This verse emphasizes the perpetual responsibility of the high priest to serve God, wear holy garments, and make atonement on behalf of the people.
Leviticus 16 describes the annual Day of Atonement, a central aspect of Israel’s worship where the high priest made atonement for the sins of the entire community. In the middle of God’s instructions, we read, “So the priest who is anointed and ordained to serve as priest in his father’s place shall make atonement. He shall thus put on the linen garments, the holy garments” (Leviticus 16:32). These words focus on the importance of succession and the consecration of the high priest. Aaron, who served around 1440 BC as the first high priest, received these regulations from Moses, and the command continued through his descendants. By wearing the “linen garments,” the high priest entered the Holy Place to stand before the Lord. This linen attire emphasized holiness and humility, distinct from the more ornate robes typically worn outside these sacred rituals.
When Leviticus 16:32 says, “So the priest who is anointed and ordained to serve … shall make atonement” (v.32), it underscores that this role did not end with Aaron but was handed down through generations. The anointing and ordination set the priest apart, dedicating him to be the mediator between Israel and the Lord on the Day of Atonement. According to the broader context of Leviticus 16, culminating in the sprinkling of blood for sin’s remission, the high priest’s special calling was to secure forgiveness for the people (see also commentary on the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16:8-9, 15;). This system of atonement foreshadowed the role of Christ as the perfect High Priest who presented His own blood for our sins once and for all (Hebrews 9:24-28).
Even though the high priest of ancient Israel entered yearly into the Most Holy Place, these garments and this ritual pointed forward to Jesus, who offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice and now mediates in the heavenly tabernacle (Hebrews 9:11-12). The reference to the “linen garments” highlights the purity required to stand before a holy God. Although believers today do not observe the physical rituals, the emphasis on holiness and the need for atonement remains central to a proper relationship with the Lord.
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Leviticus 16:32 meaning
Leviticus 16 describes the annual Day of Atonement, a central aspect of Israel’s worship where the high priest made atonement for the sins of the entire community. In the middle of God’s instructions, we read, “So the priest who is anointed and ordained to serve as priest in his father’s place shall make atonement. He shall thus put on the linen garments, the holy garments” (Leviticus 16:32). These words focus on the importance of succession and the consecration of the high priest. Aaron, who served around 1440 BC as the first high priest, received these regulations from Moses, and the command continued through his descendants. By wearing the “linen garments,” the high priest entered the Holy Place to stand before the Lord. This linen attire emphasized holiness and humility, distinct from the more ornate robes typically worn outside these sacred rituals.
When Leviticus 16:32 says, “So the priest who is anointed and ordained to serve … shall make atonement” (v.32), it underscores that this role did not end with Aaron but was handed down through generations. The anointing and ordination set the priest apart, dedicating him to be the mediator between Israel and the Lord on the Day of Atonement. According to the broader context of Leviticus 16, culminating in the sprinkling of blood for sin’s remission, the high priest’s special calling was to secure forgiveness for the people (see also commentary on the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16:8-9, 15;). This system of atonement foreshadowed the role of Christ as the perfect High Priest who presented His own blood for our sins once and for all (Hebrews 9:24-28).
Even though the high priest of ancient Israel entered yearly into the Most Holy Place, these garments and this ritual pointed forward to Jesus, who offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice and now mediates in the heavenly tabernacle (Hebrews 9:11-12). The reference to the “linen garments” highlights the purity required to stand before a holy God. Although believers today do not observe the physical rituals, the emphasis on holiness and the need for atonement remains central to a proper relationship with the Lord.