The Biblical Meanings Of 'Kippur'
The word atonement - 'kippur' - covers, amends, blots out wrongdoing. The Torah also uses it in several different situations in the Holy Scriptures. Below are examples and what I think so far.
Protective Covering
The first use of this word in the Bible is found in the story of Noah and relates to a 'protective covering'.
"God said to Noah: Make an ark out of gopher wood... and you shall coat it from within and from without with [kofer] - pitch (which is a protective coating)." Gen 6:14 The ark was coated with a protective covering in order for it to withstand the mighty waters of the flood.
A Protection Gift
Jacob sent a gift to appease his brother Esau. His explanation for sending this gift: "Maybe I can appease [kaparah] him with this gift that I am sending." Gen 32:21 Jacob did not ask Esau for forgiveness, rather he hoped that his gift will deter Esau from attacking him. The gift was intended to protect him from Esau's anger.
A Covering Of The Ground
In Exodus, the word "kefor" was used to describe the way in which the manna covered the ground. "And behold it was on the face of the wilderness thin and flaky, like 'frost' (kefor) on the land." Ex 16:14
The Biblical meaning of kefor is not quite clear, but it's related to a type of covering, such as frost which covered the ground. I think that it will be the manna from heaven that will be what we are feeding upon in the true Feast of Tabernacles as the world become desolate, deperate, dangerous beyond measure, and the abomination in its ultimate form.
Protection Money
In Exodus 21:30 the word "kofer" is used to describe a payment which can be made in lieu of punishment. This can be understood as protection from punishment. Similarly, in Numbers 35:31 we find the prohibition of accepting "kofer nefesh" - payment in lieu of capital punishment. Yeshua paid the price and took the punishment in our place.
Kippur And The Tabernacle
The Kaporet - Covering
The Holy Ark was an open, gold plated wooden box which contained the tablets. (Ex 25:10-11,21) Moses was commanded to make a kaporet - covering - a golden lid with two cherubim on it, to cover the ark and protect the tablets. (Ex 25:17-22) Just as the cherubim protected the path to the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:24) so too, the Cherubim of the kaporet protected the Tablets. Just as we protect and shine light upon the Holy Ark Contents to the World, so also will God protect us with the cherubims, our angels so that though one thousand may fall on one side and ten thousand on another, there will be no harm to fall on us.
Kippurim And The Seven Day Ceremony
The first ceremonial use of the word kippurim is found in the commandment to perform a seven day dedication ceremony for the Tabernacle. During those seven days a special sin offering called kippurim was offered and the blood was sprinkled on the altar. (Ex 29:1,12) In a similar fashion, the priests were also required kippurim. During this seven day ceremony, the blood was sprinkled on the priests' earlobes, thumbs and toes. This procedure was also referred to as kaparah. During real Feast of Tabernacle fulfillment which lasts seven days, we will need the covering of protection as the last plagues fall upon the world.
"This meat shall be eaten only by the priests who had [kaparah] atonement from them." Ex 29:33
The primary purpose of this ceremony was to perform kaparah on the altar and on the priests.
Why did the altar need a kaparah procedure? Surely it did nothing wrong!
Protection From The Presence of God
The primary purpose of the Tabernacle was to create a place for God's Divine Presence, the Shechinah, to dwell. "And they shall make for Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them." Ex 25:8 The presence of the God as the fire, smoke, Holiness created an environment similar to Mount Sinai, resulting in immediate punishment for any transgression. Because the priests worked in the Tabernacle, and the Altar was designated to become the site where the fire will descend and consume the offerings (Lev 9:24) and protection was necessary. The very next day when Nadab and Abihu made one mistake and received immediate punishment - death! So it will be that after the real Day of Atonement is finished, the children of God are protected with the protective covering that He provided that day. The plagues come.
The entire kippurim ceremony taught Israel that encountering the Shechinah required not only preparation but also protection. The word kippurim is mentioned again when the Alter of Incense is introduced. (Ex 30:1-10) Here we find the first reference in Torah to Yom Kippur itself.
