Leviticus 16:17

And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy [place], until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.

And there shall be no man {H120} in the tabernacle {H168} of the congregation {H4150} when he goeth {H935} in to make an atonement {H3722} in the holy {H6944} place, until he come out {H3318}, and have made an atonement {H3722} for himself, and for his household {H1004}, and for all the congregation {H6951} of Israel {H3478}.

No one is to be present in the tent of meeting from the time he enters the Holy Place to make atonement until the time he comes out, having made atonement for himself, for his household and for the entire community of Isra'el.

No one may be in the Tent of Meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he leaves, after he has made atonement for himself, his household, and the whole assembly of Israel.

And there shall be no man in the tent of meeting when he goeth in to make atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel.

Commentary

Leviticus 16:17 describes a crucial moment in the annual Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) ritual, emphasizing the High Priest's solitary and sacred role.

Context

This verse is part of the detailed instructions for the Day of Atonement, outlined in Leviticus chapter 16. Once a year, on this most solemn day, the High Priest (initially Aaron, then his successors) was required to enter the Holy of Holies within the Tabernacle to make atonement for the sins of himself, his household, and the entire nation of Israel. The strict command that "no man" should be present underscores the profound sanctity and danger associated with entering God's immediate presence.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Solitary Atonement: The absolute solitude of the High Priest during this critical phase highlights the unique and unrepeatable nature of the atonement process. No human assistant or observer could share in this divine encounter, underscoring the gravity and personal responsibility of the mediator.
  • God's Holiness: The prohibition of anyone else in the tabernacle serves as a stark reminder of God's absolute holiness and the sacredness of His presence. Only the designated High Priest, after extensive purification rites, could approach the mercy seat.
  • Mediatorial Role: The High Priest acted as the sole human mediator between a holy God and a sinful people. His work was comprehensive, covering himself, his family, and "all the congregation of Israel," demonstrating the collective need for divine forgiveness.
  • Anticipation of Christ: This Old Testament ritual powerfully foreshadows the ultimate and perfect work of Jesus Christ. Just as the High Priest entered the earthly Holy of Holies alone to make atonement, Christ, our true High Priest, entered the heavenly sanctuary once for all, offering His own blood as the perfect sacrifice. This is elaborated upon in the New Testament, particularly in the book of Hebrews, where it states that Christ entered "not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "atonement" is kāpar (Χ›ΦΈΦΌΧ€Φ·Χ¨), which fundamentally means "to cover," "to purge," or "to make propitiation." It signifies the act of covering sins from God's sight, thereby appeasing His wrath and restoring relationship. The "holy [place]" refers specifically to the innermost sanctuary, the Holy of Holies (qodesh haqqodashim), where the Ark of the Covenant resided.

Practical Application

Leviticus 16:17 teaches us several timeless truths:

  • The Seriousness of Sin: The elaborate, annual ritual underscores the severe consequences of sin and humanity's constant need for divine intervention to reconcile with a holy God.
  • The Sufficiency of Christ: While the Old Testament High Priest's work was annual and temporary, it pointed to the permanent and complete work of Jesus. We no longer need human intermediaries or repeated sacrifices, as Christ's single offering has perfected those who are sanctified.
  • Direct Access to God: Through Christ's finished work, believers now have direct access to God's presence, symbolized by the tearing of the temple veil at His crucifixion (Matthew 27:51), fulfilling what the Old Testament rituals foreshadowed.
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Cross-References

  • Leviticus 16:10

    But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, [and] to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

  • Leviticus 16:11

    And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which [is] for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which [is] for himself:

  • Exodus 34:3

    And no man shall come up with thee, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount.

  • Isaiah 53:6

    All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

  • Luke 1:10

    And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

  • Acts 4:12

    Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

  • 1 Timothy 2:5

    For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
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