Leviticus 16:18 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 16:18 mean?

Leviticus 16:18 describes how the high priest is to go out to the altar before the LORD and use the blood of both the bull and the goat to make atonement for the altar by putting the blood on its horns all around. This action is part of a ritual to purify the altar and make it acceptable for use in worship.

In this verse, God is giving Moses instructions for Aaron, the high priest, during the Day of Atonement. After making atonement inside the sanctuary, Aaron is to address the altar in the courtyard, using the blood of the sacrificed animals to cleanse it from any impurity. The focus is on the altar that stands "before the LORD," meaning in front of the entrance to the sanctuary, and the ritual highlights the seriousness of approaching God and the need for purification even of sacred objects.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 16:18

• "Atonement" (כִּפֶּר, kipper): This word carries the sense of covering over or cleansing, not just forgiving but removing impurity or sin from the altar itself. It shows that even the altar, used for sacrifices, needed to be purified.
• "Altar" (מִזְבֵּחַ, mizbeach): The altar here is the one in the courtyard, not inside the sanctuary. Its central role in sacrifices makes its purification essential for the people's relationship with God.
• "Blood" (דָּם, dam): The use of blood from both the bull and the goat underlines that atonement involves life given on behalf of others, and that both sacrifices are necessary for the ritual's completeness.
• "Horns" (קֶרֶן, qeren): The horns are the projections on the altar's corners. Putting blood on them symbolically purifies the altar at its most prominent points, showing thorough cleansing.

Why Leviticus 16:18 matters

• This verse clarifies that atonement rituals were not only for people but also for the objects used in worship, emphasizing the seriousness of purity in approaching God.
• It connects the sacrifices of the bull and goat, showing that both are needed for the full cleansing ritual on the Day of Atonement.
• The verse highlights the importance of the altar as a meeting point between God and the people, and why it too needed to be made clean before further sacrifices could be accepted.