Leviticus 16 29

Leviticus 16:29 kjv

And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:

Leviticus 16:29 nkjv

"This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you.

Leviticus 16:29 niv

"This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work?whether native-born or a foreigner residing among you?

Leviticus 16:29 esv

"And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you.

Leviticus 16:29 nlt

"On the tenth day of the appointed month in early autumn, you must deny yourselves. Neither native-born Israelites nor foreigners living among you may do any kind of work. This is a permanent law for you.

Leviticus 16 verses

Leviticus 16 29 Meaning

Leviticus 16:29 sets forth the perpetual requirements for the observance of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It establishes this specific day as a permanent statute for the people of Israel, occurring annually on the tenth day of the seventh month. On this day, they are commanded to humble themselves deeply, commonly understood as fasting, and to abstain from all forms of work. This applies universally to all within the community, whether native-born Israelites or foreigners residing among them, emphasizing a communal and solemn recognition of sin and the need for God's atonement.

Leviticus 16 29 Context

Leviticus 16 is central to understanding the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). The chapter primarily details the intricate rituals the High Priest, Aaron, must perform to cleanse the sanctuary, the priesthood, and the entire community from their sins and impurities, lest God's holy presence depart. This included purifying himself and his house, offering a bull for a sin offering, and using two goats for the people's sins—one sacrificed for the Lord and its blood brought into the Most Holy Place, and the other, the "scapegoat," carrying the people's sins away into the wilderness. Verse 29 follows these ceremonial instructions, providing the corresponding mandatory personal and communal observances required from the Israelites on this solemn day. It shifts focus from the priest's ritual to the people's humble response. Historically, Yom Kippur stood apart from the other joyous festivals, marked by profound introspection, national repentance, and solemnity. It was a yearly reminder of humanity's sinfulness and God's gracious provision for atonement, contrasting with the often superficial or self-atoning practices of surrounding pagan cultures.

Leviticus 16 29 Word analysis

• And this shall be: Emphasizes a divine, authoritative pronouncement, a direct instruction from God.
• a statute forever (Hebrew: chuqqat olam - חֻקַּת עוֹלָם):
  • Chuqqat: A decreed ordinance or regulation, fixed by divine authority. It signifies something binding and unchangeable.
  • Olam: Pertains to an indefinite, enduring duration, implying perpetuity throughout Israel's generations under the Old Covenant. In the broader Biblical context, it sets an eternal theological principle, though its ceremonial fulfillment points to Christ.
  • Significance: This was not a temporary command but a fundamental, lasting ordinance for Israel, indicating the enduring human need for atonement and the continuous provision for it by God.
• unto you: Specifically directed at the people of Israel as a covenant community.
• that in the seventh month: Refers to the month of Tishrei (around September/October), the same month as the Feast of Trumpets and the Feast of Booths, but distinct in its somber nature. This period marked a transition after harvest.
• on the tenth day of the month: Highlights precision and punctuality for observing this uniquely solemn annual event.
• ye shall afflict your souls (Hebrew: te'annu et nafshotechem - תְּעַנּוּ אֶת נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם):
  • Anah: To humble, to bow down, to make oneself low, to be oppressed or afflicted. In this context, it primarily denotes fasting as a physical manifestation, but extends to spiritual self-abasement, sorrow over sin, and deep contrition.
  • Nephesh: Soul, self, inner being, life. It means a complete humbling of one's entire self, not just a superficial act.
  • Significance: More than just abstaining from food, it required genuine repentance, humility, and acknowledgment of sin, a profound spiritual posture demonstrated through physical self-denial. This was central to receiving the day's atonement.
• and do no work at all: Signifies a complete cessation of labor, much like a Sabbath.
  • Significance: This underscores the absolute focus required for the Day of Atonement. All physical activities are suspended to direct complete attention to God, self-reflection, and reliance on His provision for sin. It shows the paramount importance of the day.
• whether it be one of your own country (Hebrew: ezrach - אֶזְרָח): Refers to a native-born Israelite.
• or a stranger that sojourneth among you (Hebrew: ger ha-gar - גֵּר הַגָּר):
  • Ger: A resident alien or sojourner; someone of foreign birth living within Israelite society who had taken upon themselves adherence to the laws and worship of Israel.
  • Gar: Verb form, emphasizing their residing status.
  • Significance: Demonstrates the inclusive nature of God's covenant and law, extending the same holy requirements and provisions of atonement to all who formally aligned themselves with the people of God, regardless of their ethnic origin. It shows God's standard of holiness applies universally within His covenant community.

Words-group analysis:

• "a statute forever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month": Establishes the specific, enduring, and precisely timed nature of this divine commandment for the people of Israel. It fixes a unique day on the sacred calendar.
• "ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all": These two interconnected commands define the primary modes of observance. "Afflicting souls" (fasting and humility) represents the inward, spiritual posture of repentance, while "doing no work" signifies the outward cessation of all worldly activity to dedicate the day solely to God and atonement.
• "whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you": This phrase highlights the universal application of this sacred requirement within the covenant community, emphasizing that all who live under God's law and seek His atonement must participate in the same acts of humility and devotion.

Leviticus 16 29 Bonus section

• "Sabbath of Sabbaths": Leviticus 23:32 refers to the Day of Atonement as a "sabbath of rest" (shabbat shabbaton), highlighting its supreme holiness even among other Sabbaths.
• Solemn Fast: Unlike the other joyful feasts of Israel, Yom Kippur was mandated as a day of solemn fasting and affliction, distinguishing it as the most serious day of the year focused on sin and its propitiation.
• Atonement Progression: The atonement on Yom Kippur (v.30) first covers the priests, then the sanctuary itself, and finally the entire congregation, illustrating the comprehensive cleansing God provided. Leviticus 16:29 is the required response of the people to this divinely orchestrated provision.
• New Covenant Application: While the literal observance of the day as a ceremonial fast is fulfilled in Christ (Col 2:16-17), the spiritual principles of introspection, self-denial, repentance, rest in God's provision for sin, and acknowledging the comprehensive work of atonement (achieved by Christ's shed blood) remain vital for believers.

Leviticus 16 29 Commentary

Leviticus 16:29 serves as a crucial instruction for the Israelite community, outlining their participation in the annual Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). While the preceding verses describe the High Priest's elaborate and solemn ritual, this verse details the required response from every individual Israelite and accepted foreigner. The phrase "statute forever" underscores the enduring nature of this ordinance, a recurring reminder of the constant need for divine cleansing and the gracious provision of atonement. The two core requirements are "afflicting your souls" and "doing no work at all." "Afflicting the soul" primarily denotes fasting, but more profoundly, it signifies deep self-humiliation, repentance, and earnest contrition before God for collective and individual sins. It's a somber acknowledgment of human sinfulness. The command to "do no work at all" transforms the day into a "Sabbath of Sabbaths," demanding complete cessation from ordinary life to facilitate unhindered focus on spiritual matters, penitence, and absolute reliance on God's provision. The inclusivity, extending the command to "strangers that sojourn" among them, reveals God's universal reach within His covenant, ensuring that all who benefit from the atonement must also participate in the humility and obedience it requires. This sacred observance foreshadowed the ultimate, once-for-all atonement achieved by Jesus Christ, whose single sacrifice on the cross truly cleanses and perfects His people forever, removing the need for yearly, repetitive rituals (Heb 9:11-14). Yet, the principle of humbly acknowledging sin, repenting, and resting in God's completed work of salvation remains eternally relevant for believers today.