Leviticus 14:19

And the priest shall offer the sin offering, and make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed from his uncleanness; and afterward he shall kill the burnt offering:

And the priest {H3548} shall offer {H6213} the sin offering {H2403}, and make an atonement {H3722} for him that is to be cleansed {H2891} from his uncleanness {H2932}; and afterward {H310} he shall kill {H7819} the burnt offering {H5930}:

The cohen is to offer the sin offering and make atonement for the person being purified because of his uncleanness; afterwards, he is to slaughter the burnt offering.

Then the priest is to sacrifice the sin offering and make atonement for the one to be cleansed from his uncleanness. After that, the priest shall slaughter the burnt offering

And the priest shall offer the sin-offering, and make atonement for him that is to be cleansed because of his uncleanness: and afterward he shall kill the burnt-offering;

Commentary

Context of Leviticus 14:19

Leviticus 14 provides detailed instructions for the purification ritual of a person healed from a severe skin disease, often translated as "leprosy" (Hebrew: tzara'at). This condition rendered an individual ceremonially unclean and separated them from the community and the tabernacle worship. Verse 19 describes a crucial stage of this elaborate cleansing process, which occurred after the initial declaration of healing and preliminary rites performed outside the camp. The individual, having been re-admitted to the camp, now presented himself at the tabernacle for the final, more profound purification through offerings.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Atonement and Cleansing: The primary purpose of the sin offering was to "make an atonement" (Hebrew: kaphar) for the individual. This wasn't necessarily for a specific moral sin, but for the state of ritual uncleanness that separated them from God's holy presence and the community. The offering covered or purged this uncleanness, allowing for reconciliation.
  • Order of Offerings: The sequence is significant: the sin offering comes first, addressing the need for forgiveness and purification, followed by the burnt offering. This emphasizes that atonement and reconciliation with God must precede full devotion and consecration, which the burnt offering symbolized.
  • Priestly Mediation: The priest's indispensable role highlights the necessity of a mediator between a holy God and an unclean humanity. He performed the sacred rites, ensuring the proper order and efficacy of the purification.
  • Restoration to Fellowship: Through these sacrifices, the individual was fully cleansed, declared pure, and restored to their place within the covenant community, able to participate in worship once more.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "atonement" here is kaphar (Χ›ΦΈΦΌΧ€Φ·Χ¨), which literally means "to cover," "to purge," or "to make propitiation." It conveys the idea of an action that brings reconciliation or makes amends for an offense or ritual impurity. The "uncleanness" (Hebrew: tum'ah) mentioned is a state of ritual impurity rather than necessarily moral defilement, though often linked to the consequences of a fallen world and sin.

Practical Application

This ancient ritual foreshadows the ultimate and perfect atonement provided by Jesus Christ. Just as the Levitical priest mediated for the unclean, Christ, our Great High Priest, offered Himself as the final and sufficient sacrifice for our sins (Hebrews 9:12). We, like the Israelite cleansed from tzara'at, are spiritually unclean due to sin and require God's grace for reconciliation. The progression from sin offering to burnt offering also teaches us a spiritual truth: our forgiveness and cleansing by God's grace (through Christ's sacrifice) must precede our ability to fully consecrate ourselves and offer our lives as living sacrifices to Him.

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Cross-References

  • Leviticus 14:12

    And the priest shall take one he lamb, and offer him for a trespass offering, and the log of oil, and wave them [for] a wave offering before the LORD:

  • Leviticus 5:6

    And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21

    For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

  • Leviticus 12:6

    ΒΆ And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest:

  • Leviticus 12:8

    And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.

  • Romans 8:3

    For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

  • Leviticus 5:1

    ΒΆ And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and [is] a witness, whether he hath seen or known [of it]; if he do not utter [it], then he shall bear his iniquity.
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