Leviticus 16:2 nasb — The LORD said to Moses: "Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter at any time into the holy place inside the vei…

NASB

"The LORD said to Moses: "Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter at any time into the holy place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, or he will die; for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat."

— Leviticus 16:2, NASB

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Leviticus 16:2 in Other Translations

7 versions All translations
  • KJV

    “And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.”

  • ASV

    “and Jehovah said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil, before the mercy-seat which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy-seat. ”

  • WEB

    “and Yahweh said to Moses, "Tell Aaron your brother, not to come at all times into the Most Holy Place within the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark; lest he die: for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat.”

  • NET

    “and the LORD said to Moses:“Tell Aaron your brother that he must not enter at any time into the holy place inside the special curtain in front of the atonement lid that is on the ark so that he may not die, for I will appear in the cloud over the atonement lid.”

  • DRB

    “And he commanded him, saying: Speak to Aaron thy brother, that he enter not at all into the sanctuary, which is within the veil before the propitiatory, with which the ark is covered, lest he die, (for I will appear in a cloud over the oracle),”

  • BBE

    “The Lord said to Moses, Say to Aaron, your brother, that he may not come at all times into the holy place inside the veil, before the cover which is on the ark, for fear that death may overtake him; for I will be seen in the cloud on the cover of the ark.”

  • KJVA

    “And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.”

Leviticus 16 — Context

1

Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they had approached the presence of the LORD and died.

2

The LORD said to Moses: "Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter at any time into the holy place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, or he will die; for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.

3

"Aaron shall enter the holy place with this: with a bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.

4

"He shall put on the holy linen tunic, and the linen undergarments shall be next to his body, and he shall be girded with the linen sash and attired with the linen turban (these are holy garments). Then he shall bathe his body in water and put them on.

5

"He shall take from the congregation of the sons of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering.

Leviticus 16:2 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Leviticus 16:2 say?
Leviticus 16:2 in the NASB reads: “The LORD said to Moses: "Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter at any time into the holy place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, or he will die; for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.”
Where is Leviticus 16:2 in the Bible?
Leviticus 16:2 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Leviticus, chapter 16, verse 2.
Who wrote Leviticus?
Leviticus is traditionally attributed to Moses (traditional). It was written c. 1446–1406 BC.
What is the book of Leviticus about?
Leviticus is Israel's handbook for holy living in the presence of a holy God. It details the sacrificial system, priestly duties, dietary and purity laws, and the festivals — all teaching that sin requires atonement and that God's people are called to be set apart.
What are the major themes of Leviticus?
Leviticus explores themes including Holiness, Sacrifice, Atonement, Priesthood, Purity. These themes shape the meaning and context of Leviticus 16:2.
What translation should I read Leviticus 16:2 in?
Leviticus 16:2 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Leviticus 16:2?
Leviticus 16:2 reads (NASB): “The LORD said to Moses: "Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter at any time into the holy place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, or he will die; for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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