If
he can’t afford a lamb, then he shall bring his trespass offering for that in which he has sinned, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, to Yahweh; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering.
Leviticus 5:7
Leviticus 5 [4.] “‘Or if anyone swears rashly with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatever it is that a man might utter rashly with an oath, and it is hidden from him; when he knows of it, then he shall be guilty of one of these. It shall be, when he is guilty of one of these, he shall confess that in which he has sinned: and he shall bring his trespass offering to Yahweh for his sin which he has sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin.
Leviticus 5 [7.] “‘If he can’t afford a lamb, then he shall bring his trespass offering for that in which he has sinned, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, to Yahweh; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering. He shall bring them to the priest, who shall first offer the one which is for the sin offering, and wring off its head from its neck, but shall not sever it completely. He shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering. He shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the ordinance; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin which he has sinned, and he shall be forgiven.
Leviticus 5 [11.] “‘But if he can’t afford two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he shall bring his offering for that in which he has sinned, one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He shall put no oil on it, and he shall not put any frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering. He shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it as the memorial portion, and burn it on the altar, on the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. It is a sin offering. The priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin that he has sinned in any of these things, and he will be forgiven; and the rest shall be the priest’s, as the meal offering.’”
Meaning:
Leviticus 5 deals with everyday sins that needed atonement: failing to testify, touching something unclean, or making a rash oath. The guilty person was to confess the sin and bring “a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering” (see the Context above). But not everyone in Israel could afford a lamb. This verse is God’s provision for the poor.
- “If he can’t afford a lamb”
God did not allow poverty to shut anyone out of forgiveness. If even birds were too costly, fine flour was accepted instead (see the Context above). The Maker of rich and poor alike (Proverbs 22:2) opened atonement to all.
- “Two turtledoves, or two young pigeons”
Doves and pigeons were common and cheap. The first bird was a sin offering, dealing with guilt; the second a burnt offering, wholly given to God in renewed devotion.
- The doves in the temple
In Jesus’ day dove sellers did business in the temple courts. When Jesus cleansed the temple he “overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of those who sold the doves” (Mark 11:15). A few days later Jesus praised a poor widow who gave all she had (Mark 12:41-44), showing how highly God values the offerings of the poor.
- “He shall be forgiven”
The paragraph ends with the promise that the priest would make atonement “and he shall be forgiven”. These sacrifices pointed forward to Christ, who “when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12). