Leviticus 14 22

Leviticus 14:22 kjv

And two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to get; and the one shall be a sin offering, and the other a burnt offering.

Leviticus 14:22 nkjv

and two turtledoves or two young pigeons, such as he is able to afford: one shall be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering.

Leviticus 14:22 niv

and two doves or two young pigeons, such as they can afford, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.

Leviticus 14:22 esv

also two turtledoves or two pigeons, whichever he can afford. The one shall be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering.

Leviticus 14:22 nlt

The offering must also include two turtledoves or two young pigeons, whichever the person can afford. One of the pair must be used for the sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.

Leviticus 14 verses

Leviticus 14 22 Meaning

Leviticus 14:22 outlines the specific offerings required from a person who has been cleansed of a skin disease (tzara'at) but cannot afford the full set of sacrifices. It stipulates that instead of lambs, they are to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons. One bird is designated as a sin offering (khaṭṭāṯ) to atone for ritual impurity or sin, and the other as a burnt offering (ʿōlâ) to signify complete dedication and acceptance by God. This provision highlights God's gracious allowance for the poor, ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent anyone from undergoing the necessary purification and reconciliation processes prescribed by the law.

Leviticus 14 22 Context

Leviticus 14 details the elaborate two-stage purification ritual for individuals cured of tzara'at, a severe skin affliction considered ritually impure. The preceding verses (14:1-20) describe the procedure for those who can afford the required sacrifices of lambs for guilt, sin, and burnt offerings. Leviticus 14:21 begins the special provision for the poor, recognizing that the initial, more elaborate lamb offerings would be economically burdensome. Verse 22 specifically continues this provision by stipulating the type and quantity of birds required, highlighting God's compassion and the universal applicability of His laws, regardless of economic status. The entire chapter underscores the importance of holiness, ritual purity, and atonement in drawing near to a holy God, providing pathways for restoration for all who seek it.

Leviticus 14 22 Word analysis

• And two turtledoves (וּשְׁתֵּי תֹרִים):

  • tôrim (תֹרִים): Turtledoves. These were readily available and inexpensive birds in ancient Israel.
  • Significance: Their inclusion demonstrates God's gracious provision, allowing those with limited means to fulfill the sacrificial requirements without undue financial burden. It emphasizes that purification and reconciliation with God are accessible to all, regardless of their wealth.

• or two young pigeons (אוֹ שְׁנֵי בְּנֵי יוֹנָה):

  • b'nê yônâ (בְּנֵי יוֹנָה): Lit. "sons of a dove/pigeon," meaning young pigeons.
  • Significance: An alternative to turtledoves, offering further flexibility and ensuring that common, accessible birds are used. Both choices underscore the principle of using available and affordable resources.

• such as he can afford (אֲשֶׁר תַּשִׂיג יָדוֹ):

  • Lit. "which his hand reaches" or "as his hand can acquire."
  • Significance: This phrase is crucial. It reveals a core biblical principle that offerings to God are proportionate to one's ability. God values a sincere heart and the offering of what one has, rather than a burdensome standard. This principle appears elsewhere in the Pentateuch, particularly in provisions for the poor in the offering laws (Lev 5, 12). It guards against economic exclusion from covenant obligations.

• and the one shall be a sin offering (וְהָיְתָה הָאֶחָת לְחַטָּאת):

  • khaṭṭāṯ (חַטָּאת): Sin offering. This sacrifice was primarily for inadvertent sins, unintentional trespasses, or ritual impurities that rendered a person unfit for worship or community participation.
  • Significance: Even after being physically cleansed from tzara'at, a sin offering was required. This points to the deeper spiritual reality of defilement and the need for atonement for sins, known or unknown, that might have contributed to or resulted from the impurity. It cleanses the individual to restore proper fellowship with God and the community.

• and the other a burnt offering (וְהָאֶחָת לְעֹלָה):

  • ʿōlâ (עֹלָה): Burnt offering (wholly consumed, "that which ascends"). This offering symbolized complete devotion, propitiation, and surrender to God, acting as a soothing aroma to the Lord.
  • Significance: Its inclusion demonstrates a transition from cleansing from defilement (sin offering) to dedication and communion with God. It signifies the purified person's restored relationship, full acceptance by God, and renewed commitment to Him. The acceptance of the ‘ōlâ indicated that God received the individual fully.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, such as he can afford": This phrase encapsulates divine mercy and inclusivity. It ensures that God's sacrificial system is accessible to every Israelite, irrespective of their economic standing. It's a foundational principle that the cost of atonement should not be a barrier to seeking God's favor.

  • "and the one shall be a sin offering, and the other a burnt offering": The distinct roles of these two offerings are vital. The sin offering addresses ritual impurity and provides atonement, rectifying the brokenness. The burnt offering symbolizes consecration and devotion, representing reconciliation and the restored covenant relationship. The order reflects the process of purification (from defilement to dedication), demonstrating that atonement precedes worshipful surrender.

Leviticus 14 22 Bonus section

The specific inclusion of "two turtledoves, or two young pigeons" for the poor (instead of rams and lambs, as for the wealthy in earlier verses of Leviticus 14) serves as a legal precedent. This set the standard for proportionate offerings, influencing subsequent ritual requirements for different contexts (e.g., sin offerings in Leviticus 5, purification after childbirth in Leviticus 12). The principle that God makes Himself approachable and provides a means of atonement for all economic strata is consistently demonstrated. The pairing of a "sin offering" and a "burnt offering" in this particular order for ritual cleansing also suggests a theological progression: first, one must deal with the defilement (the khaṭṭāṯ), and then, one can dedicate themselves fully to God (‘ōlâ). This sequential presentation implicitly guides the spiritual journey of purification leading to fellowship.

Leviticus 14 22 Commentary

Leviticus 14:22 powerfully conveys God's boundless grace and provision within the Mosaic covenant. In detailing the purification of someone healed from tzara'at, the law accommodates the poor, allowing for the sacrifice of readily available and less costly birds (turtledoves or pigeons) instead of more expensive lambs. This merciful provision underscores that salvation and restoration are not commodities limited by wealth but are universally accessible through faith and prescribed atonement. The twin requirements of a sin offering and a burnt offering highlight a two-fold aspect of purification: first, dealing with specific sin or defilement through atonement; and second, symbolizing complete consecration and joyful communion with God, ensuring a holistic restoration—spiritual, ritual, and communal. This divinely established flexibility in sacrifice prefigures the New Testament principle that genuine faith and sincere offering, proportional to one's ability, are what God truly values, culminating in Christ's one, complete, and eternally accessible sacrifice for all humanity.