And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness.

LEVITICUS 15:30KJV
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Leviticus 15:30 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 15:30 mean?

Leviticus 15:30 describes how a priest was to offer two sacrifices—a sin offering and a burnt offering—for a woman after she experienced a bodily discharge, making atonement for her so she could be considered clean before God. This verse outlines the final step in a process that restored a person’s ritual purity in ancient Israel.

In this context, God is giving instructions to Moses for the Israelites about handling ritual impurity. The priest acted as a mediator, following specific steps to help someone rejoin the worshipping community. The verse highlights the seriousness with which ritual cleanness was treated and the careful procedures for restoring someone to full participation in religious life.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 15:30

  • "Atonement" (כָּפַר, kaphar): This word means to cover or make reconciliation. Here, it shows that the sacrifices were meant to restore the woman’s relationship with God and the community after her period of uncleanness.
  • "Issue" (זוֹב, zov): This refers to an abnormal bodily discharge. The law distinguished between different types of discharges, and this word signals a specific condition that required ritual attention.
  • "Uncleanness" (טֻמְאָה, tum’ah): This term means ritual impurity, not moral wrongdoing. It emphasizes that the concern was about ritual status, not personal sinfulness.

Why Leviticus 15:30 matters

  • Leviticus 15:30 clarifies that ritual impurity was not a permanent barrier; there was a clear, structured way for someone to be restored to the community.
  • The verse shows the priest’s role as a helper and mediator, not just a judge, guiding people through the process of becoming clean.
  • Understanding the difference between ritual uncleanness (טֻמְאָה, tum’ah) and moral sin helps avoid confusion about the purpose of these laws—they were about community order and worship, not about condemning individuals.

Where else these words appear

“issue” Hebrew H2101 · used in 10 verses

  • Leviticus 15:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean.
  • Leviticus 15:15 And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD for his issue.
  • Leviticus 15:26 Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation.

“uncleanness” Hebrew H2932 · used in 31 verses

  • Leviticus 5:3 Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.
  • Leviticus 18:19 Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.
  • Ezra 9:11 Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.

“atonement” Hebrew H3722 · used in 94 verses

  • Genesis 6:14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
  • 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;
  • Numbers 28:22 And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.