Leviticus 14:21

Verse

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,

American Standard Version (1901)

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;

Bible in Basic English

And if he is poor and not able to get so much, then he may take one male lamb as an offering for wrongdoing, to be waved to take away his sin, and one tenth part of an ephah of the best meal mixed with oil for a meal offering, and a log of oil;

Douay-Rheims 1899

But if he be poor, and his hand cannot find the things aforesaid: he shall take a lamb for an offering for trespass, that the priest may pray for him, and a tenth part of hour tempered with oil for a sacrifice, and a sextary of oil,

Free Bible Version

But those who are poor and can't afford these offerings must bring one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved to make them right, together with a tenth an ephah of best flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, a log of olive oil,

Geneva Bible 1599

But if he be poore, and not able, then he shall bring one lambe for a trespasse offring to be shaken, for his reconciliation, and a tenth deale of fine flower mingled with oyle, for a meate offring, with a pinte of oyle.

King James (Authorized) Version

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;

One Unity Resource Bible

“If he is poor, and can’t afford so much, then he shall take one male lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, and one tenth of an ephah [an omer; 2.3 q; 2.2 L] of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal offering, and one log [0.65 qt; 0.31 L] of oil;

Translation for Translators

“But if the person who has been healed of a skin disease is poor and cannot afford to bring all those animals, he must take to the priest one male lamb to be lifted up to be an offering for his not giving to me the things that he was required to give me. He must also take two quarts/liters of fine flour mixed with olive oil to be an offering made from grain, ◄0.6 pint/0.3 liter► of olive oil,

Unlocked Literal Bible

However, if the person is poor and cannot afford these sacrifices, then he may take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved, to make atonement for himself, and one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering, and a log of oil,

Noah Webster Bible

And if he is 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-part of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat-offering, and a log of oil;

World English Bible

“If he is poor, and can’t afford so much, then he shall take one male lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, and one tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering, and a log of oil;

Young's Literal Translation

'And if he [is] poor, and his hand is not reaching [these things], then he hath taken one lamb — a guilt-offering, for a wave-offering, to make atonement for him, and one-tenth deal of flour mixed with oil for a present, and a log of oil,

Context

Cleansing from Skin Diseases

²⁰and offer it on the altar, with the grain offering, to make atonement for him, and he will be clean. ²¹If, 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,²²and two turtledoves or two young pigeons, whichever he can afford, one to be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering.

Summary

In this verse, the priest is instructed to offer a sacrifice of atonement for the person who is being cleansed from a skin disease. The sacrifice involves the shedding of blood, symbolizing the removal of sin and impurity. This ritual underscores the seriousness of sin and the need for forgiveness and restoration in the sight of God. It also points to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose blood cleanses believers from all unrighteousness and grants them spiritual healing and reconciliation with God.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Matthew Henry
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

And if he be poor - he shall take one lamb - There could be no cleansing without a sacrifice. On this ground the apostle has properly observed that all things under the law are purged with blood; and that without shedding of blood there is no remission. Even if the person be poor, he must provide one lamb; this could not be dispensed with: - so every soul to whom the word of Divine revelation comes, must bring that Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world. There is no redemption but in his blood.