Leviticus 16:6 Meaning Explained

Leviticus 16:6

“Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make atonement for himself and for his house.

English Standard Version (ESV)

It's easy to overlook that before Aaron can atone for the people, he must first atone for himself and his own household. This highlights that even those who serve God must be cleansed before approaching Him, underscoring the universal need for God's grace and sacrifice.

What Leviticus 16:6 means

This passage occurs on the Day of Atonement, a solemn annual ritual established after the tragic deaths of Aaron's sons. Before Aaron can minister for the people, he must first make atonement for his own sins and those of his priestly household. This foundational step underscores the profound holiness of God and the necessity for even His appointed servants to be purified before approaching Him.

The High Priest's Own Need for Atonement

Before Aaron could serve the people, he had to deal with his own sin. This ritual highlights a profound truth about mediation.

The Day of Atonement wasn't just for the nation; it began with the high priest himself. Leviticus 16:6 states, 'Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.'

Why for Himself?

Humanity and Imperfection: Even the high priest, chosen by God, was human and susceptible to sin. His role as mediator didn't exempt him from the need for atonement.
Family and Priesthood: The phrase 'for his house' signifies that the atonement covered not only Aaron personally but also his family and, by extension, the entire priestly line. This ensured the integrity of the priesthood before they ministered for others.
A Model for All: This first step powerfully illustrates that true ministry and mediation require personal cleansing. No one can effectively bridge the gap between God and humanity without first addressing their own shortcomings before God.

The 'Offering' vs. The 'Slaying'

The wording in Leviticus 16:6 is subtle but significant. What does it mean for Aaron to 'offer' the bullock, and how does this differ from its eventual sacrifice?

The Hebrew word translated as 'offer' in Leviticus 16:6 often carries the sense of 'present' or 'bring near.' This was a crucial distinction in the ritual.

Presenting the Sacrifice

Initial Presentation: Aaron first had to bring the bullock to the Tabernacle entrance and formally present it to the Lord. This act acknowledged that the animal was designated for atonement.
Confession and Laying on of Hands: Before the animal was even killed, Aaron would lay his hands on its head and confess his sins and those of his house. This act symbolically transferred their guilt to the innocent bullock.

Understand the original words

Original language

Aaronאַהֲרֹן

Aharon · Hebrew Noun

The high priest of Israel, the brother of Moses, who was consecrated to represent the people before God and perform the sacrificial duties, foreshadowing the priesthood of Christ.

sin offeringחַטָּאת

chattath · Hebrew Noun

A sacrifice offered to God to obtain forgiveness for sin, restoring the covenant relationship between God and humanity; in the OT, it often involved the shedding of blood to cover transgression.

make atonementכָּפַר

kaphar · Hebrew Verb

The act of covering over or reconciling sin, by which a price is paid or a sacrifice is made to satisfy God's justice and restore communion with Him; it is the central theme of the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).

Historical context

Written: Around 1400 BC
Author: Traditionally Moses, but the final form of the Pentateuch likely reflects later editorial work.
Location: Likely written from the plains of Moab, as the Israelites were preparing to enter the Promised Land.
Genre: Law and ritual text, characterized by specific instructions and ceremonial procedures.

Key themes

01Priestly self-atonement
02Atonement for priestly family
03Inherent human sinfulness
04Divine provision for sin

Cross-references

Hebrews 7:27

This passage highlights Jesus as a High Priest who doesn't need to offer sacrifices for His own sins first, unlike the Levitical priests, showing Christ's perfect and complete atonement.

Hebrews 9:7-14

This section directly contrasts the annual, imperfect atonement of the Old Testament High Priest with Christ's one-time, perfect sacrifice that cleanses our conscience.

1 John 1:7

This verse speaks of the continuous cleansing from sin through the blood of Jesus, echoing the need for ongoing atonement that the Levitical system pointed towards but couldn't fully achieve.

Exodus 28:1

This verse establishes Aaron and his sons as the chosen priests, setting the stage for the necessity of their own atonement before they could minister for the people.

Isaiah 53:10

This prophecy foretells the Suffering Servant making 'an offering for sin,' directly paralleling the purpose of the sin offering Aaron presented for himself and his household.

Scholarly commentary

Leviticus 16:6: "And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house."

And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself,.... That is, bring it into the court, and present it before the Lord in order to its being slain and sacrificed; for as yet it was not killed, and so could not be offered on the altar, see Leviticus 16:11 ; the place where the bullock was set was between the porch and the…
gill

Leviticus 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…

calvin

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