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:

KJV (with Strong's)

And the priest {H3548} shall take {H3947} the lamb {H3532} of the trespass offering {H817}, and the log {H3849} of oil {H8081}, and the priest {H3548} shall wave {H5130} them for a wave offering {H8573} before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}:

Complete Jewish Bible

The cohen is to take the lamb of the guilt offering and the two-thirds of a pint of olive oil and wave them as a wave offering before ADONAI.

Berean Standard Bible

The priest shall take the lamb for the guilt offering, along with the log of olive oil, and wave them as a wave offering before the LORD.

American Standard Version

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 Jehovah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Leviticus 14:24 details a crucial step in the purification ritual for a person healed from *tzara'at* (a severe skin condition often translated as leprosy), specifically outlining the required offerings for those of limited means. It specifies the presentation of a lamb for the trespass offering and a log of oil, which the priest was to wave before the LORD, symbolizing dedication and acceptance, thereby enabling the individual's restoration to the community and a right relationship with God, even with reduced provisions.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Leviticus 14 provides comprehensive instructions for the cleansing and restoration of an individual afflicted with *tzara'at*. The chapter is meticulously structured into two primary stages: an initial cleansing and declaration of healing outside the camp (Leviticus 14:1-9), followed by a more extensive ritual within the tabernacle courts involving various sacrifices and anointing (Leviticus 14:10-20). Leviticus 14:21-32 specifically addresses the provisions for those who are poor, demonstrating God's compassionate consideration for the economically disadvantaged. This section allows for a reduced offering—fewer animals and a smaller quantity of oil—ensuring that financial constraints would not prevent anyone from completing the purification process and being fully reintegrated into the community and worship life of Israel. Verse 24, therefore, is an integral part of this merciful provision, detailing the specific actions required for the "poor man's" trespass offering.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, *tzara'at* was not merely a physical ailment but carried profound social and ritual implications. Those afflicted were considered ritually unclean and were ostracized from the community, living outside the camp (Leviticus 13:45-46). This isolation underscored the severity of sin and defilement in a theological sense, even if the condition itself was not always a direct punishment for sin. The purification ritual was therefore essential for social reintegration and spiritual restoration. The offerings, including the "trespass offering" (Hebrew: *asham*), were vital components of atonement and cleansing. The "log of oil" (approximately 0.5 liters or 1 pint) represents a specific and small measure, highlighting the contrast with the larger quantities of offerings required from those who were able to afford them, as seen in the standard provisions outlined in [Leviticus 14:10-20](/leviticus/14-10 "Leviticus 14:10-20 - Standard Offerings for Cleansing"). This allowance for the poor underscored God's accessibility and mercy, ensuring that His covenant people, regardless of their economic status, could achieve ritual purity and fellowship.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Trespass Offering (Hebrew, _ʾāšām_):** This offering was distinct from the general sin offering (*chatta't*). The *ʾāšām* specifically addressed guilt arising from a violation of God's holy things or a wrong committed against another person, often involving restitution or a specific infringement that required compensation or rectification. In the context of *tzara'at*, it signified atonement for the defilement and separation caused by the disease, preparing the individual for re-entry into the holy community and rectifying any implicit or explicit violation of the covenant's purity standards. It emphasized the seriousness of the defilement and the need for specific reparation.
* **Log of Oil (Hebrew, _lōḡ šāmen_):** A "log" was a precise, small liquid measure, approximately 0.5 liters or 1 pint. The inclusion of this specific, reduced quantity of oil (compared to the standard amounts in [Leviticus 14:10](/leviticus/14-10 "Leviticus 14:10 - Standard Oil Offering")) powerfully emphasizes God's gracious provision for the poor. Oil often symbolized anointing, consecration, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in later biblical contexts, but here, it was primarily for ritual purification and dedication, applied to the ear, thumb, and toe, and poured on the head, signifying the complete cleansing and dedication of the person.
* **Wave Offering (Hebrew, _tĕnûp̱â_):** Derived from a root meaning "to wave" or "to sway," this ritual involved the priest moving the offering back and forth before the LORD. This action symbolized presenting the offering entirely to God, acknowledging His ownership and sovereignty over all things. It signified a dedication or consecration of the offering to God, and often, a portion was then returned to the priest for consumption, symbolizing God's acceptance and sharing of the offering with His priestly representatives. In this context, it was a visible act of dedication and consecration, symbolizing the cleansed person's return to a right relationship with God and the community.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering":** This clause highlights the priest's essential mediatorial role in the purification process. The lamb, a common sacrificial animal, represents the life given in atonement for the specific guilt associated with the *tzara'at* and the defilement it caused. This "trespass offering" (ʾāšām) underscores the need for specific expiation and restitution for the ritual impurity.
* **"and the log of oil":** This specifies the second component of the offering for the poor, emphasizing the reduced quantity of oil. The oil was integral to the anointing ritual that followed, symbolizing cleansing, consecration, and the restoration of the individual to a state of ritual purity and wholeness before God. Its small measure showcases divine mercy and accessibility.
* **"and the priest shall wave them [for] a wave offering before the LORD":** This describes the specific ritual action performed by the priest. The "waving" (tĕnûp̱â) of both the lamb and the oil before the LORD was a symbolic act of presenting these offerings completely to God, acknowledging His ultimate ownership and authority. It signified their dedication and God's acceptance of the sacrifice, paving the way for the cleansed individual's full reintegration into the holy community and fellowship with God.

