Leviticus 16:14-15
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The text highlights a crucial detail: the blood wasn't just sprinkled on the mercy seat, but also before it, and specifically seven times. This emphasizes that atonement is a precise, multi-faceted act, not merely a symbolic gesture, and that it secures God's mercy through His justice.
And he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat on the east side, and in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage describes the most solemn ritual of the year, the Day of Atonement, occurring after the tragic deaths of two of Aaron's sons. The high priest, having first offered incense inside the Most Holy Place, now re-enters to sprinkle the blood of a bullock—his own sin offering—onto and before the mercy seat. This act is crucial for making atonement for the holy sanctuary itself, as well as for himself, his family, and the entire community, underscoring the gravity of sin and the need for purification.
Why did the high priest sprinkle blood on and before the mercy seat? This wasn't just a ritual; it was a profound statement about God's character.
The central act of the Day of Atonement involved the sprinkling of blood, a visceral reminder of the cost of sin. This blood, taken from the sacrificial bull, was applied in two key ways:
This dual action powerfully illustrates that God's mercy, represented by the mercy seat, is not given lightly. It is accessed only through the shedding of blood – the atoning sacrifice that satisfies divine justice. This is the foundation upon which any approach to a holy God must be built.
Why seven times? This number, appearing multiple times in Scripture, signifies completeness. What does its repetition here tell us about God's provision for sin?
The act of sprinkling blood seven times before the mercy seat was deliberate and symbolic. In biblical numerology, seven often represents divine perfection, completion, and fulfillment.
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This meticulous ritual underscores that God's plan for dealing with sin is perfect and complete, requiring no further addition or repetition. It points forward to the ultimate, once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who perfectly accomplished what this ritual could only foreshadow.
Understand the original words
dam · Hebrew Noun
In the Old Testament, the life of the flesh is in the blood; it was required for atonement because life had to be given to satisfy the penalty for sin.
This passage directly connects the sprinkling of blood in the Old Testament sanctuary to Christ's once-for-all sacrifice, highlighting the Levitical ritual as a shadow of the ultimate atonement.
1 John 2:2This verse speaks of Jesus as an advocate and the propitiation for our sins, paralleling the concept of blood sprinkled on the mercy seat to appease God and make Him merciful.
Exodus 25:17-22This describes the mercy seat and the cherubim directly above it, providing the context for where the blood was to be sprinkled and God's presence dwelling there.
Leviticus 16:16This verse immediately follows the description of the blood sprinkling and explains the purpose: to make atonement for the holy place, the tabernacle, and the people because of uncleanness and transgressions.
Romans 3:23-25This passage explains that believers are justified by God's grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, directly linking the concept of propitiation from Leviticus to Christ's work.
bensonLeviticus 16:14: "And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times."
Leviticus 16:14 . He shall take of the blood — He went out of the holy place, and then entered it a second time. We must observe, that as the burning of the incense preceded the sprinkling of the blood, it was hereby signified that he was to be prepared for entering into the most holy…
calvinLeviticus 16:1-34: "And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;"
And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
Dixitque Jellova ad Mosen, Loquere ad Aharon fratrem tuum, ut ne ingrediatnr omni tempore sanctuarium intra velum…
The text highlights a crucial detail: the blood wasn't just sprinkled on the mercy seat, but also before it, and specifically seven times. This emphasizes that atonement is a precise, multi-faceted act, not merely a symbolic gesture, and that it secures God's mercy through His justice.
This passage describes the most solemn ritual of the year, the Day of Atonement, occurring after the tragic deaths of two of Aaron's sons. The high priest, having first offered incense inside the Most Holy Place, now re-enters to sprinkle the blood of a bullock—his own sin offering—onto and before the mercy seat. This act is crucial for making atonement for the holy sanctuary itself, as well as for himself, his family, and the entire community, underscoring the gravity of sin and the need for purification.
This passage describes the most solemn ritual of the year, the Day of Atonement, occurring after the tragic deaths of two of Aaron's sons. The high priest, having first offered incense inside the Most Holy Place, now re-enters to sprinkle the blood of a bullock—his own sin offering—onto and before the mercy seat. This act is crucial for making atonement for the holy sanctuary itself, as well as for himself, his family, and the entire community, underscoring the gravity of sin and the need for purification.
"And he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat on the east side, and in front of the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times. “Then he shall…" — The text highlights a crucial detail: the blood wasn't just sprinkled on the mercy seat, but also before it, and specifically seven times. This emphasizes that atonement is a precise, multi-facet…
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Last reviewed October 2026
