Definition: 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:
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Leviticus 16:11. It's a pretty significant passage about how sacrifices were performed in ancient Israel. Here’s what it means, explained simply: The Core Idea: This verse describes a special ritual – the “sin offering” – that Aaron, one of God’s priests, had to perform. It was a way for him to make amends for his own sins and for the entire nation. Let's break it down word by word: “And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering…” - This means Aaron is responsible for bringing a specific type of animal – a bullock (a large, mature cattle) – that’s considered a “sin offering.” “…which [is] for himself:” - This is very important. It emphasizes that this offering was specifically for him . He wasn't offering it to God as a sacrifice for the entire community. It was his personal offering. What’s happening next? “He shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house…” - This is where it gets more complex. "Atonement" means to make things right – to undo harm or wrongdoing. Aaron needed to offer this animal as a way to forgive his own mistakes and the sins of his family . It was a symbolic act that would cleanse him and his household of guilt. “and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which [is] for himself:” - This is the action itself. He had to kill this particular animal – a bullock – as a sign of repentance and acknowledging his sins. Why was this done? The ancient Israelites believed that humans were inherently flawed and prone to making mistakes. The sin offering acted as a way for Aaron to demonstrate his commitment to God, acknowledge his imperfections, and seek forgiveness. It was a crucial part of the ritualistic process and helped maintain a connection between the people and God. In short: This verse describes Aaron’s responsibility to bring a specific animal (the sin offering) as a personal act of repentance, acknowledging his own faults, and seeking God's forgiveness for himself and his family. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of Leviticus 16? Discuss the significance of this verse in relation to Jewish tradition? Give a quick summary of what it was intended to achieve?