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Chapter 16[a]

The Day of Atonement. The Lord spoke to Moses after the two sons of Aaron died, after they came before the Lord. The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother that he should not come into the sanctuary, inside of the veil, before the seat of atonement that is on the Ark whenever he wants, lest he die, for I will appear in the cloud over the seat of atonement. Aaron is to come into the sanctuary with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. He shall put on the holy linen tunic and the linen undergarments. He shall wrap the linen sash around himself and put on the linen turban. He shall put these holy garments on after he has washed his body with water. He shall take two kid goats as a sin offering and one ram as a burnt offering from the assembly of the children of Israel.

“Aaron shall offer the young bull as a sin offering for himself, making atonement for himself and his household. He shall then take the two goats and bring them before the Lord, at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, designating one goat for the Lord and the other one for the scapegoat.[b] Aaron shall take the goat upon which the Lord’s lot fell and shall offer it as a sin offering. 10 But the goat upon which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon it, and to send it out into the wilderness as the scapegoat.

11 “Aaron shall bring the young bull of the sin offering that is for himself and make atonement for himself and for his household. He shall slay the young bull as a sin offering for himself.[c] 12 Then he shall take a censer full of burning coals from the fire on the altar before the Lord. His hands are to be full of finely ground sweet incense. He shall bring these inside the veil. 13 He shall put the incense on the fire before the Lord, so that the cloud of incense might cover the seat of atonement that is on the Testimony, lest he die. 14 He shall take some of the blood from the young bull, and shall sprinkle it with his finger upon the east part of the seat of atonement. Seven times he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger in front of the seat of atonement.

15 “He shall then slay the goat of the sin offering for the people and he shall bring its blood inside the veil. He shall do the same thing with this blood as he did with the blood of the young bull. He shall sprinkle it on the seat of atonement and in front of the seat of atonement. 16 Thus he shall make atonement for the sanctuary, for the uncleanness of the children of Israel, for their transgressions, and for all their sins. This is what he shall do for the tent of meeting that resides in the midst of their uncleanness. 17 No one is to be inside of the tent of meeting when he enters to make atonement in the sanctuary, until the time that he exits, so that he can make atonement for himself and for his household and for all of the assembly of Israel. 18 He shall go to the altar that is before the Lord and he shall make atonement for it. He shall take some of the blood of the young bull and some of the blood of the goat and he shall put it on the horns around the altar. 19 He shall sprinkle the blood upon it with his finger seven times, cleansing it and purifying it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.

20 The Scapegoat.“When he has finished making an atonement for the sanctuary, and for the tent of meeting, and for the altar, he shall bring out the live goat. 21 Aaron shall lay both of his hands upon the head of the live goat and confess all of the iniquities of the children of Israel over it, and all of their transgressions, and all of their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat. The goat shall then be sent away, led by the hand of a man appointed to lead it into the wilderness.[d] 22 The goat shall bear all of their iniquities into an isolated place. The man shall release it into the wilderness.

23 “Aaron shall then enter the tent of meeting and take off the linen garments that he put on when he entered the sanctuary, and he shall leave them there. 24 He shall wash himself in a holy place and put on his normal clothes. He shall then come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people to make atonement for himself and for the people. 25 He shall burn the fat of the sin offering upon the altar.

26 “The man who led the scapegoat away shall wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and then he can enter the camp. 27 The young bull of the sin offering and the goat of the sin offering, whose blood was brought into the sanctuary to make atonement, must be carried outside of the camp and burned with fire. This includes its hide, its meat, and its dung. 28 The man who burned them shall wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and then he can come into the camp.

29 The Fast.“This will be a statute for you forever. On the tenth day of the seventh month, you must humble your spirits and do no work, whether it is a countryman or an alien dwelling among you[e] 30 for that is the day that the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you of your sins before the Lord, so that you may be clean. 31 It will be a Sabbath rest, and you will humble your spirits. This is a statute forever. 32 The priest who is anointed and consecrated to succeed his father as priest shall make atonement. He shall wear the sacred linen garments. 33 He shall make atonement for the sanctuary, for the tent of meeting, and for the altar. He shall make atonement for the priest and all the assembly of the people. 34 This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel for all of their sins once a year.” Moses did as the Lord had commanded him.

