Leviticus 16 · Verse 2

Leviticus 16:2

And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
Leviticus 16:2, King James Version

Leviticus 16:2 in other translations

BSBAnd the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.
WEBand the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Most Holy Place within the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark; lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat.
ASVand Jehovah said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil, before the mercy-seat which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy-seat.
YLTyea, Jehovah saith unto Moses, ‘Speak unto Aaron thy brother, and he cometh not in at all times unto the sanctuary within the vail, unto the front of the mercy-seat, which is upon the ark, and he dieth not, for in a cloud I am seen upon the mercy-seat.
DARBYand Jehovah said to Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the sanctuary inside the veil before the mercy-seat which is upon the ark, that he die not; for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy-seat.
BBEThe Lord said to Moses, Say to Aaron, your brother, that he may not come at all times into the holy place inside the veil, before the cover which is on the ark, for fear that death may overtake him; for I will be seen in the cloud on the cover of the ark.
WebsterAnd the LORD said to Moses, Speak to Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail, before the mercy-seat, which is upon the ark; that he may not die: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy-seat.

What does Leviticus 16:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil, &c.--Common priests went every day into the part of the sanctuary without the veil to burn incense on the golden altar. But none except the high priest was allowed to enter within the veil, and that only once a year with the greatest care and solemnity. This arrangement was evidently designed to inspire a reverence for the most holy place, and the precaution was necessary at a time when the presence of God was indicated by sensible symbols, the impression of which might have been diminished or lost by daily and familiar observation. I will appear in the cloud--that is, the smoke of the incense which the high priest burnt on his yearly entrance into the most holy place: and this was the cloud which at that time covered the mercy seat.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 That he come not at all times into the holy place - By the holy place we are to understand here what is ordinarily called the Holy of Holies, or most holy place; that place within the veil where the ark of the covenant, etc., were laid up; and where God manifested his presence between the cherubim. In ordinary cases the high priest could enter this place only once in the year, that is, on the day of annual atonement; but in extraordinary cases he might enter more frequently, viz., while in the wilderness, in decamping and encamping, he must enter to take down or adjust the things; and on solemn pressing public occasions, he was obliged to enter in order to consult the Lord: but he never entered without the deepest reverence and due preparation. That it may appear that the grand subject of this chapter, the ordinance of the scape-goat, typified the death and resurrection of Christ, and the atonement thereby made, I beg leave to refer to Heb 9:7-12, and Heb 9:24-26, which I shall here transcribe, because it is a key to the whole of this chapter. "Into the second [tabernacle] went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people. The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come, a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the Blood of Goats and Calves, but by his Own Blood; he entered into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with the blood of others; (for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world); but now once in the end of the world, hath he appeared To Put Away Sin By The Sacrifice Of Himself."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Leviticus 16:1-14

The sacrifices on it, The scape-goat. (15-34) Verses 1-14 Without entering into particulars of the sacrifices on the great day of atonement, we may notice that it was to be a statute for ever, till that dispensation be at an end. As long as we are continually sinning, we continually need the atonement. The law of afflicting our souls for sin, is a statue which will continue in force till we arrive where all tears…

Read the full comment on Leviticus 16:1-14 →

Leviticus 16:2 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
יְהוָ֜הYah.wehYahwehH3068
אֶל\־'el-toH413
מֹשֶׁ֗הmo.ShehMosesH4872
דַּבֵּר֮da.BerspeakH1696
אֶל\־'el-toH413
אַהֲרֹ֣ן'a.ha.RonAaronH175
אָחִיךָ֒'a.chi.Khabrother yourH251
וְאַל\־ve.'al-and may notH408
יָבֹ֤אya.Vo'he comeH935
בְכָל\־ve.khol-at everyH3605
עֵת֙'ettimeH6256
אֶל\־'el-intoH413
הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁha.Ko.deshthe holy placeH6944
מִבֵּ֖יתmi.Beitfrom insideH1004
לַפָּרֹ֑כֶתla.pa.Ro.khetto the curtainH6532
אֶל\־'el-toH413
פְּנֵ֨יpe.Nei[the] face ofH6440
הַכַּפֹּ֜רֶתha.ka.Po.retthe atonement coverH3727
אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherwhichH834
עַל\־'al-[is] onH5921
הָאָרֹן֙ha.'a.Ronthe arkH727
וְלֹ֣אve.Lo'and notH3808
יָמ֔וּתya.Muthe will dieH4191
כִּ֚יkiforH3588
בֶּֽעָנָ֔ןbe.'a.Nanin the cloudH6051
אֵרָאֶ֖ה'e.ra.'EhI will appearH7200
עַל\־'al-overH5921
הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת\׃ha.ka.Po.retthe atonement coverH3727

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Leviticus 16:2

  • Exodus 30:10

    And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the Lord.

  • 1 Kings 8:10-12

    And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord. Then spake Solomon, The Lord said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

  • Hebrews 10:19-20

    Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

  • Hebrews 9:25

    Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

  • Hebrews 9:7-8

    But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

  • 1 Kings 8:6

    And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims.

  • 2 Chronicles 5:14

    So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.

  • Matthew 27:51

    And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

  • Exodus 40:34-35

    Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

  • Hebrews 9:3

    And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

  • Leviticus 8:35

    Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the Lord, that ye die not: for so I am commanded.

  • Hebrews 4:14-16

    Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he come not.
23:27; Ex 26:33,34; 30:10; 40:20,21; 1Ki 8:6; Heb 9:3,7,8
Heb 10:19,20
that he die not.
13; 8:35; Nu 4:19; 17:10; Mt 27:51; Heb 4:14-16; 10:19
in the cloud.
Ex 40:34,35; 1Ki 8:10-12; 2Ch 5:14
the mercy seat.
Ex 25:17-22

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Leviticus 16:1

    And the Lord spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the Lord, and died;

  • Leviticus 16:2

    And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.

  • Leviticus 16:3

    Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.

Read all of Leviticus 16

Leviticus 16:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y Jehová dijo á Moisés: Di á Aarón tu hermano, que no en todo tiempo entre en el santuario del velo adentro, delante de la cubierta que está sobre el arca, para que no muera: porque yo apareceré en la nube sobre la cubierta.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
et l’ Éternel dit à Moïse: Dis à Aaron, ton frère, qu’il n’entre pas en tout temps dans le lieu saint, au-dedans du voile, devant le propitiatoire qui est sur l’arche, afin qu’il ne meure pas; car j’apparais dans la nuée sur le propitiatoire.
German
Elberfelder 1871
und Jehova sprach zu Mose: Rede zu deinem Bruder Aaron, daß er nicht zu aller Zeit in das Heiligtum hineingehe innerhalb des Vorhangs, vor den Deckel, der auf der Lade ist, damit er nicht sterbe; denn ich erscheine in der Wolke über dem Deckel.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
et præcepit ei, dicens: Loquere ad Aaron fratrem tuum, ne omni tempore ingrediatur sanctuarium, quod est intra velum coram propitiatorio quo tegitur arca, ut non moriatur (quia in nube apparebo super oraculum),