In the previous blog post, we saw that “reconciliation of sins” is an incorrect translation. The Hebrew word kaphar speaks of covering or shielding sin. We also encounter this incorrect translation in the New Testament. The word kaphar appears in its various forms approximately 150 times in the Hebrew Bible. The equivalent Greek word appears only a few times in the New Testament.
Hebrews 2 NBG (Dutch translation)
17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Here, “reconciliation ” in the NBG translation is the rendering of the Greek hilaskomai. In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, this word — and its various forms — almost always renders kaphar. The Epistle to the Hebrews discusses the sacrificial service and the meaning of Yom Kippur in detail. Here too, the translations incorrectly render it as “reconciliation ,” but it actually refers to “protection” or “covering.”
A word related to hilaskomai is found two more times in the Epistle to John:
1 John 2 GES
1 (…) Jesus Christ the righteous one;
2 and He is the protection for our sins, not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 4 GES
10 In this is love: not that we love God, but that He loves us, and that He sent His Son to be a protection for our sins.
In these two texts, the word hilasmos is translated as “reconciliation” in common translations. But here too, it is not about “reconciliation ,” but about the covering or protection of sins.
Mercy Seat
Finally, the New Testament also mentions hilasterion, which refers to the gold lid on the ark of the covenant (Heb. 9:5), usually called the mercy seat. In Hebrew, this lid is called kapporeth (Ex. 25:17-20), derived from kaphar, and should literally be rendered as a place of shelter.
Christ is the Shelter
Romans 3:25 states that God has presented Christ Jesus as a shelter. The blood sprinkled on the lid speaks of Him who was slain and rose from the dead and now sits at God’s right hand, on the throne of grace (Heb. 4:16).
In English, the gold lid is sometimes referred to as the “mercy seat.” This is not a translation, but a designation. The ark of the covenant contained the stone tablets. The law accuses and condemns, and the mercy seat covers that accusation.
Definitions of reconciliation
Atonement is different from reconciliation. Dictionaries offer various definitions of “reconciliation,” some more extensive than others. But the idea is always that parties are brought to peace or friendship after a rift has occurred. Reconciliation is a change of attitude in one or more parties, resulting in the restoration of the relationship.
The only time Paul uses it in a context other than between God and humanity is when he speaks of husband and wife.
1 Corinthians 7
10 And to those who are married, I give no command, but the Lord: That a wife should not be separated from her husband.
11 But if she is separated, let her remain unmarried, or let her be reconciled to her husband. And the husband should not divorce his wife.
This is an everyday example that aptly illustrates the meaning of reconciliation. Reconciliation here is the restoration of marriage. The alienation that has arisen is dissolved and the bond of unity that has been broken is restored.