Atonement — Meaning in the Bible
Making things right between God and people by dealing with sin. In Israel atonement was made through sacrifices, especially on the Day of Atonement; the New Testament presents Jesus' death as the sacrifice for sins.
What it means
Leviticus describes the priest making atonement for people through sacrifices, and once a year on the Day of Atonement for the whole nation, when the high priest entered the most holy place. Leviticus 4:20Leviticus 16:29–34Leviticus 17:11
Hebrews explains Jesus' death through this pattern: he entered once for all with his own blood. John writes that Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Hebrews 9:11–14Hebrews 9:24–281 John 2:2Romans 3:25
Key passages
- Leviticus 16:1–34 — The Day of Atonement.
- Leviticus 17:11 — Life is in the blood, given for atonement.
- Isaiah 53:4–6 — The servant bears the sins of many.
- Romans 3:25 — God set forth Christ as an atoning sacrifice.
- Hebrews 9:11–14 — Christ entered once for all.
- 1 John 2:1–2 — The atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Original language
כִּפֶּר ki.pher
Hebrew · Strong’s H3722a · gloss: “to atone”
The Hebrew verb used for "make atonement". Leviticus 16:30
ἱλασμός hilasmos
Greek · Strong’s G2434 · gloss: “propitiation”
A Greek word translated "atoning sacrifice" or "propitiation". 1 John 2:2
A Strong’s number is a reference identifier, not a complete definition: what a word means in a passage depends on its context. Lexical data: STEPBible.org, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
How translations differ
- Romans 3:25 and 1 John 2:2 are translated "propitiation", "atoning sacrifice" or "sacrifice of atonement" in different versions, reflecting different emphases in understanding the Greek. Romans 3:251 John 2:2
Study further
- Leviticus 16:1–34 The ritual.
- Isaiah 52:13–53:12 The suffering servant.
- Hebrews 9:1–28 Hebrews explains Christ's work.