• Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Covered or Removed?

Van

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
1 Sameul 3:14 NASB
“Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the wrongdoing of Eli’s house shall never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.”

Ever wonder why the "atonement" of the Old Covenant did not make the person perfect, holy and blameless, but only provided a merciful covering that temporarily blocked punishment for sin?

If we look at the Old Testament Hebrew word, Kapar (H3722) we see its basic meaning is a covering, such as putting pitch on a boat to block water entry. Yes, while the vast majority of translation choices for the word is "make atonement," the word is also translated as purged, removed, forgiven, expiated, and reconciled, making the action seem like the New Covenant washing of regeneration. But these translation choices are mistranslations and simply create confusion in an important gospel doctrine.

If the full consequence of sin had been removed by the "atonement" of the Old Covenant, the OT Saints would not have had to wait in Abraham's bosom until they could be made perfect by the blood of the Lamb.

If the word "reconciliation" is reserved to being united with Christ under the New Covenant, what word or phrase might be used to address the Old Testament usage of "Kapar?"

How about "provide mercy" which turns aside the consequence of sin, such that reconciliation under the New Covenant remains viable?

In the above verse the house of Eli shall never be provided mercy by sacrifice of offering.

Here are a few other verses (kapar appears about 100 times in the OT) where a better translation might reduce confusion with reconciliation under the New Covenant.


Lev 8:15 NASB
And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it.

Here "to provide mercy" (or merciful placation?)


Deuteronomy 21:8 NKJV
‘Provide atonement, O LORD, for Your people Israel, whom You have redeemed, and do not lay innocent blood to the charge of Your people Israel.’ And atonement shall be provided on their behalf for the blood.

Here "Provide mercy" and "and provide mercy?"


Proverbs 16:14 KJV
The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.

Here "will obtain mercy?"
 
Last edited:
Top