Kaphar

I have been reading through the first few chapters of Leviticus which describe the sacrifices that Moses taught the Israelites to offer. One of the common Hebrew words in these chapters is “kaphar”. Most English translations turn it into a religious word. Some translate it as “expiate” and others translate it as “propitiate”. These religious translations make it seem like the sacrifices were intended to appease God.

“Kaphar” is an ordinary word that means “covering” or “shelter”. It was used to describe Noah’s ark, because it was a place of protection for his family. Kaphar was used to describe the “bitumen covering” over the ark (Genesis 6:14).

To understand the sacrifices of Leviticus, we need to ask who the Israelites need shelter or covering from. They did not need protection from God. He had already rescued them from slavery in Egypt, and travelled through the wilderness, as a fire by night and a cloud by night. He was already a covering and a shelter for them when they reached Mt Sinai.

The children of Israel needed protection from the spiritual powers of evil. They hated what God was doing and wanted to destroy them. Their tactic was to manipulate the people into sinning against God so that they would have the right to attack them. The tabernacle sacrifices were designed to provide protection from the spiritual powers of evil for people who sinned.

Leviticus 4:26 is an example. It describes the peace offering (called shelem).

The priest will make a covering for him from his sin and he is forgiven to him.

The peace offering makes a covering for the person who has sinned to protect him from the attacks of the spiritual powers of evil. Moses also says that the person who sins is forgiven by God (the Hebrew word “calach” is forgive, not pardon). When the person goes to the priest to put things right with God, he is already forgiven. If God has forgiven him, he does not need to appease God. If he needs to propitiate God, he is not forgiven.

One of the meanest tricks of the enemy is to persuade people who have slipped and fallen that God is angry and wants to deal to them. This creates a shame that separates them from God. The truth is that it is our spiritual enemy that is dealing to people who have fallen and wants to harm and destroy them. Jesus’ parable of the good shepherd, the prodigal son and the lost coin show that God has compassion for those who have failed and wants to draw them into his love. It us the spiritual powers of evil who are angry with them and who want to destroy them.