# atonement, atone

## Definition

The terms "atone" and "atonement" refer to how God provided a sacrifice to pay for or make restitution for people's sins.

* In Old Testament times, God allowed temporary atonement to be made for the sins of the Israelites by the offering a blood sacrifice, which involved killing an animal.
* As recorded in the New Testament, Christ's death on the cross is the only true and permanent atonement for sin.
* When Jesus died, he took the punishment that people deserved because of their sin. He paid the atonement price with his sacrificial death.


## Translation Suggestions



* The term "atone" could be translated as "pay for" or "make restitution for."
* Ways to translate "atonement" could include, "restitution" or "restoration" or "payment."
* Make sure the translation of this term does not refer to payment of money.