#### Literary Devices
Leviticus 14:24 employs several significant literary devices. **Ritual** is paramount, as the entire chapter is a detailed prescription of ceremonial actions. The precise instructions for taking the lamb and oil, and the act of "waving" them, emphasize the structured, divinely ordained nature of the purification process. This ritual serves as a visible, tangible expression of spiritual realities. **Symbolism** is also deeply embedded: the lamb symbolizes the life given in atonement for defilement, while the oil symbolizes anointing, cleansing, and consecration. The act of "waving" itself is a symbolic gesture of dedication and presentation to God, signifying His ownership and acceptance. Furthermore, there is an implicit **Contrast** at play within the broader context of Leviticus 14, highlighting the difference between the standard offerings for the wealthy (Leviticus 14:10) and the reduced provisions for the poor (Leviticus 14:21ff). This contrast underscores God's **Compassion** and **Provision**, ensuring that ritual purity and restoration are accessible to all, regardless of their economic status.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Leviticus 14:24 beautifully encapsulates several profound theological themes. At its core, it reveals God's boundless mercy and divine provision, demonstrating that His desire for reconciliation and fellowship extends to all, regardless of their economic standing. The allowance for a reduced offering for the poor underscores that God does not demand what people cannot give, ensuring that purification and restoration were accessible to every Israelite. This passage also highlights the critical role of atonement and cleansing, as the "trespass offering" was essential for rectifying defilement and preparing the individual for re-entry into the holy community. Finally, the priestly mediation is central; the priest's act of "waving" the offerings before the LORD symbolized dedication, consecration, and God's acceptance, affirming the individual's return to a right relationship with the divine.

* [Leviticus 5:7](/leviticus/5-7 "Provision for the Poor in Sin Offerings")
* [Luke 21:1-4](/luke/21-1 "The Widow's Offering")
* [2 Corinthians 8:12](/2_corinthians/8-12 "Giving According to Means")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the ceremonial laws of Leviticus are no longer binding for New Testament believers, the underlying principles of Leviticus 14:24 remain profoundly relevant for our spiritual lives and our engagement with the world. This passage powerfully reminds us of God's compassionate heart, His unwavering desire for our restoration, and His willingness to make a way for us to be reconciled to Him, even when we feel we have little to offer. It challenges us to reflect on the accessibility of grace – God's grace is not reserved for the privileged or the perfect, but is freely offered to all who seek it, regardless of their perceived spiritual or material poverty. Furthermore, this divine example of providing for the marginalized should stir our hearts to extend grace, compassion, and practical help to those in need within our own communities. It calls us to ensure that the message of spiritual cleansing and the means of physical and emotional restoration are accessible to all, reflecting God's own inclusive love.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's provision for the poor in this ritual challenge my understanding of grace and accessibility in my own faith and in the church today?**
* **In what ways can I, or my community, embody the spirit of God's mercy by making spiritual or practical resources more accessible to those who are marginalized or feel they have little to offer?**
* **What does the priest's mediatorial role in this verse teach me about the importance of intercession and spiritual guidance in my own life or for others?**

### FAQ
**Why was a "trespass offering" (ʾāšām) specifically required for a cleansed leper, rather than just a "sin offering" (chatta't)?**

Answer: The "trespass offering" (ʾāšām) was distinct from the general "sin offering" (chatta't) in its specific focus. While the chatta't dealt with unintentional sins that caused general impurity, the ʾāšām was for specific wrongs that involved a violation of God's holy things or the rights of another, often requiring restitution. In the context of *tzara'at*, the disease itself was viewed as a profound state of ritual defilement that separated the individual from the holy community and the tabernacle. This defilement was seen as an infringement upon God's holiness and the purity of His dwelling place. Therefore, the ʾāšām served to make specific atonement for this defilement and to rectify the breach of purity, preparing the individual for full re-entry into the sacred space and community, much like making restitution for a specific wrong. It underscored the seriousness of the ritual impurity and the need for specific expiation.

**What was the significance of the "log of oil" and its small measure?**

Answer: The "log of oil" was a specific, small liquid measure, approximately 0.5 liters or 1 pint. Its significance lies in two main aspects: First, oil itself was a symbol of anointing, consecration, and purification in many biblical rituals. In the cleansing of the leper, the oil was applied to the ear, thumb, and toe, and some was poured on the head, symbolizing the complete cleansing and dedication of the individual's senses, actions, and entire being to God. Second, the *small measure* of the "log" is profoundly significant because it highlights God's compassionate provision for the poor. In contrast to the larger quantities of oil required for those who could afford more (as detailed in [Leviticus 14:10](/leviticus/14-10 "Leviticus 14:10 - Standard Oil Offering")), this reduced amount ensured that financial constraints would not prevent anyone from completing the purification process. It powerfully illustrates God's mercy and His desire for all His people, regardless of their economic status, to be restored to fellowship with Him.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Leviticus 14:24, with its focus on the poor leper's purification, finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The lamb of the trespass offering, presented for atonement and cleansing, powerfully foreshadows Jesus, the perfect [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Just as the leper's defilement required a specific sacrifice for restoration, humanity's sin, which separates us from God, is fully atoned for by Christ's singular, all-sufficient sacrifice on the cross (Hebrews 9:26-28). The "log of oil," though a small measure, points to the anointing and sanctification that comes through the Holy Spirit, poured out without measure through Christ (John 3:34), enabling our spiritual cleansing and new life. Furthermore, the priest's act of waving the offerings before the LORD prefigures Christ as our great High Priest, who, having offered Himself once for all, now ever lives to intercede for us, presenting us blameless before the Father (Hebrews 7:25; [Hebrews 9:24](/hebrews/9-24 "Hebrews 9:24 - Christ's Heavenly Priesthood")). He is the ultimate provision for all who are spiritually poor and defiled by sin, ensuring that access to God's grace and complete restoration is available to everyone, freely and fully, through His finished work (Ephesians 2:8-9; [Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God's Love While We Were Sinners")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Leviticus 14:10

¶ And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour [for] a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil.

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: