Leviticus 16 5

Leviticus 16:5 kjv

And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

Leviticus 16:5 nkjv

And he shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats as a sin offering, and one ram as a burnt offering.

Leviticus 16:5 niv

From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.

Leviticus 16:5 esv

And he shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

Leviticus 16:5 nlt

Aaron must take from the community of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.

Leviticus 16 verses

Leviticus 16 5 Meaning

Leviticus 16:5 details the specific animals the high priest, Aaron, was required to obtain from the assembly of Israel for the annual Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) rituals. These were two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering. This communal provision highlights Israel's corporate responsibility for sin and the precise, God-ordained means of atonement and dedication.

Leviticus 16 5 Context

Leviticus chapter 16 comprehensively outlines the solemn ritual for the Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, which was the most sacred day in ancient Israel's liturgical calendar. This verse initiates the specific instructions given to Aaron, the High Priest, concerning the offerings the congregation must provide. It follows instructions for Aaron's personal purification (Lev 16:3-4) before he could officiate these rites. The primary purpose of Yom Kippur was to atone for the sins of the high priest, his household, the entire people of Israel, and even the Tabernacle itself, making reconciliation possible and purifying the holy place from the defilements of Israel's sin. The provision of these animals by the "congregation of the children of Israel" immediately precedes the pivotal moment where Aaron casts lots over the two goats to determine which will be for YHWH (the sin offering) and which for Azazel (the scapegoat).

Leviticus 16 5 Word analysis

• And he shall take: Refers to Aaron, the High Priest, emphasizing his direct responsibility and mediatorial role in presenting these offerings on behalf of the nation. This underscores the precise, divinely ordained structure of worship.
• of the congregation: Hebrew: ʿēḏâ (עֵדָה), meaning "assembly" or "congregation." This highlights that the sacrificial animals were a collective provision, not an individual’s responsibility alone, underscoring the communal aspect of atonement for the nation's corporate sin and uncleanness. It symbolizes shared responsibility and ownership in the Day of Atonement.
• of the children of Israel: Hebrew: bənê Yiśrāʾēl (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל), referring to the entire covenant community, distinguishing them from other nations and affirming their unique relationship with YHWH. It implies that these atonement rites were for all the covenant people.
• two kid of the goats: Hebrew: šənê śəʿîrê ʿizzîm (שְׁנֵי שְׂעִירֵי עִזִּים). This specifies young male goats, suitable for sacrificial purposes and often associated with sin offerings (Lev 4:23, 28). The number "two" is crucial and unique to the Day of Atonement ritual, setting the stage for their distinct, yet complementary, roles (one killed, one sent away).
• for a sin offering: Hebrew: ḥaṭṭāʾṯ (חַטָּאת), often translated as "sin offering," but also meaning "purification offering" or "dealing with sin." This type of offering primarily dealt with cleansing ritual impurity and unintentional sins, reestablishing purity and restoring the relationship with God that had been defiled. It provided expiation and purification.
• and one ram: Hebrew: ʾayil (אַיִל), referring to an adult male sheep. Rams were commonly used in burnt offerings and sometimes for peace offerings, indicating an offering of substantial value and maturity.
• for a burnt offering: Hebrew: ʿōlâ (עֹלָה), literally "that which ascends" or "whole burnt offering." This offering was entirely consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing complete dedication, surrender, propitiation, and a sweet aroma to God (Lev 1:9). It signified general adoration, commitment, and comprehensive reconciliation.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "two kid of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering": This specifies the precise quantity and type of animals and their intended purpose. The juxtaposition of the "sin offering" and "burnt offering" highlights the two critical aspects of the Day of Atonement: the dealing with impurity/sin (ḥaṭṭāʾṯ) and the expression of complete dedication and propitiation to God (ʿōlâ). The "two goats" immediately introduces the distinctive dual nature of the ḥaṭṭāʾṯ on Yom Kippur, hinting at a multi-faceted dealing with sin.
• "congregation of the children of Israel": This phrase emphasizes that these offerings were for the entire national entity. The sins to be atoned for were not merely individual infractions but the collective defilements and transgressions that accumulated from the community as a whole, necessitating a communal act of atonement provided by the entire covenant people.

Leviticus 16 5 Bonus section

• The selection of young, male, unblemished animals (implied for sacrificial purity, though not stated directly here) points to the purity required in any offering to God, foreshadowing the blemishless Lamb of God.
• The careful distinction between the ḥaṭṭāʾṯ (sin/purification offering) and the ʿōlâ (burnt offering) indicates that God distinguishes between types of sin and the corresponding human response or divine provision. ḥaṭṭāʾṯ focuses on cleansing, while ʿōlâ focuses on complete surrender and worship.
• The instruction for the High Priest "to take" these animals implies his passive reception from the people, who were actively providing them, demonstrating the community's role in fulfilling the divine commands for their cleansing and reconciliation.
• This verse directly precedes the unique act of casting lots for the two goats (one for the Lord, one for Azazel), making it a critical setup for understanding the entire mechanism of corporate atonement and sin-bearing.

Leviticus 16 5 Commentary

Leviticus 16:5 serves as the preparatory verse, establishing the communal foundation for the intricate rituals of Yom Kippur. By mandating that the offerings come "of the congregation of the children of Israel," the text stresses that atonement on this holiest day was a national, not merely an individual, endeavor. The detailed specification of "two kid of the goats for a sin offering" and "one ram for a burnt offering" underscores the divine precision required in approaching God. The sin offering addressed defilement and specific infractions, acting as a purification agent. The burnt offering, being wholly consumed, symbolized total devotion and appeasement, reflecting a broader commitment and worship. These animals, freely provided by the people, set the stage for the dramatic and unique casting of lots that immediately followed, revealing God's method for handling sin: both its atoning removal by blood and its symbolic carrying away. This dual aspect deeply prefigured the comprehensive work of Christ, who as the ultimate sacrifice became both the perfect purification for our sins and the complete fulfillment of all dedication, presenting us perfectly to God.