And the bullock for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall one carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung.

LEVITICUS 16:27KJV
Know the Bible

Leviticus 16:27 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 16:27 mean?

Leviticus 16:27 describes how the remains of the bull and goat used for the sin offerings, whose blood was brought into the sanctuary for atonement, must be taken outside the camp and completely burned, including their skins, flesh, and dung. This instruction sets these particular sacrifices apart from others by requiring their entire bodies to be destroyed outside the community.

In this verse, God is giving Moses specific directions for the Day of Atonement rituals, which the priests are to follow. The focus is on the special treatment of the sin offerings, emphasizing the seriousness of atonement and the removal of impurity from the people. By burning the remains outside the camp, the ritual underlines the separation of sin from the community.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 16:27

  • "Atonement" (כָּפַר, kaphar): This word means to cover, purge, or make reconciliation. Here, it highlights the purpose of the blood being brought into the holy place—to make things right between God and the people.
  • "Without" (מִחוּץ, mikhuts): This word means "outside" or "beyond." Its use stresses that the remains are not just removed but are taken completely outside the boundaries of the camp, symbolizing the total removal of sin.
  • "Burn" (שָׂרַף, saraph): This word means to burn or consume with fire. The command to burn all parts, even the skins and dung, shows that nothing from these offerings was to be kept or reused, reinforcing the idea of complete purification.

Why Leviticus 16:27 matters

  • Leviticus 16:27 clarifies that not all sacrifices were treated the same way; the sin offerings for atonement required complete destruction outside the camp, highlighting their unique role in dealing with sin.
  • This verse helps explain how the Day of Atonement rituals were designed to physically and symbolically remove impurity from the community, not just cover it up.
  • Understanding this instruction connects to the wider chapter, which is all about cleansing and restoring the relationship between God and Israel, showing the seriousness with which sin and atonement were handled.

Where else these words appear

“dung” Hebrew H6569 · used in 6 verses

  • Exodus 29:14 But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin offering.
  • Leviticus 4:11 And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung,
  • Numbers 19:5 And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn:

“goat” Hebrew H8163 · used in 57 verses

  • Genesis 27:11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man:
  • Leviticus 16:26 And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp.
  • Numbers 28:30 And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you.

“skins” Hebrew H5785 · used in 82 verses

  • Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
  • Leviticus 13:12 And if a leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his foot, wheresoever the priest looketh;
  • Leviticus 13:59 This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or any thing of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.

“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.