For donations Click Here

Seven of Yom Kippur

We are studying the feasts that God requires of us and would like to know the significance of the number 7 in the sin offering of Yom Kippur. We have searched many hours and many places online and cannot find the answers to these questions. There are plenty of sites that explain how the sacrifices were made, etc but not God’s perspective.

We know that 7 is the number of spiritual completeness and that 6 represents incomplete man, so does the sprinkling 7 times in specific places during the sin offering relate to the attitude we are supposed to have with each of the seven feasts? Does the fact that the blood of the priest and the people are mingled have anything to do with the possibility that there are 6 attributes of man that we need to recognize at the beginning of Yom Kippur so that our attitude is right? What do the 10th day and 7th month mean spiritually? Why 7 sprinkles? Why the specific places? Why blood on the horns?

In short, how does all of this relate to us today? Everything God requires of us and has given us through the Jews has substance and if we don’t know and understand that, we lapse into performing rituals without our hearts being in it. And, if we see these things from God’s viewpoint, we are better able to see ourselves. It seems like He must want us to know these things or He wouldn’t have told us to do them.

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,
Bryan and Susan Budensiek
[email protected]
phone: 865-922-4723

Answer:

The Jewish Sages (in the Midrash) point out that “all sevens are special” to God.

The number seven features heavily in the creation of the world, and the seventh represents a completion that is able to connect the physical creation to its spiritual source.

Thus, of the seven days of the week, the seventh (the Sabbath) is holy unto God; the seventh year of the shemittah cycle is likewise holy; the count of seven weeks after Passover brings us to Shavuot (Pentecost), the time of the giving of the Torah — and so on.

Yom Kippur, as you point out, falls on the tenth day of the seventh month, both numbers implying a degree of completion. The seven sprinkles represent this inner resonance between the spiritual (one up — the unity of God) and the physical (seven below). On this day of the year we are able to reach the loftiest spiritual level, and somehow find the full spectrum of our physical existence included in the Divine unity that is revealed.

These matters are very deep, and I am sorry that this forum doesn’t allow me to write at length on the subject.

Best wishes, and I applaud your attitude of seeking the depth of the Torah lessons, and finding their relevance for our own lives.

Join the Conversation

1 Comment

  1. Thank you so much for your quick reply to our questions. You have been very helpful. You have our email address in the event our Father in Heaven directs you to correspond with us further and we may prevail upon your helpful nature again as we will undoubtedly have more questions. Our gratitude is beyond words.
    “May ADONAI bless you and keep you. May ADONAI make his face shine on you and show you his favor.May ADONAI lift up his face toward you and give you peace.”
    Bryan and Susan Budensiek

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *