Key Verse Spotlight
Leviticus 14:21 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today
Translation: World English Bible — Catholic Edition
" “If he is poor, and can’t afford so much, then he shall take one male lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, and one tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering, and a log of oil; "
Leviticus 14:21
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
19 “The priest shall offer the sin offering, and make atonement for him who is to be cleansed because of his uncleanness. Afterward he shall kill the burnt offering;
20 then the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meal offering on the altar. The priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.
21 “If he is poor, and can’t afford so much, then he shall take one male lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, and one tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering, and a log of oil;
22 and two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to afford; and the one shall be a sin offering, and the other a burnt offering.
23 “On the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, before the LORD.
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Here we have the gracious provision the law made for cleansing poor lepers. If they could not bring three lambs and three-tenths of an ephah of flour, they were to bring one lamb and one-tenth of an ephah of flour, and two turtledoves or two young pigeons instead of the other two lambs (Leviticus 14:21, 22).
Notice two things here. First, poverty did not excuse a person from bringing any offering at all. No one should think that because they are poor, God asks nothing from them. God has taken their situation into account, and he asks for what even the poorest person can give. “My son, give me your heart,” and then “the offering of your lips” will be accepted in place of richer gifts.
Second, God expected the poor to give only according to their ability. His commands are not harsh, and he does not make us serve him with what we do not have. The poor are just as welcome at God’s altar as the rich. If there is a willing mind and an honest heart, two pigeons, when they are all a person can afford, are as acceptable to God as two lambs. He asks according to what a person has, not according to what he lacks.
Still, it is worth noticing that although a smaller sacrifice was accepted from the poor, the same ceremony was used for them as for the rich. Their souls are just as valuable, and Christ and his gospel are the same for both. So let us not show favoritism in our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (James 2:1).
From This Chapter
Leviticus 14:1
"The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,"
Leviticus 14:2
"“This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the priest,"
Leviticus 14:3
"and the priest shall go out of the camp. The priest shall examine him. Behold, if the plague of leprosy is healed in the leper,"
Leviticus 14:4
"then the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two living clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop."
Leviticus 14:5
"The priest shall command them to kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water."
Leviticus 14:6
"As for the living bird, he shall take it, the cedar wood, the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water."
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