Leviticus 16: The Day of Atonement

Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest enters the Most Holy Place. He offers a bull for himself and a goat for the people, sprinkling blood on the mercy seat. A second goat, the scapegoat, carries the people's sins away into the wilderness. All Israel is cleansed from their sins before Yahweh.

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Read Leviticus 16

World English Bible · 34 verses

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they came near before Yahweh, and died;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² and Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Most Holy Place within the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark; lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ “Aaron shall come into the sanctuary with a young bull for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ He shall put on the holy linen tunic. He shall have the linen trousers on his body, and shall put on the linen sash, and he shall be clothed with the linen turban. They are the holy garments. He shall bathe his body in water, and put them on.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ He shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ “Aaron shall offer the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ He shall take the two goats, and set them before Yahweh at the door of the Tent of Meeting.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for Yahweh, and the other lot for the scapegoat.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for Yahweh, and offer him for a sin offering.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ But the goat on which the lot fell for the scapegoat shall be presented alive before Yahweh, to make atonement for him, to send him away as the scapegoat into the wilderness.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
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.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² He shall take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before Yahweh, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ He shall put the incense on the fire before Yahweh, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the covenant, so that he will not die.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ He shall take some of the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ He shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, even all their sins; and so he shall do for the Tent of Meeting that dwells with them in the middle of their uncleanness.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ No one shall be in the Tent of Meeting when he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, and has made atonement for himself and for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ “He shall go out to the altar that is before Yahweh and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the bull’s blood, and some of the goat’s blood, and put it around on the horns of the altar.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and make it holy from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ “When he has finished atoning for the Holy Place, the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is ready.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² The goat shall carry all their iniquities on himself to a solitary land, and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ “Aaron shall come into the Tent of Meeting, and shall take off the linen garments which he put on when he went into the Holy Place, and shall leave them there.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ Then he shall bathe himself in water in a holy place, put on his garments, and come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, and make atonement for himself and for the people.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ The fat of the sin offering he shall burn on the altar.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ “He who lets the goat go as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ The bull for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be carried outside the camp; and they shall burn their skins, their flesh, and their dung with fire.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ He who burns them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ “It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and shall do no kind of work, whether native-born or a stranger who lives as a foreigner among you;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁰ for on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you. You shall be clean from all your sins before Yahweh.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³¹ It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³² The priest, who is anointed and who is consecrated to be priest in his father’s place, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen garments, even the holy garments.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³³ Then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary; and he shall make atonement for the Tent of Meeting and for the altar; and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁴ “This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.” It was done as Yahweh commanded Moses.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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Leviticus 16 · Preschool

The Goat Goes Away

Name Date

Color the goat walking far away! God takes our sins far away.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“The goat shall carry all their iniquities on himself to a solitary land, and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.”

Leviticus 16:22 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: Once a year a goat was sent far away. It was a picture of God taking sins away. Jesus takes our sins away for good.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Leviticus 16 · Grade 4

The Most Holy Day

Name Date

Read and Think

Leviticus 16 begins after the death of Nadab and Abihu. God warned that Aaron could not come into the Most Holy Place whenever he wished. He could enter only once a year, on the Day of Atonement, wearing simple linen garments and bringing blood.

Aaron first offered a bull to make atonement for himself and his household. Then he took two goats and cast lots. One goat was a sin offering for the people. Its blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat. The other goat became the scapegoat. Aaron laid his hands on its head and confessed all the sins of Israel, and a man led it away into the wilderness.

These two goats show two sides of forgiveness: sin is paid for, and sin is carried away. Hebrews 9 teaches that Jesus, our High Priest, entered the true holy place once for all. He did not bring the blood of goats but His own blood.

Show What You Know

When could Aaron enter the Most Holy Place?
What did Aaron offer for himself?
What did Aaron do with the scapegoat?
What two sides of forgiveness do the goats show?
What blood did Jesus bring according to Hebrews 9?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

goatmercyAaronsinyear

God warned that could not come into the Most Holy Place whenever he wished.
He could enter only once a , on the Day of Atonement, wearing simple linen garments and bringing blood.
One was a sin offering for the people.
Its blood was sprinkled on the seat.
These two goats show two sides of forgiveness: is paid for, and sin is carried away.

Think About It

Which picture helps you most: sin paid for, or sin carried away? Why?
How does it feel to know Jesus entered God's presence for you?

Memory Verse

“This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.” It was done as Yahweh commanded Moses.

Leviticus 16:34 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for taking my sins away. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why was the high priest so careful to follow God's way?
How is Jesus' sacrifice different from the yearly one?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Leviticus 16 · Grade 5

Atonement Once a Year

Name Date

Read and Think

Leviticus 16 opens by recalling the deaths of Nadab and Abihu, who came near to God carelessly. God told Moses that Aaron must not come at just any time into the Most Holy Place, behind the veil, before the mercy seat. The holiness of God was real, and approaching Him required His appointed way. That way was the Day of Atonement, held once a year on the tenth day of the seventh month.

Aaron set aside his glorious garments and wore plain holy linen. He offered a bull for himself and his household, and he brought burning incense so that a cloud would cover the mercy seat. He then cast lots over two goats. The goat for Yahweh was a sin offering for the people, and its blood was sprinkled on and before the mercy seat. Aaron then laid both hands on the head of the live goat, confessed over it all the iniquities of Israel, and sent it into the wilderness by the hand of a ready man.

The people were to rest and afflict their souls, humbling themselves before God. The chapter ends: This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel once in the year because of all their sins. Hebrews 9 and 10 explain that the yearly repetition showed the sacrifices could not finally remove sin. Christ entered heaven itself once for all, by His own blood, obtaining eternal redemption. What Israel saw in a yearly picture, Jesus accomplished forever.

Show What You Know

Why did Aaron need God's appointed way to approach Him?
What did the incense cloud do?
What happened to the goat for Yahweh?
What were the people to do on this day?
According to Hebrews, what did the yearly repetition show?

Crossword

Across

You shall be ____ from all your sins.
The day came once a ____.

Down

The goat sent into the wilderness.
Our great High Priest (Hebrews 9:11-12).
A cloud of it covered the mercy seat.
The ____ seat on the ark.

Think About It

What does it mean to you that Jesus' sacrifice never needs to be repeated?
The people humbled themselves on this day. What might humbling yourself before God look like for you?

Memory Verse

“This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.” It was done as Yahweh commanded Moses.

Leviticus 16:34 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for taking my sins away. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What does the picture of sins carried far away teach you?
How can you rest in God's forgiveness when you feel guilty?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Leviticus 16: The Day of Atonement

Read Leviticus 16

Worksheets

The Goat Goes Away

Prayer

Take It Home

Sins Taken Away

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

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Far, Far Away

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

The Day of Atonement

Prayer

Take It Home

Two Goats

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Once a Year

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

The Day of Atonement

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

The Most Holy Day

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Atonement Once a Year

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options