H3725 kāpar Atonement

Excerpt from the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, “Every Israelite was to give to the service of the sanctuary the “ransom” money of half a shekel (Ex 30:12). Egypt, in God’s sight, was given as a “ransom” for the restoration of Israel (Isa 43:3). This word “ransom” is parallel to the word “redeem” (pādâ, which see) in Ps 49:7. There is a warning that a man guilty of murder must be killed—no “ransom” can be given in exchange for his life (Num 35:31). The word is also used in a bad sense as a “bribe” which wrongly purchases favor (I Sam 12:3).

From the meaning of kōper “ransom,” the meaning of kāpar can be better understood. It means “to atone by offering a substitute.” The great majority of the usages concern the priestly ritual of sprinkling of the sacrificial blood thus “making an atonement” for the worshipper. There are forty-nine instances of this usage in Leviticus alone and no other meaning is there witnessed. The verb is always used in connection with the removal of sin or defilement, except for Gen 32:20; Prov 16:14; and Isa 28:18 where the related meaning of “appease by a gift” may be observed. It seems clear that this word aptly illustrates the theology of reconciliation in the OT. The life of the sacrificial animal specifically symbolized by its blood was required in exchange for the life of the worshipper. Sacrifice of animals in OT theology was not merely an expression of thanks to the deity by a cattleraising people. It was the symbolic expression of innocent life given for guilty life. This symbolism is further clarified by the action of the worshipper in placing his hands on the head of the sacrifice and confessing his sins over the animal (cf. Lev 16:21; 1:4; 4:4, etc.) which was then killed or sent out as a scapegoat.” [R. Laird Harris, “1023 כָפַר,” ed. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 453.]