YOM KIPPURIYM — DAY OF ATONEMENT

7th Month • 10th Day | September 18th, 2026

Shalom family,

Yom Kippuriym — the Day of Atonement — is approaching.

There is a lot of important information surrounding this appointed time that I want to share before we observe it this year.

We are going to cover:

• the history behind the 10th day of the 7th month
• what Scripture means when it says “afflict your souls”
• the difference between the Hebrew words for affliction/humility and fasting
• and an especially important preparation reminder because Yom Kippuriym is immediately followed by the weekly 7th-day Shabbat

Yom Kippuriym Is A Complete Shabbath Of Rest

Wayiqra (Leviticus) 23 makes an important distinction between the first and tenth days of the seventh month. Concerning Yom Teruah, Scripture says no servile work is to be done. But concerning Yom Kippuriym, the command is stronger: no manner of work is to be done.

The Day of Atonement is a full and complete Shabbath of rest before Yahuah.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF COMPLETE REST!

Yom Kippuriym begins Thursday, September 17th at sundown and continues until Friday, September 18th at sundown.

It shall be unto you a Shabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening unto evening, shall ye celebrate your Shabbath. Vayiqra (Leviticus) 23:32

So please REMEMBER to begin this Appointed Time on Thursday evening! Which is September 17th.

But when Yom Kippuriym ends Friday evening, the weekly 7th-day Shabbat begins immediately and continues until Saturday, September 19th at sundown.

That means we will have TWO COMPLETE DAYS OF REST BACK-TO-BACK.

• 🍽️ No cooking for two days
• 🛑 No work for two days
• 💰 No buying or selling
• 🧺 Complete all necessary preparation beforehand

Prepare everything your household will need BEFORE sundown Thursday, September 17th.

The History Of Yom Kippuriym

Yovheliym (Jubilees) 34 gives important history behind the 10th day of the 7th month. Yoceph’s brothers sold him, slaughtered a young goat, dipped his garment in the blood, and sent it to Ya’aqov. The news reached Ya’aqov on the 10th day of the 7th month, causing him to grieve deeply for his son.

Yovheliym (Jubilees) 34:18–19 explains that for this reason the children of Yashar’el were ordained to afflict themselves on the 10th day of the 7th month, to grieve over their sins, their transgressions, and their errors, and to seek cleansing before Yahuah once each year.

This is a day of humility, grief over sin, repentance, confession, and being brought low before Yahuah.

What Does “Afflict Your Souls” Mean?

Wayiqra (Leviticus) 23 repeatedly commands the children of Yashar’el to “afflict” or “humble” their souls on Yom Kippuriym. The Hebrew word used is Strong’s H6031 — anah.

H6031 carries the meaning of being afflicted, humbled, abased, bowed down, or brought low. It does not mean “to fast.”

This is why the Brenton Septuagint translates Wayiqra 23:27 as “ye shall humble your souls.”

Scripture Has A Different Word For Fasting

When Scripture specifically speaks about fasting, it uses different Hebrew words. Strong’s H6684 — tsum means “to fast” or “to abstain from food,” while H6685 — tsom means “a fast” or “fasting.” These are not the same words as H6031 — anah, which is used in the Yom Kippuriym command to afflict or humble the soul.

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 58:3 Uses All 3 Words Separately

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 58:3 uses the Hebrew words for fasting and affliction separately in the same verse. “We have fasted” uses H6684 — tsum, “we have afflicted” uses H6031 — anah, and “your fast” uses H6685 — tsom. Scripture itself distinguishes fasting from afflicting or humbling the soul. They are related concepts, but they are not the same Hebrew words.

The command for Yom Kippuriym in Wayiqra (Leviticus) 23:27 is H6031 — anah: to afflict, humble, or bring low — NOT H6684 tsum, the Hebrew verb meaning “to fast.”

How We Should Approach Yom Kippuriym

• Humble ourselves before Yahuah
• Grieve over our sins
• Confess our transgressions and errors to Yahuah and to our fellow brothers & sisters we may have offended or hurt throughout this past year
• Examine ourselves
• Humble ourselves and be brought low before Yahuah
• Seek cleansing and restoration
• Completely cease from work

Yom Kippuriym is not merely about whether or not we abstain from food. It is about coming before Yahuah humbled, repentant, honest about our sins, and seeking cleansing and restoration.

Click The Link Below To Read The Full Yom Kippuriym Teaching

Please study these things for yourself and prepare your household before the appointed time arrives.

May we come before Yahuah humbled, repentant, honest about our sins, and seeking cleansing and restoration.

Barak 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄,
Chris
Followers of Yahuah