"Aaron must [kaparah] sprinkle blood on its corners once a year from the blood of the kippurim. Once a year he must do [kaparah] atonement on it." Ex 30:10 Notice that sprinkle blood and atonement are the same word.
This special procedure was performed once a year, on the tenth day of the seventh month, to protect the people. (Lev 16:1-34)
Atonement & Protection
In the book of Exodus we find an additional use of the Kippur, when Moses ascended Mount Sinai to ask God to forgive Israel for their sin of the golden calf.
"And Moses told the people, you have committed a terrible sin, and now I will go up to God, possibly I can achieve kaparah, atonement, for your sins." Ex 32:30
Moses was asking God not only to forgive but also protect Israel from the punishment which they deserved. This protection came about after forgiveness so that the repentant can truly go and sin no more. Sin has a habit of holding the sinner captive, and this plan of salvation sets the sinner free from sin and the hold that sin has upon them. The covering is representative of bringing it no more to mind
The sprinkling of the blood (the technical 'kapara') by the High Priest protected the owner of the sacrifice from his due punishment for his transgression, blotting out the writting in the Book of Life which was against the owner of the sacrifice. God forgive him for that sin before the blood was sprinkled, before the owner knew that he needed forgiveness. The kapara is needed to help the owner understand the deed, the consequences, the amendmend to the punishment, and the forgiveness in its totality.
The Tenth Day
On the tenth of the seventh month Israel received the second tablets and were thus forgiven for the sin of the golden calf. God agreed to allow His Shechinah to remain with Israel even though they were not worthy. (Ex 34:9)
Yom Kippur
True atonement can be accomplished only by true repentance at the appoint time when the symbolism in type will become our reality in this last generation. It will cause the special relationship between God and His people to be anchored in the eternal covenant. By understanding the protective nature of Yom Kippur we can better appreciate God's goodness toward us even when we do not deserve it. We will on that day be eternally grateful.
His Mercy and Grace are still available. Let us "Seek God while He may be found, and call on Him while He is near." Isaiah 55:6
The word atonement - 'kippur' - covers, amends, blots out wrongdoing. The Torah also uses it in several different situations in the Holy Scriptures. Below are examples and what I think so far.
Protective Covering
The first use of this word in the Bible is found in the story of Noah and relates to a 'protective covering'.
"God said to Noah: Make an ark out of gopher wood... and you shall coat it from within and from without with [kofer] - pitch (which is a protective coating)." Gen 6:14 The ark was coated with a protective covering in order for it to withstand the mighty waters of the flood.
A Protection Gift
Jacob sent a gift to appease his brother Esau. His explanation for sending this gift: "Maybe I can appease [kaparah] him with this gift that I am sending." Gen 32:21 Jacob did not ask Esau for forgiveness, rather he hoped that his gift will deter Esau from attacking him. The gift was intended to protect him from Esau's anger.
A Covering Of The Ground
In Exodus, the word "kefor" was used to describe the way in which the manna covered the ground. "And behold it was on the face of the wilderness thin and flaky, like 'frost' (kefor) on the land." Ex 16:14
The Biblical meaning of kefor is not quite clear, but it's related to a type of covering, such as frost which covered the ground. I think that it will be the manna from heaven that will be what we are feeding upon in the true Feast of Tabernacles as the world become desolate, deperate, dangerous beyond measure, and the abomination in its ultimate form.
Protection Money
In Exodus 21:30 the word "kofer" is used to describe a payment which can be made in lieu of punishment. This can be understood as protection from punishment. Similarly, in Numbers 35:31 we find the prohibition of accepting "kofer nefesh" - payment in lieu of capital punishment. Yeshua paid the price and took the punishment in our place.
Kippur And The Tabernacle
The Kaporet - Covering
The Holy Ark was an open, gold plated wooden box which contained the tablets. (Ex 25:10-11,21) Moses was commanded to make a kaporet - covering - a golden lid with two cherubim on it, to cover the ark and protect the tablets. (Ex 25:17-22) Just as the cherubim protected the path to the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:24) so too, the Cherubim of the kaporet protected the Tablets. Just as we protect and shine light upon the Holy Ark Contents to the World, so also will God protect us with the cherubims, our angels so that though one thousand may fall on one side and ten thousand on another, there will be no harm to fall on us.