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 16:1 Once a year, the high priest entered alone into the innermost part of the sanctuary and with the blood sprinkled the propitiatory, that is, the costly covering that contained the Ark of the Covenant and that symbolized the seat of God. The purpose of this rite was to expiate the uncleannesses with which the children of Israel had stained God’s dwelling and to renew the personal relationship which the covenant at Sinai had established between God and his people.


    The ceremony of atonement also continued a primitive Semitic practice: a goat was taken out into the wilderness, that is, into infertile and wretched land, and was let go there, not as an offering to a demon, Azazel (the word appears in the Hebrew text) but in order to get rid of the sins of which the animal was the symbolic bearer.
    The Letter to the Hebrews recalls this liturgy in order to assert that Christ fulfilled in a definitive way what was done on the Day of Atonement; that is, he took upon himself the sins of the world and made expiation for them by means of his own blood (Heb 9:6-14).

  2. Leviticus 16:8 The Hebrew text has “azazel” for scapegoat. This was the name of a demon which the ancient Hebrews and the Canaanites believed dwelled in the barren wilderness, that is, in a place where God did not exercise his fructifying activity.
  3. Leviticus 16:11 In order for Aaron to be an acceptable minister for the people in the sanctuary, he himself had to be ritually cleansed (see Heb 5:1-3).
  4. Leviticus 16:21 Aaron transferred the sins of the people by laying both hands on the sacrificial animal, thereby winning atonement for their transgressions.
  5. Leviticus 16:29 This is the only place in the Old Testament where a penance is required before offering sacrifice.

Legea pentru Sărbătoarea de peste an a Ispăşirii

16 Domnul a vorbit lui Moise după moartea(A) celor doi fii ai lui Aaron, morţi când s-au înfăţişat înaintea Domnului. Domnul a zis lui Moise: „Vorbeşte fratelui tău Aaron şi spune-i să nu intre(B) în tot timpul în Sfântul Locaş, dincolo de perdeaua dinăuntru, înaintea capacului ispăşirii, care este pe chivot, ca să nu moară, căci deasupra capacului ispăşirii Mă voi arăta(C) în nor. Iată cum să intre(D) Aaron în Sfântul Locaş. Să ia un viţel(E) pentru jertfa de ispăşire şi un berbec pentru arderea-de-tot. Să se îmbrace cu tunica(F) sfinţită de in şi să-şi pună pe trup izmenele de in; să se încingă cu brâul de in şi să-şi acopere capul cu mitra de in; acestea sunt veşmintele sfinţite, cu care se va îmbrăca el după ce îşi va spăla trupul(G) în apă. Să ia de la(H) adunarea copiilor lui Israel doi ţapi pentru jertfa de ispăşire şi un berbec pentru arderea-de-tot. Aaron să-şi aducă viţelul lui pentru jertfa de ispăşire şi să facă ispăşire(I) pentru el şi pentru casa lui. Să ia cei doi ţapi şi să-i pună înaintea Domnului, la uşa cortului întâlnirii. Aaron să arunce sorţi pentru cei doi ţapi: un sorţ pentru Domnul şi un sorţ pentru Azazel. Aaron să ia ţapul care a ieşit la sorţi pentru Domnul şi să-l aducă jertfă de ispăşire. 10 Iar ţapul care a ieşit la sorţi pentru Azazel să fie pus viu înaintea Domnului, ca să slujească pentru facerea ispăşirii(J), şi să i se dea drumul în pustie pentru Azazel. 11 Aaron să-şi aducă viţelul lui pentru jertfa de ispăşire şi să facă ispăşire pentru el şi pentru casa lui. Să junghie viţelul pentru jertfa lui de ispăşire. 12 Să ia o cădelniţă(K) plină cu cărbuni aprinşi de pe altarul dinaintea Domnului şi doi pumni de tămâie(L) mirositoare, pisată mărunt; să ducă aceste lucruri dincolo de perdeaua dinăuntru; 13 să pună tămâia(M) pe foc înaintea Domnului, pentru ca norul de fum de tămâie să acopere capacul ispăşirii(N) de pe chivotul mărturiei şi astfel nu va muri. 14 Să ia(O) din sângele viţelului şi să stropească(P) cu degetul pe partea dinainte a capacului ispăşirii spre răsărit; să stropească din sânge de şapte ori cu degetul lui înaintea capacului ispăşirii. 15 Să junghie(Q) ţapul adus ca jertfă de ispăşire pentru popor şi să-i ducă sângele dincolo(R) de perdeaua dinăuntru. Cu sângele acesta să facă întocmai cum a făcut cu sângele viţelului, să stropească cu el spre capacul ispăşirii şi înaintea capacului ispăşirii. 16 Astfel, să facă(S) ispăşire pentru Sfântul Locaş, pentru necurăţiile copiilor lui Israel şi pentru toate călcările de lege prin care au păcătuit ei. Să facă la fel pentru cortul întâlnirii, care este cu ei în mijlocul necurăţiilor lor. 17 (T) nu fie nimeni în cortul întâlnirii când va intra Aaron să facă ispăşirea în Sfântul Locaş, până va ieşi din el. Să facă ispăşire pentru el şi pentru casa lui, şi pentru toată adunarea lui Israel. 18 După ce va ieşi, să se ducă la altarul care este înaintea Domnului şi să facă(U) ispăşire pentru altar; să ia din sângele viţelului şi ţapului şi să pună pe coarnele altarului de jur împrejur. 19 Să stropească pe altar cu degetul lui de şapte ori din sânge şi astfel să-l cureţe(V) şi să-l sfinţească de necurăţiile copiilor lui Israel.

