I studied that the word “atonement” as found in Lev. 17:11, and specifically the original Hebrew word (Strong’s #3722) found there is defined as (1) to cover, (2) to conceal or (3) to hide. That makes sense as the blood of animals ONLY concealed, hid or covered the sins of the people UNTIL Christ could come. Then through His blood were their sins “actually removed” as found in Heb. 9:15?
My question, then, is “Why do writers so often speak of Christ’s atoning blood?” I have often wondered, based upon the specific meaning of the word “atonement.” Christ’s blood “did not atone” in the sense of just covering or hiding; rather His blood REMOVED COMPLETELY our sins, did it not? Christ’s blood did not ATONE as the word meaning covers as far as I understand; it actually REMOVED, did it not? I would like your thoughts. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR EFFORTS, SO GREAT OF A WEBSITE. I ENCOURAGE SO MANY TO GO “HERE” IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS. ~ Jack Phillips
The Hebrew word for “atonement” that appears in Leviticus 17:11 means “to cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively, to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel” (Strong). It is variously translated throughout the KJV Old Testament as “appease, make (an atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon, purge (away), put off, (make) reconcile (-liation)” (Strong).
Regarding the summary of teaching in both testaments of the Bible, it is true that absolute forgiveness of sin was not generally available to mankind prior to the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross (Romans 3:25). For instance, under Judaism, there was an annual remembrance of sins (Hebrews 10:1-4). A principle distinction throughout the Book of Hebrews is the relatively inferior Law (Judaism) and lawgiver (Moses) versus the superior New Testament and its Lawgiver, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2; 3:1-6; 8:7-13).
However, the KJV does apply the word “atonement” in Romans 5:11 to the saving activity of our Lord Jesus Christ: “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” There, the Greek word translated “atonement” means, “exchange (figuratively, adjustment), i.e. restoration to (the divine) favor” (Strong). Elsewhere in the KJV, the same Greek word appears as “reconciling” (Romans 11:15) and “reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). The majority of translations consulted (e.g., NKJV, ASV, NIV, YLT, Wuest, ESV, NASV, RSV, Douay-Rheims, NET, NRSV, WEB), especially those that are more nearly translations and less like commentaries, employ the word “reconciliation” in Romans 5:11 instead of “atonement.”
Nevertheless, there is similarity between atonement under Judaism and atonement or reconciliation under Christianity. Under Judaism, God chose not to remember the sins of His faithful children annually year by year. Under Christianity, though, God chooses not to remember the sins of His faithful children permanently, rather than merely one year at a time. “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Hebrews 8:12 NKJV). “Then He adds, ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more’” (Hebrews 10:17). There is similarity in God’s activity respecting not remembering sins, but there exists a contrast in the duration of God not remembering sins of His faithful children between the Old Testament and the New Testament eras.
The reason, of course, that God no longer remembers the sins of His faithful children under Christianity is that through the superior sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, sins are forgiven (1 Peter 1:18-19; 2:24; Revelation 1:5; 5:9). The obedient are saved (Hebrews 5:8-9) whereas those disobedient to the plan of salvation contained within the Gospel or the New Testament remain lost (2 Thessalonians 1:8; 1 Peter 4:17). Salvation occurs because sins have been forgiven, or in other words, because sinners have been pardoned. Immediately following Hebrews 10:17 where it is stated that God does not remember the child of God’s sins anymore, the penman of the Hebrew epistle recorded, “Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin” (Hebrews 10:18). God doesn’t remember the Christian’s sins because he has been pardoned. He has been redeemed or bought back by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14).
Works Cited
Strong, John. Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Seattle: Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, 1994.
