Significance of Atonement in Leviticus and Hebrews
The concept of atonement, meaning "at-one-ment" or reconciliation, is central to both the Old Testament sacrificial system, particularly in Leviticus, and its reinterpretation in the New Testament book of Hebrews [5]. In Leviticus, atonement primarily concerns the purification of the tabernacle, priests, and the Israelite community from uncleanness and sin, enabling God's continued presence among His people [3, 4].
The most significant ritual for atonement in the Old Testament was the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, observed on the tenth day of the seventh month [1, 7]. This was a day of national humiliation and expiation for sins, the only fast commanded in the Mosaic Law [7, 8]. On this day, the high priest performed specific rituals, including making atonement for the Holy Sanctuary, the Tent of Meeting, the altar, himself, his household, and all the people of Israel [2, 4, 6]. A key element involved two goats: one sacrificed as a sin offering, and the other, the "scapegoat," upon which the sins of the people were symbolically placed and then sent into the wilderness, signifying their removal [6, 9]. This ritual served as a ransom for the punishment due to sin [10].
The book of Hebrews reinterprets these Levitical practices, presenting Jesus Christ as the ultimate High Priest and His sacrifice as the perfect and final atonement. While the Old Testament sacrifices, especially those on the Day of Atonement, provided a temporary covering for sins and purified the physical sanctuary, Hebrews argues that these were merely shadows pointing to the reality found in Christ. The author of Hebrews emphasizes that Christ entered the true, heavenly sanctuary "once for all" through His own blood, securing an eternal redemption, unlike the repeated entry of the earthly high priest into the Holy Place [6]. This new covenant, established through Christ's sacrifice, offers a more perfect and complete cleansing from sin, making the old sacrificial system obsolete.
Sources
- Leviticus ““However on the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh. -- Leviticus 23:27”
- Leviticus “Then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary; and he shall make atonement for the Tent of Meeting and for the altar; and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. -- Leviticus 16:33”
- Leviticus “He shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, even all their sins; and so he shall do for the Tent of Meeting, that dwells with them in the midst of their uncleanness. -- Leviticus 16:16”
- Leviticus “No one shall be in the Tent of Meeting when he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, and has made atonement for himself and for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel. -- Leviticus 16:17”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Atonement — This word does not occur in the Authorized Version of the New Testament except in Rom. 5:11, where in the Revised Version the word "reconciliation" is used. In the Old Testament it is of frequent occurrence. The meaning of the word is simply at-one-ment, i.e., the state of being at one or being reconciled, so that atonement is reconciliation. Thus it is used to denote the effect which flows from the death of Christ. But the word is also used to denote that by which this reconciliation is brought about, viz., the death of Christ itself; and when so used it”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Atonement, the Day Of — Tenth day of seventh month -- Le 23:26,27. A day of humiliation -- Le 16:29,31; 23:27. Observed as a sabbath -- Le 23:28,32. Offerings to be made on -- Le 16:3,5-15. The high priest entered into the holy place on -- Le 16:2,3; Heb 9:7. Atonement made on For the holy place. -- Ex 30:10; Le 16:15,16. For the high priest. -- Le 16:11; Heb 9:7. For the whole congregation. -- Le 16:17,24; 23:28; Heb 9:7. The sins of the people borne off by the scapegoat on -- Le 16:21. Punishment for not observing -- Le 23:29,30. Year of Jubilee commenced on -- Le ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Atonement, Day of — The great annual day of humiliation and expiation for the sins of the nation, "the fast" (Acts 27:9), and the only one commanded in the law of Moses. The mode of its observance is described in Lev. 16:3-10; 23:26-32; and Num. 29:7-11. It was kept on the tenth day of the month Tisri, i.e., five days before the feast of Tabernacles, and lasted from sunset to sunset. (See [41]AZAZEL.)”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Atonement, The Day Of — I. The great day of national humiliation, and the only one commanded in the Mosaic law. [[215]Fasts] The mode of its observance is described in Levi 16, and the conduct of the people is emphatically enjoined in (Leviticus 23:26-32) II. Time.-- It was kept on the tenth day of Tisri, that is, from the evening of the ninth to the evening of the tenth of that month, five days before the feast of tabernacles. Tisri corresponds to our September-October, so that the 10th of Tisri would be about the first of October. [[216]Festivals] III. How observed.”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 16:10: TO MAKE ATONEMENT OVER HIM. 62 Over it, over the goat. For the atonement shall be upon it. 63 The sins will be placed upon the goat, who shall remove the sins by carrying them into the wilderness. It means to send him away.”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 12:7: AND MAKE ATONEMENT FOR HER. As I explained. 55 To serve as a ransom for the punishment due her. See I.E. on Lev. 1:4.”