Leviticus 16:4
He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.
Cross-reference
In Leviticus 16:32, the succeeding high priest is to wear the same holy linen garments for atonement—perpetuating this practice.
In Leviticus 16:24, Aaron bathes again and changes into regular garments—completing the cleansing cycle begun in verse 4.
In Leviticus 16:23, Aaron removes these same linen garments after the atonement ritual—a direct continuation of the sequence.
Leviticus 8:6 records Aaron and his sons being washed with water, the same purification ritual commanded for the high priest on the Day of Atonement.
Leviticus 8:7 shows Moses clothing Aaron in priestly garments — a parallel act of dressing the high priest, though the garments differ (ornate vs linen).
Leviticus 6:10 also mentions the priest wearing a linen garment and undergarment, but for handling ashes—a different priestly duty.
Exodus 28:4 lists the full set of holy garments (breastpiece, ephod, etc.) while Leviticus 16:4 specifies only the linen subset for the Day of Atonement.
Hebrews 7:26 describes Christ as holy, blameless, pure — the perfect high priest that the linen garments and purity rituals foreshadow.
Ezekiel 44:18 specifies linen turbans and undergarments, matching the linen breeches and turban in the Day of Atonement garments.
Ezekiel 44:17 also requires linen garments for temple service, reinforcing purity as essential for approaching God.
In Exodus 40:12, the washing before donning holy garments is part of the consecration ceremony for Aaron and his sons—a parallel ritual to the Day of Atonement.
Exodus 39:27-29 records the actual making of those same linen garments (tunics, turban, sash) for Aaron, fulfilling the command.
Exodus 30:20 requires priests to wash before entering the tent — a similar purification step, though for daily service not the Day of Atonement.
Exodus 29:4 commands washing Aaron and his sons during consecration, matching the washing required in Leviticus 16:4 before donning linen.
Exodus 28:39-43 gives the original instructions for the tunic, turban, sash, and undergarments that Aaron wears in verse 4.
Exodus 28:2 commands making holy garments for Aaron 'for glory and beauty', which verse 4 then specifies as linen for the Day of Atonement.
In Exodus 28:42, the linen undergarment is specified—the same garment commanded for the high priest here.
In Hebrews 9:10, these external regulations (linen garments and washings) are described as temporary until the time of reformation.
In Exodus 40:31, Moses and Aaron wash hands and feet—a different cleansing ritual but same theme of purity before ministering.