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;

LEVITICUS 14:21KJV
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Leviticus 14:21 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 14:21 mean?

Leviticus 14:21 gives instructions for someone who is poor and cannot afford the full offerings required for purification after being healed from a skin disease. The verse allows a person in this situation to bring a smaller, more affordable set of offerings—one lamb, a small amount of fine flour mixed with oil, and a measure of oil—so that they can still complete the ritual and be restored to the community.

In this part of Leviticus, God is speaking to Moses, giving laws for the Israelites about how to handle ritual purity. The specific context is the process for someone who has recovered from a serious skin disease (often called "leprosy" in older translations). The law makes a special allowance for those who are poor (noted by the word דַּל, dal), showing that everyone, regardless of wealth, has a way to be made right and rejoin the community.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 14:21

  • The word for "poor" is דַּל (dal), which means someone who is low, weak, or lacking in resources. Its use here highlights the law’s concern for those with little means.
  • The word for "offering" in "trespass offering" is אָשָׁם (asham), which refers to a specific type of sacrifice for guilt or wrongdoing. This offering is part of the ritual to restore the person’s standing.
  • The term for "waved" is תְּנוּפָה (tenufah), describing a ritual action where the offering is lifted or moved before God, symbolizing dedication or presentation.
  • The "log" of oil uses לוֹג (log), an ancient liquid measure, showing the law’s precision about what is required, even in reduced circumstances.

Why Leviticus 14:21 matters

  • Leviticus 14:21 shows that the law made room for people of all economic backgrounds, not just the wealthy, to participate fully in religious life.
  • The verse emphasizes that ritual purity and restoration were not out of reach for the poor, highlighting a concern for fairness and inclusion.
  • This allowance connects to the broader theme in Leviticus of God’s care for the vulnerable and the importance of community restoration after illness.

Where else these words appear

“log” Hebrew H3849 · used in 5 verses

  • 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:
  • Leviticus 14:15 And the priest shall take some of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand:

“deal” Hebrew H6241 · used in 22 verses

  • Exodus 29:40 And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering.
  • Numbers 15:9 Then shall he bring with a bullock a meat offering of three tenth deals of flour mingled with half an hin of oil.
  • Numbers 28:29 A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs;

“waved” Hebrew H8573 · used in 28 verses

  • Exodus 29:24 And thou shalt put all in the hands of Aaron, and in the hands of his sons; and shalt wave them for a wave offering before the LORD.
  • Leviticus 8:29 And Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before the LORD: for of the ram of consecration it was Moses' part; as the LORD commanded Moses.
  • Numbers 6:20 And the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD: this is holy for the priest, with the wave breast and heave shoulder: and after that the Nazarite may drink wine.

“offering” Hebrew H817 · used in 41 verses

  • Genesis 26:10 And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.
  • Leviticus 7:37 This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings;
  • Numbers 18:9 This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of theirs, every meat offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons.