Leviticus 16:11 - “Aaron shall present the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull of the sin offering which is for himself.

Generated Verse: Leviticus 16:11

What does "Leviticus 16:11" mean?


Leviticus 16 describes the rituals for the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the holiest day of the year for the Israelites. Verse 11 specifically describes the beginning of the purification process that the High Priest, Aaron (and all his successors), had to undertake for himself before he could intercede on behalf of the people. Let's break down the meaning:

"Aaron shall present the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself": This means Aaron had to bring a specific bull, designated as the sacrifice to cleanse himself of his own sins and impurities. This highlights that even the High Priest, who mediated between God and the people, was himself a sinner in need of atonement. The bull was his personal sin offering.

"and shall make atonement for himself and for his house": The purpose of the bull sacrifice was to "make atonement" – to cover over, cleanse, and reconcile with God. This atonement was necessary not only for Aaron but also for his household (his family and those living with him). His household would also have been subject to unintentional sins and ritual impurities. This emphasizes that even the high priest's family needed cleansing to maintain the purity of the priesthood.

"and shall kill the bull of the sin offering which is for himself": Aaron himself had to perform the act of killing the bull. This act of slaughter symbolized the transfer of his sin onto the animal, which would then be sacrificed as a substitute. The blood of the bull was crucial to the atonement process.

In summary, this verse emphasizes the following points:

The High Priest's Imperfection: It acknowledges that even the most holy man, Aaron, was a sinner in need of atonement.
The Need for Personal Cleansing: Before Aaron could intercede for the people, he had to cleanse himself and his household. This underlines the importance of personal holiness and purity before approaching God.
Sacrificial Substitution: The bull served as a substitute for Aaron's sin, taking the penalty that he deserved.
The Importance of the Priesthood's Purity: It also emphasizes the need for purity and atonement within the priestly line.