# H3722 - kaphar **Strong's:** [H3722](https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3722/) · BLB lookup **Pronunciation:** kaw-far' **Part of speech:** verb (Piel typically; also Pual, Hithpael) **OT occurrences:** ~102 in verbal forms; ~150 in cognate noun *kippur* / *kapporet* **Greek equivalent (LXX):** *exilaskomai* / *hilaskomai*, see [G2434 - hilasmos](/codex/g2434-hilasmos/) / [G2435 - hilasterion](/codex/g2435-hilasterion/) ## Semantic range 1. **To cover, atone, make atonement**, the dominant cultic / theological sense 2. **To pacify, appease** ([Genesis 32:20](/codex/genesis-32-20/), Jacob: "I will *cover* his face with the present that goes before me") 3. **To wipe away, blot out** in some contexts 4. **To purge, cleanse** in cultic contexts 5. **To pay a ransom** in some contexts The etymological discussion: - **"Cover"**, from cognate Akkadian *kapāru* (to cover); the sins are *covered* by the atoning blood - **"Wipe"**, alternative etymology; the sins are *wiped away* - **"Pay ransom"**, from cognate *kopher* (a ransom-price); atonement as substitutionary payment The conservative consensus combines these, *kaphar* signifies *the action by which sin is dealt with*, covered, removed, and the sinner ransomed-by-substitution. ## Theological force, atonement *Kaphar* is the **central OT verb for atonement**. The cognate noun *kippur* (atonement) gives the name *Yom Kippur* (Day of Atonement, [Leviticus 16](/codex/leviticus-16/); 23:27-32). The cognate noun *kapporet* (mercy seat, [Exodus 25:17-22](/codex/exodus-25-17-22/)) is the locus where atonement is enacted, see [G2435 - hilasterion](/codex/g2435-hilasterion/). ### Levitical-sacrificial context The Levitical system uses *kaphar* extensively for the priest making atonement: - **[Leviticus 1:4](/codex/leviticus-1-4/)**, burnt offering "to *kaphar* on his behalf" - **[Leviticus 4:20](/codex/leviticus-4-20/), [26](/codex/leviticus-4-26/), [31](/codex/leviticus-4-31/), [35](/codex/leviticus-4-35/)**, sin offering atonement - **[Leviticus 5:6](/codex/leviticus-5-6/), [10](/codex/leviticus-5-10/), [13](/codex/leviticus-5-13/), [16](/codex/leviticus-5-16/), [18](/codex/leviticus-5-18/); 6:7**, guilt / sin offerings - **[Leviticus 16](/codex/leviticus-16/)**, Day of Atonement, *kaphar* repeated 16 times in this chapter alone - **[Leviticus 17:11](/codex/leviticus-17-11/)**, "I have given it [the blood] to you on the altar to *kaphar* for your *nephesh*; for it is the blood by reason of the *nephesh* that makes atonement" ### The Day of Atonement ([Leviticus 16](/codex/leviticus-16/)) The annual *Yom Kippur* ritual: 1. The high priest sacrifices a bull for himself ([Lev 16:6](/codex/leviticus-16-6/), [11](/codex/leviticus-16-11/)) 2. He casts lots over two goats ([Lev 16:7-10](/codex/leviticus-16-7-10/)) 3. One goat is sacrificed; its blood sprinkled on the *kapporet* / mercy seat ([Lev 16:15-19](/codex/leviticus-16-15-19/)) 4. The other goat, the *azazel* (scapegoat), has the priest's hands laid on it; it bears the people's sins to the wilderness ([Lev 16:20-22](/codex/leviticus-16-20-22/)) The two-goat-pattern displays the dual aspect of *kaphar*: - **Substitutionary blood**, the slaughtered goat's blood as atonement - **Sin-removal**, the scapegoat carries away the sins Christ fulfills both ([Hebrews 9](/codex/hebrews-9/)-10): His blood atones AND His sin-bearing removes guilt. ### *Kaphar* as substitutionary atonement [Leviticus 17:11](/codex/leviticus-17-11/)'s principle, *the blood makes atonement for the soul*, establishes the substitutionary-blood structure: - The *life* (in the blood) is given - The life atones for the *life* of the worshipper - One life given for another The pattern grounds NT substitutionary-atonement ([Hebrews 9:22](/codex/hebrews-9-22/), "without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness"). Christ's blood is *the kaphar-blood* of the New Covenant, His life given for ours. ### Theological dimensions of *kaphar* The verb captures multiple aspects: 1. **Covering**, sin is covered, hidden from