Leviticus 16:11 kjv
And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself:
Leviticus 16:11 nkjv
"And Aaron shall bring the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull as the sin offering which is for himself.
Leviticus 16:11 niv
"Aaron shall bring the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household, and he is to slaughter the bull for his own sin offering.
Leviticus 16:11 esv
"Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall kill the bull as a sin offering for himself.
Leviticus 16:11 nlt
"Aaron will present his own bull as a sin offering to purify himself and his family, making them right with the LORD. After he has slaughtered the bull as a sin offering,
Leviticus 16 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 4:3 | If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt... he shall offer a young bull... | Specifies the bull as sin offering for priest |
| Lev 8:2 | "Take Aaron and his sons with him... and the anointing oil..." | Aaron's consecration; holiness requirement |
| Lev 9:7 | "Go to the altar and offer your sin offering... and make atonement for yourself and for the people." | Confirms Aaron's personal atonement first |
| Lev 16:6 | "Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself..." | Reiterates Aaron's bull for his atonement |
| Lev 23:27 | "On the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement..." | Context of Yom Kippur |
| Num 16:46-47 | Aaron's quick action to make atonement amidst plague. | Priestly role in atonement for others |
| Hab 1:13 | "Your eyes are too pure to behold evil, and cannot look on mischief..." | God's perfect holiness contrasted with sin |
| Heb 4:14-15 | "we have a great high priest... not one who cannot sympathize..." | Christ as a High Priest who understands us |
| Heb 5:1-3 | "Every high priest... is appointed to offer gifts... must make offering for himself..." | The nature of human high priesthood |
| Heb 7:27-28 | "He does not need daily, as those high priests... who need not offer sacrifice for his own sins..." | Christ's superiority: no need to atone for self |
| Heb 9:7 | "But only the high priest goes... once a year... for himself and the errors of the people." | Echoes the once-a-year Yom Kippur ritual |
| Heb 9:11-12 | "But when Christ appeared as a high priest... obtained eternal redemption..." | Christ's one-time, perfect sacrifice |
| Heb 9:13-14 | "For if the blood of goats... sanctify for the purification... how much more the blood of Christ..." | Superiority of Christ's blood for cleansing |
| Heb 10:1-4 | "For since the law has but a shadow... can never by the same sacrifices..." | Limitation of animal sacrifices to perfect |
| Heb 10:10-12 | "By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." | Christ's singular, sufficient sacrifice |
| 1 Jn 2:2 | "He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only..." | Christ as the ultimate atonement for all |
| Rom 3:25 | "whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood..." | Christ's atoning work |
| Col 1:20 | "and through him to reconcile to himself all things..." | Reconciliation through Christ |
| Eph 5:2 | "Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering..." | Christ's sacrificial offering |
| Titus 2:14 | "He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness..." | Christ's purpose in redemption |
Leviticus 16 verses
Leviticus 16 11 Meaning
Leviticus 16:11 outlines the initial crucial step Aaron, the High Priest, must take on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). He is commanded to present a bull as a sin offering specifically for himself and for his priestly household. This action precedes any offering made for the wider Israelite community, emphasizing the fundamental requirement for the spiritual leader to first purify himself and his immediate family before he can effectively mediate or make atonement for the sins and impurities of the people. It highlights that even the highest religious office does not exempt one from the need for divine reconciliation for personal and familial transgressions and ritual defilement.
Leviticus 16 11 Context
Leviticus chapter 16 details the sacred rites and procedures for the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, the most solemn day in the Israelite calendar. This day was ordained by God as the annual purging of sins and impurities that had accumulated in the tabernacle and among the people throughout the year, even unintentional ones. The instructions in verse 11 are foundational, setting the personal spiritual condition of the High Priest, Aaron, as the very first step in this elaborate annual cleansing ceremony. It follows the dramatic events of Nadab and Abihu's unauthorized worship (Lev 10), underscoring the absolute necessity for strict adherence to God's prescribed ways for approaching His holiness. The ritual emphasizes the unapproachable holiness of God and the profound need for a divinely ordained mediator and mechanism for atonement.
