Leviticus 16 4

Leviticus 16:4 kjv

He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.

Leviticus 16:4 nkjv

He shall put the holy linen tunic and the linen trousers on his body; he shall be girded with a linen sash, and with the linen turban he shall be attired. These are holy garments. Therefore he shall wash his body in water, and put them on.

Leviticus 16:4 niv

He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on.

Leviticus 16:4 esv

He shall put on the holy linen coat and shall have the linen undergarment on his body, and he shall tie the linen sash around his waist, and wear the linen turban; these are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water and then put them on.

Leviticus 16:4 nlt

He must put on his linen tunic and the linen undergarments worn next to his body. He must tie the linen sash around his waist and put the linen turban on his head. These are sacred garments, so he must bathe himself in water before he puts them on.

Leviticus 16 verses

Leviticus 16 4 Meaning

Leviticus 16:4 prescribes the specific and distinct attire Aaron, the high priest, must wear when performing the sacred Day of Atonement rituals. This verse details four fundamental garments: a holy linen tunic, linen breeches, a linen sash, and a linen turban. These are explicitly designated as "holy garments," indicating their ritual purity and essential role in approaching God for atonement, contrasting with his usual elaborate high priestly garments worn for general duties.

Leviticus 16 4 Context

Leviticus 16 describes the intricate regulations for Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, a pivotal annual purification ceremony for the Israelite community. This specific verse (16:4) follows the divine instruction for Aaron not to enter the Most Holy Place, where God's presence dwelled, without first making atonement and observing specific rites (16:2-3). It introduces a crucial deviation from the high priest's usual glorious vestments, emphasizing humility and purity by mandating plain white linen garments. This specific attire prepares Aaron, and implicitly the community, for the solemnity of seeking forgiveness for all sins of the previous year. It underscores the sanctity required to approach God's presence, signifying purification from defilement and readiness for sacred service rather than outward splendor.

Leviticus 16 4 Word analysis

• He shall put on: The Hebrew verb is labash (לָבַשׁ), meaning "to dress," "to clothe," or "to wear." This indicates a deliberate and commanded act of assuming these specific garments, not a choice.
• the holy linen tunic:
  • Kethonet (כֻּתֹּנֶת): A long inner garment, akin to a shirt.
  • Bad (בַּד): Refers to fine white linen, derived from flax. Linen was considered ritually pure, durable, and white, symbolizing purity, righteousness, and humility. Its white color is often associated with divine purity and absence of sin.
  • Qodesh (קֹדֶשׁ): "Holy," meaning set apart for God's exclusive use, ritually clean and sanctified. It designates the garments' sacred purpose.
• and the linen breeches:
  • Miknasayim (מִכְנְסַיִם): Undershorts or breeches.
  • Bad (בַּד): Again, fine white linen. These were worn to ensure modesty and prevent the exposure of the priest's nakedness while serving at the altar (Exod 20:26, 28:42-43), maintaining the sanctity of the divine presence.
• shall be on his body: al-besaro (עַל-בְּשָׂרוֹ), literally "on his flesh." This specifies that these garments are worn directly by Aaron, not merely carried, signifying that his whole person is consecrated for the holy service.
• he shall be girded with a linen sash:
  • Avnet (אַבְנֵט): A sash or belt used to hold the tunic in place and allow for freedom of movement.
  • Bad (בַּד): Fine white linen. The girding signifies readiness for diligent service and priestly duty.
• and with the linen turban:
  • Mitshnephet (מִצְנֶפֶת): A turban or headwrap. For the high priest, it was specifically an elaborate and symbolic headdress.
  • Bad (בַּד): Fine white linen. This head covering was essential for reverence and dignity in the divine presence.
• he shall be adorned: The Hebrew verb ḥavash (חָבַשׁ) means "to bind," "to bind on," or "to put on a headdress." It conveys the careful placement and fitting of the turban.
• These are holy garments: Bigdei-qodesh hemmah (בִּגְדֵי קֹדֶשׁ הֵמָּה). This is a definitive declaration that these garments are specifically sanctified for the Day of Atonement. They are distinct from the more ornate garments with gold and jewels typically worn by the high priest for other priestly duties. Their simplicity underscores humility, purity, and sin-bearing for the people, in contrast to garments of glory and splendor.

Leviticus 16 4 Bonus section

The choice of plain white linen for the high priest on the Day of Atonement highlights a crucial theological principle: atonement and access to God are not achieved through human pomp, wealth, or glory. The standard high priestly garments were visually spectacular, incorporating gold, precious stones, and vibrant colors (Exod 28). However, for the climactic yearly ritual of sin expiation, Aaron was stripped of these magnificent vestments and clothed in the simple, humble white linen. This change underscored that his approach to the Holy of Holies for sin offering was as a humble servant and a sinner in need of covering, just like the people he represented. The simplicity symbolized the purity demanded by God and pointed towards the utter inadequacy of human merit. It emphasized the solemnity of the occasion and the profound need for divine grace in addressing sin, setting a stage for understanding Christ's humility in taking on human flesh to become our High Priest and perfect sacrifice.

Leviticus 16 4 Commentary

Leviticus 16:4 delineates the precise attire for the high priest on the Day of Atonement. The mandatory white linen garments—tunic, breeches, sash, and turban—signified purity, humility, and the holiness required to approach the most sacred space where God's presence dwelt. These plain, simple clothes contrast sharply with the high priest's usual splendid golden garments, serving as a powerful visual reminder that access to God's presence for atonement is not by human glory or adornment but by divine prescription and a state of ritual cleanliness and humble reverence. They represent Aaron's separation from the people for this critical task, embodying the purity and moral uprightness demanded by God. Ultimately, these "holy garments" prefigure the ultimate Priesthood of Christ, who, being perfectly pure and without sin, entered the true heavenly sanctuary once and for all, not with symbolic linen but with His own innocent blood, to secure eternal redemption, making way for all believers to draw near to God.