What Is Yom Kippur in the Bible — In Biblical Context

The Biblical Context

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, was the most solemn and significant day in Israel's religious calendar — the one day each year when the high priest entered the Most Holy Place to make atonement for the sins of the entire nation. It is described in detail in Leviticus 16 and observed on the tenth day of the seventh month (Tishri), falling in September or October of the modern calendar. The Hebrew name means 'Day of Atonement,' and it was a day of fasting, rest, and deep spiritual reflection. The rituals of Yom Kippur were elaborate and deeply symbolic. The high priest had to undergo extensive purification before he could perform the day's duties. He bathed, put on special linen garments rather than his usual glorious robes, and offered a bull as a sin offering for himself and his household. Then he took two goats from the congregation of Israel. He cast lots over them — one lot for the LORD and the other for Azazel (the scapegoat). The goat chosen for the LORD was sacrificed as a sin offering, and its blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat in the Most Holy Place, on the altar of incense, and on the altar of burnt offering. This was the only time anyone entered the Most Holy Place, and the high priest went in with smoking incense to create a cloud that shielded him from the direct presence of God's glory. The goat for Azazel had a different fate. The high priest laid his hands on its head and confessed over it all the iniquities, transgressions, and sins of the children of Israel, symbolically transferring the nation's guilt to the animal. Then a designated man led the goat into the wilderness and released it, carrying the sins of the people away into a solitary land. The Day of Atonement provided a remarkable picture of the twin aspects of salvation: propitiation and expiation. The sacrificed goat satisfied God's justice by paying the penalty for sin — this is propitiation. The scapegoat carried the sins away, removing them from the people — this is expiation. Both were necessary for full atonement, and both point directly to Jesus Christ. The author of Hebrews devotes significant attention to showing how Christ fulfills every aspect of Yom Kippur. He is the true High Priest who entered not an earthly tabernacle but heaven itself. He offered not the blood of animals but His own blood, which is infinitely more efficacious. He entered once for all, not year after year, because His sacrifice was final and complete. 'For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.' The result is that believers now have 'boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.' The veil has been torn; the way is open; the Day of Atonement has become the eternal reality of the cross. For the Christian, every day is a day of atonement, for the sacrifice has been made, the blood has been shed, and the sins have been carried away.

Where It Sits in Scripture

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