Leviticus 14 24

Leviticus 14:24 kjv

And the priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD:

Leviticus 14:24 nkjv

And the priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them as a wave offering before the LORD.

Leviticus 14:24 niv

The priest is to take the lamb for the guilt offering, together with the log of oil, and wave them before the LORD as a wave offering.

Leviticus 14:24 esv

And the priest shall take the lamb of the guilt offering and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD.

Leviticus 14:24 nlt

The priest will take the lamb for the guilt offering, along with the olive oil, and lift them up as a special offering to the LORD.

Leviticus 14 verses

Leviticus 14 24 Meaning

Leviticus 14:24 describes a crucial step in the purification ceremony for a person (or house) cured of tzara'at (a defiling skin condition or mildew). In this verse, the officiating priest takes specific items—a lamb designated for the trespass offering and a precise measure of oil—and performs a specialized ritual gesture known as the "wave offering." This action of waving them "before the LORD" signifies their presentation, dedication, and acceptance by God as part of the overall process of atonement, cleansing, and restoration for the individual re-entering the community and the divine presence.

Leviticus 14 24 Context

Leviticus 14 details the elaborate, two-stage purification rites for an individual (or a house) afflicted by tzara'at, a severe skin condition (or mildew in a house) that rendered a person ritually unclean and alienated them from the community. The rites involve precise instructions for the priest to perform, including sacrifices, washings, shavings, and the anointing with blood and oil. The purpose of these meticulous ceremonies was to demonstrate God's holiness, His desire for His people's purity, and to provide a pathway for an individual, once cured by divine grace, to be readmitted into the holy camp of Israel and their relationship with God. Verse 24 falls within the second stage of this process, performed on the eighth day, where various offerings—including the trespass offering mentioned here—are brought to the tabernacle entrance. This specific wave offering of the lamb and oil signifies the re-dedication and presentation of the now-cleansed person to the LORD, essential for their full restoration.

Leviticus 14 24 Word analysis

• And: Connects this action to the preceding stages of the purification ritual, indicating continuity in the prescribed process.
• the priest (`ha-kohen`, הַכֹּהֵן): Refers specifically to the authorized Aaronic priest, the divinely appointed mediator for Israel's worship and purification. The priest's role is crucial in bridging the gap between a defiled individual and a holy God, prefiguring the mediatorial role of Jesus Christ as the great High Priest (Heb 4:14).
• shall take: An active verb indicating the priest's direct involvement and handling of the sacred items. This is not passive; it is an intentional, prescribed action.
• the lamb (`ha-keves`, הַכֶּבֶשׂ): A young sheep, typically a male and unblemished (though here, it's just specified as a lamb). Lambs are standard sacrificial animals in the Old Testament, signifying innocence, purity, and ultimately foreshadowing Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29, 1 Pet 1:19).
• of the trespass offering (`la-asham`, לָאָשָׁם): Denotes the specific type of sacrifice. The asham (trespass or guilt offering) was offered for sins against God's holy things, or against a neighbor, where restitution and additional compensation (usually 20%) were required. Here, for tzara'at, it specifically addresses the guilt of impurity, allowing the affected person to "pay back" or make amends for the defilement that separated them from God and the community (Lev 5:14-19; Lev 6:1-7).
• and the log (`ve-lohg`, וְלֹג): A small, precise liquid measure, roughly equal to about 1 pint or 0.55 liters. This minute detail emphasizes the meticulousness and precision God required in worship, signifying His careful attention to every aspect of purity and obedience, even in small amounts.
• of oil (`ha-shemen`, הַשָּׁמֶן): Pure olive oil, used extensively in the tabernacle service for anointing, lighting, and offerings. Spiritually, oil often symbolizes consecration, anointing by the Holy Spirit, blessing, provision, and healing (Ex 30:25; Zech 4:6). In this rite, it speaks of restoration and a fresh anointing upon the cleansed individual.
• and the priest shall wave them: Repetition of "the priest" emphasizes his critical and active role. The phrase "shall wave them" (`ve-heniF`, וְהֵנִיף) describes the `tenuphah`, a ceremonial ritual action where the offering was moved horizontally (or back and forth, or lifted and returned) by the priest. This gesture symbolized presenting the offering to God (giving it over to His possession) and God's acceptance and return of a portion (or all of it, symbolically) to the priests for their sustenance (Ex 29:24). It's an act of dedication and consecration.
• for a wave offering: Explicitly states the type of offering signified by the gesture, highlighting its specific function as an act of solemn presentation to the LORD. It signifies an acknowledged dedication to God's service and provision.
• before the LORD (`liPne Yahweh`, לִפְנֵי יְהוָה): Directly in the presence of God. This indicates that the ritual's validity and efficacy come from God Himself. The action is not merely symbolic; it is a solemn act of worship performed as though directly before God's very face, in the space where His presence was uniquely manifested in the tabernacle.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• the priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering: The focus is on the authorized agent (priest) selecting a specific animal for a particular expiation (trespass offering), indicating a prescribed atonement for specific guilt associated with defilement.
• and the log of oil: Introduces the second element, oil, representing anointing, the Holy Spirit, and the consecration necessary for new life and reintegration following cleansing. The precise "log" highlights divine specificity.
• and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering: The core ritual act. The repetition of "the priest" underlines his necessary intercession. "Waving" signifies dedication, presenting to God for His acceptance and recognition, and symbolizes God's claim and sanctification.
• before the LORD: The ultimate recipient and authority of the offering. This phrase validates the entire ritual, signifying divine witness, approval, and efficacy in bringing about true restoration and reconciliation.

Leviticus 14 24 Bonus section

The tenuphah, or "wave offering," distinguishes itself from burnt offerings which were wholly consumed by fire. While not always consumed on the altar, wave offerings symbolized a vibrant offering of dedication and shared communion, often with a portion going to the priests for their sustenance (Lev 7:34). In the context of tzara'at cleansing, the waving of the lamb and oil speaks not just of expiation but of complete dedication of the now-cleansed person to the LORD and a fresh infilling or empowering of His Spirit. This is not simply a payment for past wrong, but an active re-engagement in sacred relationship, where the cleansed individual is once again presented, consecrated, and made fit to serve in God's presence.

Leviticus 14 24 Commentary

Leviticus 14:24 describes a meticulously ordained act of purification, illustrating profound theological truths. The "lamb of the trespass offering" highlights the necessity of atonement for the guilt associated with impurity, acknowledging that defilement breaks covenant with a holy God. The addition of the "log of oil" points to a divine anointing, symbolizing the Holy Spirit's role in regeneration, healing, and restoration. The priest, acting as God's designated mediator, performs the tenuphah—the wave offering—a dynamic gesture signifying the worshiper's dedication and God's reception and acceptance of these offerings. This is explicitly done "before the LORD," emphasizing the direct, personal nature of approaching God through His appointed means. This verse underscores that ritual purification was not merely external but an act of sacred drama designed to facilitate re-entry into fellowship with God and His people, prefiguring Christ's complete cleansing and anointing through His priestly sacrifice.