Leviticus 14:21

¶ 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;

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};

"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;

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,

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;

Commentary

Leviticus 14:21 is part of the detailed instructions for the purification of someone healed from a serious skin disease, often translated as "leprosy" (though it encompassed a wider range of conditions). This particular verse highlights God's compassionate provision for the poor, ensuring that even those with limited means could fulfill the requirements for ceremonial cleansing and re-entry into the community.

Context

Chapter 14 of Leviticus outlines the elaborate two-part ritual for cleansing a person healed of a skin affliction. The initial stages (Leviticus 14:1-20) describe the offerings required: two live birds, a lamb for a trespass offering, another for a sin offering, a third for a burnt offering, and a tenth deal of fine flour for a meat offering, along with specified amounts of oil. These were significant expenses for an ordinary Israelite. Leviticus 14:21 introduces an alternative for those who were "poor, and cannot get so much," demonstrating God's understanding of socio-economic limitations within the Mosaic Law.

Key Themes

  • Divine Compassion and Provision: This verse beautifully illustrates God's mercy and care for the less fortunate. The Law, while strict in its requirements for purity, was not burdensome to the point of excluding the poor. God made allowances so that everyone, regardless of their financial status, could be restored to full fellowship and worship. This echoes a broader theme of God's concern for the poor and needy throughout the Old Testament.
  • Accessibility of Atonement: The core purpose of these offerings was to make "atonement" for the cleansed person. By providing a reduced set of offerings, God ensured that the path to atonement and ceremonial purity was accessible to all, not just the wealthy. The principle remained the same: a sacrifice was required for purification, but the quantity was adjusted according to ability.
  • Grace within the Law: While the Mosaic Law often appears rigid, passages like this reveal an underlying principle of grace and adaptability. It shows that God's primary concern was the heart and the act of obedience, not merely the material value of the offering.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Trespass offering" (Hebrew: asham): This offering typically addressed specific wrongs or violations that required restitution or making amends, emphasizing the seriousness of ceremonial impurity. Here, it signifies the need for reconciliation and restoration of the individual's standing before God and the community.
  • "Meat offering" (Hebrew: minchah): In the KJV, "meat offering" refers to a grain offering, not an offering of flesh. It was typically made of fine flour, often mixed with oil and frankincense, and was a voluntary offering of thanksgiving or dedication.
  • "Log of oil": This specifies a precise, albeit small, measure of oil, indicating the meticulous nature of God's instructions even in the reduced offerings.

Practical Application

Leviticus 14:21 carries profound lessons for believers today:

  1. God Understands Our Limitations: Just as God made allowances for the poor in ancient Israel, He understands our human weaknesses and limitations. He doesn't demand what we cannot give, but desires our sincere obedience and worship according to what we have.
  2. The Universal Need for Cleansing: While we no longer offer animal sacrifices for ceremonial cleansing, the principle of needing atonement for sin remains. The good news is that the ultimate atonement for all humanity was provided by Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice is freely available to everyone, regardless of their earthly status or wealth (Romans 5:8).
  3. Giving According to Ability: This verse reinforces the biblical principle of giving according to one's means, whether in financial contributions, time, or talents. God values the willing heart more than the size of the gift.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 5:7

    ¶ And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering.

  • 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.

  • Proverbs 17:5

    ¶ Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: [and] he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

  • Luke 21:2

    And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

  • Luke 21:4

    For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

  • Job 34:19

    [How much less to him] that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all [are] the work of his hands.

  • 2 Corinthians 8:9

    For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
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