Definition: And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priestâs office in his fatherâs stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, [even] the holy garments:
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Leviticus 16:32. It’s a really important part of understanding how God deals with sin and offers forgiveness. Here's what it means in simpler terms: Basically, this verse describes a very specific ritual to make amends for a serious mistake. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “And the priest, whom he shall anoint…” : This refers to a priest – someone specifically chosen to represent God and offer forgiveness. “…and whom he shall consecrate to minister in his father’s stead…” : This is the key part. The priest is being replaced . He’s being given a temporary role as a substitute for the previous priest, who made a terrible mistake (likely involving offering an unclean animal). “Shall make the atonement…” : “Atonement” means to make things right – to atone for something wrong. It's like saying "it's okay, we’ll fix this." “…and shall put on the linen clothes, [even] the holy garments:” This is a very symbolic part. The priest is wearing special robes (linen clothes) and he’s being given “holy garments” – meaning they’re made with significance and purity. The idea is that these clothes represent God's grace and his forgiveness. So, what was the mistake? The verse talks about a goat offering unclean meat, which brought shame to God and led to a terrible problem for the people. The priest had to make amends – to atone for this transgression. What’s the point of this ritual? It's all about showing that the priest is truly sorry and understands the seriousness of their mistake. By wearing these special clothes, he’s demonstrating a commitment to God’s forgiveness and offering a way for the people to be cleansed. In short, it’s a symbolic act of repentance and offering forgiveness. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of this verse? Give you an example of how this ritual was used in history? Discuss the significance of the symbolism behind these garments?