Kippurim And The Seven Day Ceremony
The first ceremonial use of the word kippurim is found in the commandment to perform a seven day dedication ceremony for the Tabernacle. During those seven days a special sin offering called kippurim was offered and the blood was sprinkled on the altar. (Ex 29:1,12) In a similar fashion, the priests were also required kippurim. During this seven day ceremony, the blood was sprinkled on the priests' earlobes, thumbs and toes. This procedure was also referred to as kaparah. During real Feast of Tabernacle fulfillment which lasts seven days, we will need the covering of protection as the last plagues fall upon the world.
"This meat shall be eaten only by the priests who had [kaparah] atonement from them." Ex 29:33
The primary purpose of this ceremony was to perform kaparah on the altar and on the priests.
Why did the altar need a kaparah procedure? Surely it did nothing wrong!
Protection From The Presence of God
The primary purpose of the Tabernacle was to create a place for God's Divine Presence, the Shechinah, to dwell. "And they shall make for Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them." Ex 25:8 The presence of the God as the fire, smoke, Holiness created an environment similar to Mount Sinai, resulting in immediate punishment for any transgression. Because the priests worked in the Tabernacle, and the Altar was designated to become the site where the fire will descend and consume the offerings (Lev 9:24) and protection was necessary. The very next day when Nadab and Abihu made one mistake and received immediate punishment - death! So it will be that after the real Day of Atonement is finished, the children of God are protected with the protective covering that He provided that day. The plagues come.
The entire kippurim ceremony taught Israel that encountering the Shechinah required not only preparation but also protection. The word kippurim is mentioned again when the Alter of Incense is introduced. (Ex 30:1-10) Here we find the first reference in Torah to Yom Kippur itself.
"Aaron must [kaparah] sprinkle blood on its corners once a year from the blood of the kippurim. Once a year he must do [kaparah] atonement on it." Ex 30:10 Notice that sprinkle blood and atonement are the same word.
This special procedure was performed once a year, on the tenth day of the seventh month, to protect the people. (Lev 16:1-34)
Atonement & Protection
In the book of Exodus we find an additional use of the Kippur, when Moses ascended Mount Sinai to ask God to forgive Israel for their sin of the golden calf.
"And Moses told the people, you have committed a terrible sin, and now I will go up to God, possibly I can achieve kaparah, atonement, for your sins." Ex 32:30
Moses was asking God not only to forgive but also protect Israel from the punishment which they deserved. This protection came about after forgiveness so that the repentant can truly go and sin no more. Sin has a habit of holding the sinner captive, and this plan of salvation sets the sinner free from sin and the hold that sin has upon them. The covering is representative of bringing it no more to mind
The sprinkling of the blood (the technical 'kapara') by the High Priest protected the owner of the sacrifice from his due punishment for his transgression, blotting out the writting in the Book of Life which was against the owner of the sacrifice. God forgive him for that sin before the blood was sprinkled, before the owner knew that he needed forgiveness. The kapara is needed to help the owner understand the deed, the consequences, the amendmend to the punishment, and the forgiveness in its totality.
The Tenth Day
On the tenth of the seventh month Israel received the second tablets and were thus forgiven for the sin of the golden calf. God agreed to allow His Shechinah to remain with Israel even though they were not worthy. (Ex 34:9)
Yom Kippur
True atonement can be accomplished only by true repentance at the appoint time when the symbolism in type will become our reality in this last generation. It will cause the special relationship between God and His people to be anchored in the eternal covenant. By understanding the protective nature of Yom Kippur we can better appreciate God's goodness toward us even when we do not deserve it. We will on that day be eternally grateful.
His Mercy and Grace are still available. Let us "Seek God while He may be found, and call on Him while He is near." Isaiah 55:6