God's wrath 2. **Cleansing**, the worshipper / community is purified 3. **Ransom**, the sinner is bought free (cognate *kopher*, [Exodus 21:30](/codex/exodus-21-30/); [Job 33:24](/codex/job-33-24/)) 4. **Propitiation**, God's wrath is satisfied / appeased (the LXX *hilaskomai* preserves this) 5. **Reconciliation**, relationship restored These dimensions are not mutually exclusive; they capture different angles of one comprehensive divine-sacrificial-action. ## Christological fulfillment, [Hebrews 9](/codex/hebrews-9/)-10 [Hebrews 9](/codex/hebrews-9/)-10 develops the Christological fulfillment of *kaphar* extensively: - Christ enters the heavenly *kapporet* with His own blood ([Heb 9:11-14](/codex/hebrews-9-11-14/), [24-26](/codex/hebrews-9-24-26/)) - One sacrifice for sins forever ([Heb 10:11-14](/codex/hebrews-10-11-14/)) - The OT system was a shadow; the *sōma* belongs to Christ ([Heb 10:1](/codex/hebrews-10-1/); [Col 2:17](/codex/colossians-2-17/)) - Christ as the eternal priest after the order of Melchizedek ([Heb 7](/codex/hebrews-7/)) offers the eternal-once-for-all *kaphar* ([Heb 9:12](/codex/hebrews-9-12/), [25-28](/codex/hebrews-9-25-28/); 10:10, 12, 14) The trajectory: OT *kaphar* (annual, repeated, by animal blood) → NT *kaphar* (once, eternal, by Christ's blood). The OT shadow is fulfilled in the NT substance. ## *Kopher* (cognate noun) The cognate *kopher* (H3724), *ransom-price*, appears 17 times. Notable: - **[Exodus 21:30](/codex/exodus-21-30/)**, *kopher* for accidental death - **[Numbers 35:31-32](/codex/numbers-35-31-32/)**, no *kopher* for murder (capital crime) - **[Job 33:24](/codex/job-33-24/)**, God finds a *kopher* - **[Psalm 49:7-8](/codex/psalms-49-7-8/)**, no man can give a *kopher* for his brother (anticipating Christ's unique role) - **[Proverbs 6:35](/codex/proverbs-6-35/); 13:8; 21:18**, proverbial uses [Mark 10:45](/codex/mark-10-45/) ([G3083 - lytron](/codex/g3083-lytron/), *lytron* / ransom) corresponds to this *kopher* tradition: Christ as the unique-effective ransom that human beings cannot pay. ## Notable verses - **[Leviticus 16](/codex/leviticus-16/)**, Day of Atonement - **[Leviticus 17:11](/codex/leviticus-17-11/)**, substitutionary-blood principle - **[Numbers 25:13](/codex/numbers-25-13/)**, Phinehas's *kaphar* through zeal - **[Deuteronomy 21:8](/codex/deuteronomy-21-8/)**, *kaphar* for unsolved murder - **[2 Samuel 21:3](/codex/2-samuel-21-3/)**, David seeking *kaphar* for Saul's bloodguilt - **[Psalm 65:3](/codex/psalms-65-3/); 78:38; 79:9**, God *kaphar*s sin - **[Isaiah 6:7](/codex/isaiah-6-7/)**, Isaiah's lips *kaphar*ed; the seraph's coal - **[Isaiah 22:14](/codex/isaiah-22-14/)**, sin not *kaphar*ed - **[Isaiah 27:9](/codex/isaiah-27-9/)**, Israel's iniquity *kaphar*ed - **[Isaiah 47:11](/codex/isaiah-47-11/)**, disaster cannot be *kaphar*ed (negative use) - **[Jeremiah 18:23](/codex/jeremiah-18-23/)**, "do not *kaphar* their iniquity" - **[Ezekiel 16:63](/codex/ezekiel-16-63/); 43:20, 26; 45:15, 17, 20**, *kaphar* for the temple altar - **[Daniel 9:24](/codex/daniel-9-24/)**, "to make *kaphar* for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness" ## Patristic / scholarly note The OT *kaphar* tradition is foundational for Christian atonement theology. Conservative engagement: - Leon Morris (*The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross*, 1955; *The Atonement*, 1983) - John Stott (*The Cross of Christ*, 1986) - William Lane (*Hebrews* WBC, 1991) - Steve Jeffery, Mike Ovey, Andrew Sach (*Pierced for Our Transgressions*, 2007) - D. A. Carson; J. I. Packer ## See also - [H3724 - kopher](/codex/h3724-kopher/), ransom-price - H3725 - kippur, atonement (noun) - [G2434 - hilasmos](/codex/g2434-hilasmos/), propitiation - [G2435 - hilasterion](/codex/g2435-hilasterion/), mercy seat - [G3083 - lytron](/codex/g3083-lytron/), ransom - [G0629 - apolytrosis](/codex/g0629-apolytrosis/), redemption - [Romans 5.8](/codex/romans-5-8/), gospel-atonement - [Christology](/codex/christianity/), synthesis hub ## Notes _Lexical workspace for kaphar._