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 16:11KJV
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Leviticus 16:11 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 16:11 mean?

Leviticus 16:11 describes how Aaron, the high priest, must offer a bull as a sin offering for himself and his household, making atonement for their sins before he can perform rituals for the people. This step shows that even the high priest needs forgiveness before representing others.

God is instructing Aaron, through Moses, about the Day of Atonement rituals. Aaron is told to bring a bull (a valuable animal) and offer it for his own sins and those of his family. Only after this personal atonement can Aaron continue with the rest of the ceremony for the nation of Israel, highlighting the seriousness and order of the process.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 16:11

  • "Atonement" (כָּפַר, kaphar): This word means to cover or make reconciliation. In this context, it emphasizes the need for Aaron to be cleansed from sin before acting on behalf of others.
  • "House" (בַּיִת, bayith): This refers not just to Aaron’s immediate family but to everyone under his care, showing the broad reach of the priest’s responsibility.
  • "Sin offering" (חַטָּאָה, chatta’ah): This term refers to a specific type of sacrifice meant to deal with sin, underlining that Aaron himself is not exempt from guilt.

Why Leviticus 16:11 matters

  • Leviticus 16:11 clarifies that even the spiritual leader must address his own sin before serving others, countering any idea that the priest is above the need for forgiveness.
  • The verse sets the stage for the rest of the Day of Atonement, showing that the process begins with the priest’s own purification, not just the people’s.
  • This order emphasizes the seriousness of approaching God and the careful steps required, helping readers understand the structure and meaning behind the rituals described in Leviticus 16.

Where else these words appear

“kill” Hebrew H7819 · used in 70 verses

  • Genesis 22:10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
  • Leviticus 9:8 Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.
  • 2 Kings 10:14 And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.

“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 14:21 And if he be poor, and cannot get so much; then he shall take one lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make an atonement for him, and one tenth deal of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering, and a log of oil;
  • Numbers 28:22 And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.

“bullock” Hebrew H6499 · used in 119 verses

  • Genesis 32:15 Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.
  • Numbers 7:63 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
  • Numbers 29:33 And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: