The Hebrew word behind atone is kaphar, which means to atone, to propitiate, to appease, to pacify, or to wipe clean. The root of this verb suggests the idea of covering, linking directly to the name Yom Kippur, used by the Jews for the Day of Atonement, a day dedicated to covering. Most uses of kaphar in the Old Testament are theological, describing God covering or purging sin through sacrifice. In one instance, when God instructs Noah about building the ark, He commands him to cover the ark with pitch, illustrating that covering with pitch prevented water from seeping in, vital for saving lives. Similarly, when sin is truly covered, it is hidden completely, allowing the sinner to continue living without guilt. However, most Old Testament usages of kaphar involve the theological concept of covering over or atoning for sin by using the life blood of an animal sacrifice, where a bull, goat, ram, or other sanctified animal is killed, its blood drained out, and offered to cover the sin.

The Hebrew word *kaphar* (H3722), associated with atonement, is central to understanding the Day of Atonement. Scholars debate its root, with one meaning suggesting covering, hiding, or concealing, as seen in Genesis 6:14 where Noah covered the ark with pitch to make it watertight. The other root implies appeasing or pacifying an offended party, akin to paying a ransom or settlement to mitigate wrath, a concept reflected in historical practices like the Scandinavian wergild, where a fee was paid to atone for a wrong. For the Hebrews, atonement through *kaphar* meant appeasing God's justice and righteous wrath via substitutionary animal sacrifice. These sacrifices did not fully cleanse sin but symbolically covered it or set it aside, teaching the Israelites about a greater Sacrifice to come. As noted in Hebrews 10:3, such animal sacrifices served merely as reminders of sin, lacking the power to fully pay for human transgressions due to their lesser value compared to human life. Thus, *kaphar* encapsulates both the act of covering sin and the temporary appeasement of divine wrath, pointing to a deeper fulfillment beyond the ritual.

The Hebrew word *kaphar* (H3722) fundamentally means to atone or expiate by offering an innocent substitute. In the context of biblical usage, it involves making amends for sin or wrongdoing through the sacrifice of an unblemished animal, whose blood is spilled to pay for the offense. This act of atonement results in the cleansing or forgiveness of sin, aiming to reconcile two parties, where God, as the offended party, cannot abide sin due to His holiness. Through His gracious acceptance of the substitute sacrifice, reconciliation becomes possible, allowing God and man, now cleansed of sin, to have a unified relationship and move forward in righteousness.

The Hebrew word *kaphar* (H3722), often translated as 'atonement,' carries a primary meaning of 'to cover.' In Genesis 6:14, it is used in the context of covering the ark with pitch to prevent leaking, illustrating its basic sense of covering or protecting. However, *kaphar* encompasses a wide range of meanings depending on the context in which it appears in the Bible. It can be translated as purged, cleaned, expiated, paid for, made acceptable, hidden, placated, appeased, or canceled out. This versatility requires careful attention to the surrounding context to understand the intended application of the word. In a spiritual sense, *kaphar* often implies more than just covering; it can suggest wiping away, indicating a complete removal of sin or disharmony rather than merely concealing it. The notion of covering, as seen in the Old Testament, sometimes falls short of fully addressing the separation between God and man, leaving guilt on the conscience. By contrast, the concept of wiping away, though not explicitly used in the Old Testament, aligns with the idea of sins being entirely dealt with, no longer existing, and thus achieving a true state of cleanliness or purification. Additionally, *kaphar* is linked to the idea of appeasement, addressing the disloyalty inherent in sin that drives apart the relationship with God. This act of covering or wiping away seeks to restore harmony, to make at-one, though it does not always imply a full resolution unless the underlying cause of separation is completely removed. The varied applications of *kaphar* highlight its significance in understanding the process and result of achieving reconciliation with God.

The basic meaning of atonement, tied to the Hebrew word *kaphar* (H3722), is expiation. It signifies providing legal satisfaction such that guilt is removed and the obligation of punishment is paid. This concept includes cleansing, forgiving, pardoning, purging, and covering. The effect of atonement is that two formerly estranged parties are brought back into agreement, as the controversy between them is legally satisfied. In Leviticus 16, the Day of Atonement focuses on the annual bearing away of sin, cleansing both the land and the people before God. The word translated as reconciliation in Daniel 9:24 is the same as atonement in Leviticus 16, linking the 70 weeks prophecy to the Day of Atonement with the cleansing and removal of sin. This future national cleansing, pardon, and purging of Israel's sins, transgressions, and iniquities will be provided by God, enabling reconciliation with Him and setting the stage for the peaceful paradise of the millennium. True atonement, the removal of guilt, comes only through God's provision, not through any action related to satan, emphasizing the necessity of what only God can offer for oneness with Him.

The name of the holy day, the Day of Atonement, derives from the Hebrew term *yom kippur*, where *kippur* means expiation. Its root, *kaphar* (H3722), carries meanings such as cleanse, disannul, forgive, pardon, purge, put off, and cover. This day is designated for making atonement, as stated in Leviticus 23:28, to make atonement (*kaphar*) for you before the Lord your God. Leviticus 16:30 further emphasizes that on this day, the priest shall make atonement (*kaphar*) for the people, to cleanse them, so they may be clean from all their sins before the Lord. The focus of this holy day is to provide a solution to the people's defilement and separation from God through the cleansing and removal of sins, embodying the essence of *kaphar* in its various translations and implications.