The Day of Atonement is a misnomer because no atonement actually occurred—the day only covered Israel's sins until Christ's blood finally took them away.
Les Feldick teaches that the English translators gave the day a misleading name. The Hebrew word kaphar means "to cover," not "to remove." Animal blood could not take away sin, so the annual ceremonies were a temporary covering—a stopgap—waiting for the true atonement of the cross.
Leviticus 16:1 — This verse opens the chapter describing the Day of Atonement, where blood was to be applied behind the veil.
Psalm 32:1 — David uses the language of a covered sin, aligning with Les's point that the Hebrew word means covering rather than removal.
Scripture connects the day with the Hebrew word kaphar, which is translated "atonement" in the King James Version. Yet the same Hebrew word is also used for covering; David says in Psalm 32:1, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." The instructions in Leviticus 16 also show the high priest coming behind the veil with blood: "And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died." The biblical text, then, uses the language of covering and the action of blood being applied to the mercy seat, not of the final removal of sin.
Les Feldick teaches that calling the Day of Atonement the "Day of Atonement" was a mistake made by English translators. In Israel's history, the high priest could do everything exactly right and offer the blood on the mercy seat, but it never took away a single sin. It was only a stopgap waiting for Christ. The Hebrew word kaphar means "to cover," so the day should have been called a day of covering—or, as Les puts it, God "swept the sins" of Old Testament believers under the rug until the true atonement was finalized at the cross. Les explains that this is why the Old Testament believer could not enter glory when he died; his sins were only covered and he went to paradise, waiting for the true atoning work of Christ. Once Christ died and presented His blood in heaven, those covered sins were actually atoned for and taken away. The Day of Atonement ceremonies—the high priest sprinkling the blood on the mercy seat and laying sins on the scapegoat—were pictures that Christ fulfilled completely.
Les Feldick notes that the Hebrew word translated "atonement" was kephar, spelled in English K-A-P-H-A-R and pronounced roughly K-A-W-F-A-R. The word meant "to cover," and it was associated with covering something with bitumen. He says this confirms that the day was a day of covering, not removal of sin.
Les Feldick says that animal blood could not take away sin. Atonement, he explains, means "at-one-ment"—being made one with God—and that could not happen apart from the resurrection power and finished work of the cross. Since that had not yet happened in Israel's history, the animal sacrifices could only cover sins. They were a stopgap waiting for the coming of Christ.
Les pictures the Day of Atonement as the high priest going behind the veil, sprinkling the blood on the mercy seat, then laying the sins of Israel on the scapegoat. In Hebrews 9, Paul rehearses this ritual. Christ fulfilled these pictures by going to the cross on our behalf and presenting His own blood in the very throne room of heaven. Les says that blood will be an eternal testimony of why we are in glory.
The Blood Presented in Heaven
Les says Christ's blood was presented in the throne room of heaven, an eternal testimony of why believers will be in glory.
The Word Atonement Was a Misnomer
Les explains that even a perfectly kept Day of Atonement never removed sin—it was only a stopgap until Christ, so "atonement" was the wrong word.
Why Translators Chose the Wrong Word
Les says English translators should not have called it the Day of Atonement because animal blood could not take away sin, and atonement means at-one-ment.
Covering, Not Removing
Les connects kaphar with covering and says Old Testament believers' sins were covered, not done away with, so they waited for the cross.
Paradise and the Cross
Old Testament believers could not enter God's presence until Christ fulfilled the Day of Atonement pictures at the cross.
The Scapegoat Ritual
Les describes the high priest sprinkling blood on the mercy seat and then symbolically laying Israel's sins on the scapegoat—the picture Christ fulfilled.
Kaphar Means to Cover
Les gives the Hebrew word kaphar, spells it K-A-P-H-A-R, and says it meant "to cover," associated with bitumen.
The High Priest and the Blood
Paul's rehearsal in Hebrews 9 shows the high priest on the Day of Atonement sprinkling blood behind the veil for the sins of the nation.
Psalm 32:1: Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Shows the Old Testament language of "covered" rather than removed sin, matching Les's point about the Day of Atonement as a covering.
Leviticus 16:1: And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;
Introduces the chapter in which the Day of Atonement ritual of blood on the mercy seat was commanded.
Les Feldick says it is a misnomer because no atonement actually occurred. The high priest's animal blood never took away a single sin; it only covered them until Christ's blood provided true atonement.
Les says it should have been called a day of covering, because the Hebrew word kaphar means "to cover." The sins were swept under the rug, so to speak, until the cross.
Their sins were only covered, not atoned for. Les teaches that they went to paradise and could not enter God's presence until the true atoning work of the cross had been accomplished.
Watch the Teaching: What the Day of Atonement Really Pictured — Finally Explained