during the week and answers these questions privately. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together, and you can print the week's sheet.

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Questions

What is Favor?

Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the Hebrew and Greek behind the words, the details most readers miss, and how each part of the Bible leads to Jesus. Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Hebrew and Greek words are checked against the original-language texts and public-domain lexicons. What we believe · Favor home