3725. kippur
Lexical Summary
kippur: Atonement

Original Word: כִּפֻּר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: kippur
Pronunciation: kip-POOR
Phonetic Spelling: (kip-poor')
KJV: atonement
NASB: atonement
Word Origin: [from H3722 (כָּפַר - To cover)]

1. expiation (only in plural)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
expiation

From kaphar; expiation (only in plural):

see HEBREW kaphar

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from the same as kopher
Definition
atonement
NASB Translation
atonement (8).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
כִּמֻּרִים noun plural abstract atonement, only in P: ׳הַטַּאת הַכּ sin-offering of the atonement Exodus 30:10; Numbers 29:11; ׳יוֺם (ה)כ day of (the) atonement Leviticus 23:27,28; Leviticus 25:9; ׳אֵיל הַכּ Numbers 5:8; ׳עַלהַֿכּ Exodus 29:36; ׳כֶּסֶף הכ Exodus 30:16 money of atonement.

Topical Lexicon
Essence of the Term

Kippur denotes the decisive act by which guilt is covered, removed, or purged so that the covenant relationship between the LORD and His people is preserved in holiness. Every occurrence is tethered to sacrificial blood, priestly mediation, and divine forgiveness.

Canonical Distribution

Exodus 30:10 anchors the term in the yearly rite upon the golden altar. Leviticus concentrates kippur within the seventh-month festivals—twice in the Day of Atonement legislation (Leviticus 23:27, 28) and once in the Jubilee trumpet text (Leviticus 25:9). Numbers extends the reach of kippur to personal restitution (Numbers 5:8) and to the additional offerings of the seventh month (Numbers 29:11).

Cultic Center—Day of Atonement

Leviticus 23 portrays the Day of Atonement as a “sabbath of complete rest” when Israel must “humble” itself (Leviticus 23:27). Here kippur is the climactic purpose of the entire day: the high priest enters the Most Holy Place with blood, cleansing sanctuary and nation alike. The repeated pairing of kippur with self-affliction ties inner repentance to the external rite, showing that forgiveness is both objective (secured by blood) and experiential (embraced through contrition).

Sanctuary Maintenance—Exodus 30:10

“Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns… with the blood of the sin offering of atonement”. The yearly application of sacrificial blood on the altar’s horns prevents the accumulation of defilement in God’s dwelling. Kippur therefore safeguards continued access to the divine presence and foreshadows the once-for-all cleansing secured by Christ, who did not need to offer yearly (Hebrews 9:25–26).

Social Justice Dimension—Numbers 5:8

Restitution offerings for theft or fraud culminate in a “ram of atonement.” The offender’s guilt is addressed both horizontally (repayment) and vertically (sacrifice). Kippur thus enforces the indivisible bond between ethics and worship: reconciliation with neighbor and reconciliation with God stand or fall together.

Festival Overflow—Leviticus 25:9; Numbers 29:11

At the sounding of the Jubilee trumpet on the Day of Atonement, kippur launches an era of liberty, land restoration, and debt cancellation. Likewise, Numbers 29:11 supplements the feast of Booths with a “sin offering of atonement,” integrating kippur into Israel’s annual rhythm of joy. These texts show that true freedom and celebration rest on prior atonement.

Theological Trajectory to the New Covenant

The Septuagint translates kippur with hilasmos and derivatives, vocabulary later applied to Jesus Christ (for example, 1 John 2:2). The shadow becomes substance: the blood of goats and bulls anticipated the “better sacrifice” (Hebrews 9:23). As High Priest and offering in one, Christ entered “once for all into the Holy Place, securing eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12). Therefore every Old Testament kippur points forward to the cross, where divine justice and mercy kiss.

Pastoral and Missional Implications

1. Proclaim complete forgiveness. The annual repetition in Torah underscores the finality of Calvary; believers stand perpetually cleansed.
2. Cultivate humility and repentance. Leviticus links kippur to self-affliction; gospel worship still calls for contrite hearts.
3. Pursue holistic reconciliation. Numbers 5:8 ties atonement to restitution; ministries of mercy embody the gospel’s reconciling power.
4. Announce jubilee liberty. Leviticus 25:9 frames kippur as the doorway to freedom; evangelism invites captives into that liberty (Luke 4:18–19).

In every context, kippur heralds God’s gracious provision to cover sin, restore relationship, and unleash joyful service.

Forms and Transliterations
הַכִּפֻּרִ֔ים הַכִּפֻּרִ֗ים הַכִּפֻּרִ֣ים הַכִּפֻּרִים֙ הכפרים כִּפֻּרִים֙ כפרים hak·kip·pu·rîm hakkippuRim hakkippurîm kip·pu·rîm kippuRim kippurîm
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Exodus 30:10
HEB: מִדַּ֞ם חַטַּ֣את הַכִּפֻּרִ֗ים אַחַ֤ת בַּשָּׁנָה֙
NAS: of the sin offering of atonement once
KJV: of the sin offering of atonements: once
INT: the blood of the sin of atonement once A year

Leviticus 23:27
HEB: הַזֶּ֜ה י֧וֹם הַכִּפֻּרִ֣ים ה֗וּא מִֽקְרָא־
NAS: is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy
KJV: [there shall be] a day of atonement: it shall be an holy
INT: of this is the day of atonement he convocation

Leviticus 23:28
HEB: כִּ֣י י֤וֹם כִּפֻּרִים֙ ה֔וּא לְכַפֵּ֣ר
NAS: for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement
KJV: for it [is] a day of atonement, to make an atonement
INT: is a day of atonement he to make

Leviticus 25:9
HEB: לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ בְּיוֹם֙ הַכִּפֻּרִ֔ים תַּעֲבִ֥ירוּ שׁוֹפָ֖ר
NAS: on the day of atonement you shall sound
KJV: in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet
INT: month the day of atonement shall sound horn

Numbers 5:8
HEB: מִלְּבַ֗ד אֵ֚יל הַכִּפֻּרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְכַפֶּר־
NAS: the ram of atonement, by which
KJV: beside the ram of the atonement, whereby an atonement shall be made
INT: alone the ram of atonement which atonement

Numbers 29:11
HEB: מִלְּבַ֞ד חַטַּ֤את הַכִּפֻּרִים֙ וְעֹלַ֣ת הַתָּמִ֔יד
NAS: the sin offering of atonement and the continual
KJV: beside the sin offering of atonement, and the continual
INT: alone offering of atonement burnt and the continual

6 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 3725
6 Occurrences


hak·kip·pu·rîm — 5 Occ.
kip·pu·rîm — 1 Occ.

3724d
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