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What is the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur?

The Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, is the most somber holy day of all the Fall Feasts of the Lord.

In ancient Hebrew, this was an appointed day of repentance when blood was shed to atone for sin. This was fulfilled in Yeshua when His blood was shed, atoning for our sin.

“And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”—1 John 2:2

What Does Yom Kippur Mean?

Yom: The word Yom is translated as ‘day.’

Kippur: The word Kippur is translated as ‘atonement.’ The Hebrew letters in Kippur are…

• Kaf—to cover, to allow, to atone, palm of the hand
• Pey—to speak, mouth
• Reysh (or Resh)—the head, highest, most important, supreme, master, the top

In short, Yom Kippur literally means, ‘day of atonement.’ It is the day when the Supreme Master or Judge declares judgment on those who have committed a crime or rebelled against the law. But instead of decreeing, “Guilty!” He covers His mouth with His palm and refuses to give a guilty verdict because of the blood sacrifice.

When is the Day of Atonement in the Bible?

It is a day of repentance that falls each year on the 10th day of the month of Tishrei in the Hebraic calendar—beginning at sunset the day prior and ending at sunset on the 10th of Tishrei.

On the Gregorian calendar, this feast falls either in the month of September or October.

The Day of Atonement/Yom Kippur in the Bible…

Leviticus 10 says that Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, “offered a profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them” (Leviticus 10:1).

As a result, they died.

Moses prophesied…

• “… ‘This is what the Lord spoke, saying: “By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.”’”—Leviticus 10:3
• “… ‘Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil… come into the Holy Place: with the blood of a young bull as a sin offering… and make atonement for himself and for his house.’”—Leviticus 16:2, 3, 6 (emphasis added)

In other words, the Lord wanted His people to understand His holiness and the appointed time to come to Him. This isn’t to say we can’t approach His throne at any time…

• “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”—Hebrews 4:16

… but to consider the moeds or appointed times on God’s calendar when He asks us to draw near and to return to Him, repenting and rededicating ourselves to the covenant so that we do not forget His holiness and our relationship with Him.

The Lord instructs the people of God to keep this as a statute forever…