Ţapul pentru Azazel

20 Când va isprăvi de făcut ispăşirea(W) pentru Sfântul Locaş, pentru cortul întâlnirii şi pentru altar, să aducă ţapul cel viu. 21 Aaron să-şi pună amândouă mâinile pe capul ţapului celui viu şi să mărturisească peste el toate fărădelegile copiilor lui Israel şi toate călcările lor de lege cu care au păcătuit ei; să le pună(X) pe capul ţapului, apoi să-l izgonească în pustie printr-un om care va avea însărcinarea aceasta. 22 Ţapul acela va duce(Y) asupra lui toate fărădelegile lor într-un pământ pustiit; în pustie să-i dea drumul. 23 Aaron să intre în cortul întâlnirii; să-şi lepede(Z) veşmintele de in, pe care le îmbrăcase la intrarea în Sfântul Locaş, şi să le pună acolo. 24 Să-şi spele trupul cu apă într-un loc sfânt şi să-şi ia din nou veşmintele. Apoi să iasă afară, să-şi aducă arderea-de-tot(AA) a lui şi arderea-de-tot a poporului şi să facă ispăşire pentru el şi pentru popor. 25 Iar grăsimea(AB) jertfei de ispăşire s-o ardă pe altar. 26 Cel ce va izgoni ţapul pentru Azazel să-şi spele hainele şi să-şi scalde(AC) trupul în apă, după aceea să intre iarăşi în tabără. 27 Să scoată afară din tabără viţelul(AD) ispăşitor şi ţapul ispăşitor, al căror sânge a fost dus în Sfântul Locaş pentru facerea ispăşirii, şi să le ardă în foc pieile, carnea şi balega. 28 Cel ce le va arde să-şi spele hainele şi să-şi scalde trupul în apă, după aceea să intre iarăşi în tabără.

Sărbătoarea Ispăşirii

29 Aceasta să vă fie o lege veşnică: în(AE) luna a şaptea, în a zecea zi a lunii, să vă smeriţi sufletele, să nu faceţi nicio lucrare, nici băştinaşul, nici străinul care locuieşte în mijlocul vostru. 30 Căci în ziua aceasta se va face ispăşire pentru voi, ca să vă curăţiţi: veţi fi curăţiţi(AF) de toate păcatele voastre înaintea Domnului. 31 Aceasta să fie pentru voi o zi de Sabat(AG), o zi de odihnă, în care să vă smeriţi sufletele. Aceasta să fie o lege veşnică. 32 Ispăşirea(AH) să fie făcută de preotul care a primit ungerea şi care a fost închinat(AI) în slujba Domnului, ca să urmeze tatălui său în slujba preoţiei; să se(AJ) îmbrace cu veşmintele de in, cu veşmintele sfinţite. 33 Să facă(AK) ispăşire pentru Locul Preasfânt, să facă ispăşire pentru cortul întâlnirii şi pentru altar şi să facă ispăşire pentru preoţi şi pentru tot poporul adunării. 34 Aceasta(AL) să fie pentru voi o lege veşnică: o dată(AM) pe an, să se facă ispăşire pentru copiii lui Israel, pentru păcatele lor.” Aaron a făcut întocmai cum poruncise lui Moise Domnul.

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