Article April 11, 1936 Issue

Bible Notes

"Aaron shall ... make an atonement for himself, and for his house" (Lev. 16:6)—The Hebrew word for "to make atonement" comes from the root "kaphar"—literally "to cover." The early Hebrews seem to have felt that animal sacrifice was in some way equivalent to self-sacrifice, and the rite was regarded as providing a "covering" for their sins, so putting them out of sight, or obliterating them. (Cf. Hastings' Bible Dictionary: Article, "Atonement.")

"Christ being come an high priest ... entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us" (Hebr. 9:11f.)—According to the Old Testament, the Jewish high priest was to enter the inner sanctuary of the tabernacle once every year, for the purpose of making "an atonement" (Ex. 30:10); but the writer of the epistle to the Hebrews suggests that the high priest of the New Testament, Christ Jesus, "entered in once for all into the holy place" (as the Revised Version expresses it), adding that the "redemption" which he obtained was "eternal."

"My servant shall deal prudently" (Isa. 52:13)—The Hebrew verb here translated "deal prudently" has various shades of meaning, including "to have insight, intelligence, or understanding; to prosper" (cf. Feyerabend: Hebrew Dictionary, p. 332). The Septuagint translates the verse: "Behold, my servant shall understand and be exalted and glorified exceedingly."

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