Leviticus 16 11 Word analysis
- And Aaron (וְהִקְרִיב אַהֲרֹן - vehikriv Aharon): "And Aaron shall bring near." The Hebrew verb "hikriv" (from the root קָרַב karav) means to "bring near" or "cause to approach," particularly in the context of bringing an offering to God. This signifies Aaron's prescribed role and action, as distinct from spontaneous acts. As High Priest, his actions hold unique spiritual weight and necessity. His position does not negate his human fallibility, which is central to this verse.
- shall bring (וְהִקְרִיב - vehikriv): The verb implies a formal, ritual presentation. It's not just an act of offering, but specifically "bringing near" to the altar, to the presence of God. This action is critical for the efficacy of the offering.
- the bull (אֶת־פַּר - et-par): A specific, unblemished young bull. This was the prescribed animal for the sin offering of a priest or the entire community (Lev 4:3, 14). Its size and value denote the gravity and extent of the High Priest's own sin and that of his family, indicating the serious nature of even unconscious transgressions and the high standard of purity required for those in leadership.
- of the sin offering (הַחַטָּאת - hachaṭṭāṯ): From the Hebrew noun חַטָּאת (chaṭṭāṯ). This term signifies more than just an offering for sin; it represents the means by which impurity caused by sin is purified and cleansed, thus restoring the defiled state of the worshipper or sacred space. It’s an atonement for defilement and unintended error that contaminates. The purpose is purgation and sanctification.
- which is for himself (אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ - asher-lo): Literally, "that which is to him/for him." This highlights the deeply personal nature of this initial sacrifice. Before Aaron could approach God to make atonement for others, he had to address his own spiritual standing and ritual purity. This principle underlines that no one, regardless of office, is exempt from accountability to God's holiness.
- and shall make atonement (וְכִפֶּר - vekhipper): From the Hebrew root כָּפַר (kaphar), which means "to cover," "to purge," "to purify," or "to make propitiation." It's not simply an act of forgiveness but involves a ritual process that purges guilt and contamination, removing the impediment to God's presence and restoring a right relationship. It's the central action of the Day of Atonement.
- for himself and for his house (בַּעֲדוֹ וּבְעַד בֵּיתוֹ - ba'ado u-ve'ad beyto): "For him and for his house." "His house" (בֵּיתוֹ - beyto) encompasses his immediate family and dependents, including his priestly descendants, who are also set apart for service. This emphasizes that his spiritual state, as the head of his household, impacts those under his care, and their corporate purity is also required for priestly service. It extends the cleansing beyond the individual High Priest to his intimate sphere of influence.
Leviticus 16 11 Bonus section
The specific sequence of offerings on Yom Kippur, starting with the High Priest's own sin offering (Lev 16:11), then the sin offering for the people (Lev 16:15), is paramount. This structure profoundly illustrates the biblical truth that defilement is a real barrier to communion with God, and it must be dealt with comprehensively, starting from the leadership outwards. This act serves as a continuous reminder that those who lead spiritually must always begin by examining and addressing their own spiritual condition, ensuring they are right with God before attempting to guide or represent others before Him. It's a foundational principle for holiness in leadership within God's covenant community.
Leviticus 16 11 Commentary
Leviticus 16:11 establishes the non-negotiable prerequisite for Aaron to perform the high duties of the Day of Atonement: personal purification. By requiring the High Priest to offer a costly sin offering for himself and his household first, God demonstrated several profound truths. First, it highlighted the utter sanctity of God; even His chosen mediator, though holding the highest earthly office, was not inherently pure enough to stand before Him without propitiation. Second, it underscored the pervasive nature of sin and impurity, affecting even the most consecrated individuals and their immediate environment. Third, it prepared Aaron to approach the Holy of Holies not by his own merit or status, but solely through the blood of an atoning sacrifice, demonstrating humility and reliance on God's provision. This action not only cleansed Aaron ritually but also served as a vivid object lesson for all Israel: no one is free from the stain of sin, and access to God's presence is always by divine grace, provided through blood atonement. This foreshadows the ultimate, perfect High Priest, Jesus Christ, who, unlike Aaron, needed no offering for His own sins, being spotless and pure (Heb 7:27).