Leviticus 14 20

Leviticus 14:20 kjv

And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meat offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean.

Leviticus 14:20 nkjv

And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. So the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.

Leviticus 14:20 niv

and offer it on the altar, together with the grain offering, and make atonement for them, and they will be clean.

Leviticus 14:20 esv

And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. Thus the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.

Leviticus 14:20 nlt

and offer it on the altar along with the grain offering. Through this process, the priest will purify the person who was healed, and the person will be ceremonially clean.

Leviticus 14 verses

Leviticus 14 20 Meaning

Leviticus 14:20 describes the concluding action of the purification ritual for a person healed from tzara'at (a severe skin affliction, often translated as leprosy). After various offerings, the priest offers the remaining birds (burnt and grain offerings) on the altar. This final step, involving a burnt offering and its associated grain offering, completes the atonement process, symbolizing the re-establishment of the purified person's right standing before God and their full restoration to the community of Israel.

Leviticus 14 20 Context

Leviticus 14 details the elaborate and costly purification rites for an Israelite healed from tzara'at. This condition, though medically treatable, was seen as having spiritual implications, isolating the afflicted person from the community and from worship in the tabernacle. The ritual spans two stages over seven days, designed to symbolize gradual re-integration. Verse 20 concludes the second stage of offerings made on the eighth day. Prior to this, the purified person had offered a trespass offering and sin offering (Lev 14:10-19), with blood and oil applied to specific parts of the body. The burnt offering in verse 20 symbolizes full dedication and restoration of fellowship with God, after the expiation for sin (trespass and sin offerings) had been made. This chapter underscores the holiness of God, the gravity of impurity, and the gracious provision for restoration.

Leviticus 14 20 Word Analysis

• Then (וְהִקְטִיר wəhiqṭîr): This conjunction indicates sequence, linking this action to the preceding rituals. It means "and he shall offer up in smoke."
• the priest (הַכֹּהֵן hakkōhēn): Refers to the Aaronite priest, the mediator divinely appointed for offering sacrifices and making atonement. His role is indispensable for approaching God in the Tabernacle.
• shall offer up in smoke (וְהִקְטִיר wəhiqṭîr): Denotes the burning of the offering on the altar, allowing its "sweet aroma" to ascend to the Lord (e.g., Lev 1:9, 13). It is not "burn" in the sense of consuming completely, but making it rise as smoke to God.
• the burnt offering (הָעֹלָה hā‘ōlâ): An ‘olâ, meaning "that which goes up." This sacrifice was entirely consumed by fire on the altar, except for the hide. It symbolized complete devotion, consecration, and reconciliation with God.
• and the grain offering (וְהַמִּנְחָה wəhamminḥâ): A minḥâ or "gift offering" usually made of grain, often accompanying burnt offerings. It symbolized devotion, sustenance, and acknowledgement of God's provision.
• on the altar (עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ ‘al-hammizbēaḥ): The altar of burnt offering, the central place where communion between God and man was re-established through sacrifice. It was a holy place, sanctified for these specific purposes.
• and the priest shall make atonement (וְכִפֶּר הַכֹּהֵן wəkipper hakkōhēn): This phrase signifies the act of reconciliation. The Hebrew verb kaphar (כָּפַר) means "to cover," "to purge," or "to make atonement." Here, it specifically denotes the priestly action that makes the cleansed person right with God.
• for him who is to be cleansed (לַמִּטָּהֵר lammit·ṭāhēr): The individual undergoing the purification ritual. The participle form emphasizes that he is the one being purified, rather than performing it himself.
• and he shall be clean (וְטָהֵר wəṭāhēr): This final declarative signifies the completion of the purification process. The person is no longer ritually unclean and can fully rejoin the community and tabernacle worship.

Words-group analysis:

• "the priest shall offer up in smoke... on the altar": This highlights the priestly mediation and the sacred space (altar) where these holy acts occur, reinforcing that God Himself orchestrates this reconciliation.
• "the burnt offering and the grain offering": These two offerings together represent complete surrender (burnt offering) and thanksgiving for provision (grain offering). They symbolize the restored person's renewed commitment to God, enabled by the preceding sin and trespass offerings which dealt with expiation.
• "and the priest shall make atonement for him who is to be cleansed, and he shall be clean": This phrase encapsulates the core purpose and outcome of the entire elaborate ritual. The priestly act of kaphar is God's provision for restoration, culminating in the declaration of ritual cleanness, which signifies renewed fellowship with God and society.

Leviticus 14 20 Bonus Section

• Progressive Nature of Cleansing: The Leviticus 14 ritual unfolds in stages over days, from the initial "outside the camp" sacrifice of birds to the final temple offerings. This progressive cleansing underscores that purification and restoration are processes that God carefully orchestrates, mirroring the progressive nature of sanctification in a believer's life (though not by ritual acts, but by divine grace).
• The Concept of Tzara'at: Tzara'at was not merely a physical skin disease but often carried spiritual connotations, possibly even being a judgment for sin (e.g., Miriam's leprosy in Num 12 for speaking against Moses). Its ceremonial uncleanness was profound, highlighting the severe consequences of impurity and sin in God's holy presence. The extensive purification process in Leviticus 14 thus emphasizes the depths of uncleanness and the radical nature of divine restoration.
• Sacrificial Specifics: The use of birds in some stages (Lev 14:4-7) and then other animals for burnt/sin/trespass offerings demonstrates a flexible provision within the law for different economic statuses (Lev 14:21-32, offering of pigeons for the poor). This highlights God's mercy in making the means of atonement accessible.
• Forecasting Christ's Ministry: Jesus's encounters with lepers (Matt 8:1-4; Mk 1:40-45; Lk 17:11-19) show Him directly touching and cleansing them, an act that under the Mosaic Law would make Him unclean. His action transcends the Law's requirements, demonstrating His divine authority not only to cleanse but also to touch and redeem the ritually and socially outcast. He doesn't just ritualistically kaphar, but truly cleanses.

Leviticus 14 20 Commentary

Leviticus 14:20 marks the triumphant conclusion of the rigorous cleansing ceremony for a person recovered from tzara'at. This verse focuses on the final set of offerings—the burnt offering and its accompanying grain offering—which consummate the purification process initiated by the previous sin and trespass offerings. The burnt offering (completely consumed) symbolized total dedication and wholehearted surrender, a gesture of thanks and recommitment to God after reconciliation. The grain offering complemented this, acknowledging God's sustained provision.

The critical phrase "the priest shall make atonement for him" underscores the divine design of the Levitical system: God provides the means for purification, executed through His designated priests. The atonement here is not merely for the initial affliction but for all the defilement associated with tzara'at, leading to the declaration, "and he shall be clean." This ritual demonstrated God's desire for His people's restoration, physically and spiritually, enabling them to re-enter His presence and their community. It was a visible sign of God's gracious mercy and covenant faithfulness.

While these animal sacrifices offered temporary and conditional atonement, they prefigured the ultimate and perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His shed blood, unlike the blood of bulls and goats, truly and completely "takes away sins" (Heb 9:22, 10:4), making full and eternal atonement. Christ is the ultimate High Priest and the final sacrifice, accomplishing not just ritual cleanness, but genuine spiritual regeneration and full communion with God, accessible by faith (Rom 3:25).