Leviticus 23:27
““However on the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh.”
What does Leviticus 23:27 mean?
This day, known as Yom Kippur, was the most sacred moment in Israel's religious calendar—a time when the high priest entered the holy of holies to make atonement for the entire nation's sins. The instruction to "afflict yourselves" meant fasting and setting aside normal life to focus entirely on repentance and reconciliation with God, acknowledging that sin had real consequences that required serious attention. For ancient Israel, this annual practice reinforced a crucial truth: that broken relationships with God matter deeply, that we need help to restore them, and that God had provided a way forward. Today, whether or not you observe Yom Kippur, the principle behind it speaks to many of us going through difficult seasons—sometimes we need to pause, turn inward honestly, and seek restoration. That act of humbling ourselves and seeking to make things right, whether with God or with others, can be deeply healing.