Why is the term 'Day of Atonement' a misnomer?
The term is a misnomer because the Day of Atonement in Leviticus provided no actual atonement; animal blood could not take away sin, which is what atonement speaks of. The word means at-one-ment, but the ritual did not accomplish that. Yom Kippur is a better name.
Les explains that Leviticus chapter 16 describes the Day of Atonement, which began shortly after Israel came out of Egypt, like the other Feast Days. He notes that Atonement was in the Fall, unlike Passover in the Spring, and its present English name is Yom Kippur. Les says Yom Kippur is a far better definition or explanation than Atonement. He insists the word Atonement is really a misnomer, and the English translators should not have called it the Day of Atonement, because there was no Atonement. Animal bloods could not take away sin, and that is what Atonement speaks of. He also points out that the word can be split into three sections—At-one-ment—which is a good definition.