Let’s look at these two words separately, then we can show how they compare with each other.

EXPIATION – According to the Oxford dictionary, expiation is defined as “the act of making amends or reparation for guilt or wrongdoing.”  The prefix ‘ex’ means “out of” or “from” so expiation has to do with removing something or taking something away. In biblical terms, it has to do with taking away guilt through the payment of a penalty or the offering of an atonement.  The word “expiation” is not found in the Bible, but it is taught throughout the Bible.  For example, let’s consider two verses together. 

  • Exodus 32:30, “And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an ATONEMENT for your sin.”
  • Psalm 65:3, “Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt PURGE them away.”

In these two verses, we read ATONEMENT and PURGE.”  These are both from the Hebrew word, “Kapher” and are defined as “expiate.” This gives us the proper realization that to expiate, in the biblical sense, means to atone. This word is used 102 times in the Bible and is often translated as atonement, purge, pitch, appease, or reconciliation. 

PROPITIATION – According to Dictionary.com, propitiation is the act of gaining the favor of or making things right with someone, especially after having done something wrong. By contrast, propitiation has to do with the object of the expiation. The prefix ‘pro’ means ”for,” so propitiation brings about a change in God‘s attitude, so that He moves from being at enmity with us to being for us as we read in James 4:4, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” 

The word “propitiation” is found three times in the KJV Bible.

  • Romans 3:25, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.”
  • 1 John 2:2, “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
  • 1 John 4:10, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

It may surprise you to learn that the same Greek word for propitiation is also translated as ‘mercy seat’ in Hebrews 9:5, “And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.”

Speaking of expiation and propitiation together, we might consider them as a two-part act that (although occurring simultaneously) involves appeasing the wrath of the Lord and being reconciled to Him.  Of course, this can only occur when we put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation.  Our sins will be expiated, and we will be reconciled to God. 

Colossians 1:20-21, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.  (CC)  (603.6)