Leviticus 14:21

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ And if he [be] poor, and cannot get so much; then he shall take one lamb [for] a trespass offering to be waved, to make an atonement for him, and one tenth deal of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering, and a log of oil;

Complete Jewish Bible:

"If he is poor, so that he can't afford to do otherwise, he is to take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved, to make atonement for him; two quarts of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering; two-thirds of a pint of olive oil;

Berean Standard Bible:

If, however, the person is poor and cannot afford these offerings, he is to take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved to make atonement for him, along with a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, a log of olive oil,

American Standard Version:

And if he be poor, and cannot get so much, then he shall take one he-lamb for a trespass-offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, and one tenth part of an ephah of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering, and a log of oil;

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And if he be poor^{H1800}, and cannot get^{{H3027}{H5381}} so much; then he shall take^{H3947} one^{H259} lamb^{H3532} for a trespass offering^{H817} to be waved^{H8573}, to make an atonement^{H3722} for him, and one^{H259} tenth deal^{H6241} of fine flour^{H5560} mingled^{H1101} with oil^{H8081} for a meat offering^{H4503}, and a log^{H3849} of oil^{H8081};

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Leviticus 14:21

Leviticus 14:21 is part of a larger section in the book of Leviticus that deals with the purification rituals for individuals who have been healed from skin diseases, commonly translated as leprosy. In the ancient Israelite context, such diseases not only carried physical implications but also rendered a person ritually unclean, which isolated them from the community and prohibited them from participating in religious life.

The verse specifically addresses the situation of a person who has been declared clean by a priest but is too poor to afford the standard offerings required for reentry into the community and the sanctuary. The Torah, sensitive to the economic disparities among the Israelites, provides a concession for those with limited means. Instead of the more costly offerings, the poor individual is instructed to bring a single lamb as a guilt offering, a smaller quantity of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering, and a small amount of oil. These offerings symbolize the person's repentance and desire to be reconciled with God and the community.

The themes present in this verse include compassion for the poor, the principle of proportional giving based on one's means, and the importance of ritual purity and atonement in the religious life of Israel. The historical context reflects the priestly regulations that governed the religious and social fabric of ancient Israel, ensuring that all members of the community, regardless of their economic status, had a means to restore their relationship with God and their place within the covenant community.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1800
   There are 46 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דַּל
   Transliteration: dal
   Pronunciation: dal
   Description: from דָּלַל; properly, dangling, i.e. (by implication) weak or thin; lean, needy, poor (man), weaker.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
3. Strong's Number: H5381
   There are 47 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָשַׂג
   Transliteration: nâsag
   Pronunciation: naw-sag'
   Description: a primitive root; to reach (literally or figuratively); ability, be able, attain (unto), (be able to, can) get, lay at, put, reach, remove, wax rich, [idiom] surely, (over-) take (hold of, on, upon).
   
4. Strong's Number: H3947
   There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לָקַח
   Transliteration: lâqach
   Pronunciation: law-kakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win.
   
5. Strong's Number: H259
   There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶחָד
   Transliteration: ʼechâd
   Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
   Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,
   
6. Strong's Number: H3532
   There are 100 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כֶּבֶשׂ
   Transliteration: kebes
   Pronunciation: keh-bes'
   Description: from an unused root meaning to dominate; a ram (just old enough to butt); lamb, sheep.
   
7. Strong's Number: H817
   There are 388 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָשָׁם
   Transliteration: ʼâshâm
   Pronunciation: aw-shawm'
   Description: from אָשַׁם; guilt; by implication, a fault; also a sin-offering; guiltiness, (offering for) sin, trespass (offering).
   
8. Strong's Number: H8573
   There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תְּנוּפָה
   Transliteration: tᵉnûwphâh
   Pronunciation: ten-oo-faw'
   Description: from נוּף; a brandishing (in threat); by implication, tumult; specifically, the official undulation of sacrificial offerings; offering, shaking, wave (offering).
   
9. Strong's Number: H3722
   There are 94 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּפַר
   Transliteration: kâphar
   Pronunciation: kaw-far'
   Description: a primitive root; to cover (specifically with bitumen); figuratively, to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel; appease, make (an atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon, purge (away), put off, (make) reconcile(-liation).
   
10. Strong's Number: H6241
    There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עִשָּׂרוֹן
    Transliteration: ʻissârôwn
    Pronunciation: is-saw-rone'
    Description: or עִשָּׂרֹן; from עֶשֶׂר; (fractional) a tenth part; tenth deal.
    
11. Strong's Number: H5560
    There are 52 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: סֹלֶת
    Transliteration: çôleth
    Pronunciation: so'-leth
    Description: from an unused root meaning to strip; flour (as chipped off); (fine) flour, meal.
    
12. Strong's Number: H1101
    There are 42 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בָּלַל
    Transliteration: bâlal
    Pronunciation: baw-lal'
    Description: a primitive root; (also denominatively from בְּלִיל) to fodder; to overflow (specifically with oil.); by implication, to mix; to fodder; anoint, confound, [idiom] fade, mingle, mix (self), give provender, temper.
    
13. Strong's Number: H8081
    There are 176 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שֶׁמֶן
    Transliteration: shemen
    Pronunciation: sheh'-men
    Description: from שָׁמַן; grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness; anointing, [idiom] fat (things), [idiom] fruitful, oil(-ed), ointment, olive, [phrase] pine.
    
14. Strong's Number: H4503
    There are 194 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מִנְחָה
    Transliteration: minchâh
    Pronunciation: min-khaw'
    Description: from an unused root meaning to apportion, i.e. bestow; a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary); gift, oblation, (meat) offering, present, sacrifice.
    
15. Strong's Number: H3849
    There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: לֹג
    Transliteration: lôg
    Pronunciation: lohg
    Description: from an unused root apparently meaning to deepen or hollow (like כַּד); a log or measure forliquids; log (of oil).