Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD?

LEVITICUS 10:17KJV
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Leviticus 10:17 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 10:17 mean?

Leviticus 10:17 records Moses asking Aaron and his sons why they did not eat the sin offering in the holy place, since God had given it to them to bear the people's sins and make atonement for the congregation. The verse highlights that eating the offering in the designated holy area was an important part of the priests’ duty in handling the people's iniquity before God.

Moses is speaking to Aaron and his remaining sons after the death of Nadab and Abihu, questioning why they failed to follow the ritual instructions for the sin offering. According to the law, the priests were supposed to eat certain offerings in a holy place as a sign of carrying the people's sins and completing the atonement process. This verse shows Moses' concern for strict obedience to God's commands, especially in the aftermath of a serious incident.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 10:17

  • "eaten" (אָכַל, akhal): This word means to consume or eat, and here it refers to the priests' responsibility to eat the sin offering as part of the ritual, not just as a meal but as a sacred act.
  • "sin offering" (חַטָּאָה, chatta'ah): This offering was meant to address the people's sins, and the priests' eating of it symbolized their role in dealing with the community's iniquity.
  • "most holy" (קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים, qodesh qadashim): This phrase means "most holy" or "holy of holies," emphasizing the special status of the offering and the seriousness of handling it properly.
  • "bear" (נָשָׂא, nasa): This word means to carry or bear, and in this context, it refers to the priests taking on the responsibility for the people's sins through the ritual.
  • "atonement" (כָּפַר, kaphar): This verb means to cover or make atonement, highlighting the purpose of the sin offering as a way for the priests to mediate between the people and God.

Why Leviticus 10:17 matters

  • Leviticus 10:17 clarifies that the priests’ eating of the sin offering was not just a ritual detail but a key part of their duty to represent the people before God and deal with their sins.
  • The verse shows the seriousness with which God’s instructions were to be followed, especially after a tragic event where two priests died for disobedience.
  • This verse connects to the broader theme in Leviticus of holiness and the careful handling of sacred things, helping the reader see why the priests’ actions mattered for the whole community.

Where else these words appear

“atonement” Hebrew H3722 · used in 94 verses

  • Genesis 6:14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
  • Leviticus 14:29 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed, to make an atonement for him before the LORD.
  • Numbers 28:22 And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.

“congregation” Hebrew H5712 · used in 140 verses

  • Exodus 12:3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
  • Numbers 15:25 And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD, for their ignorance:
  • Numbers 31:16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.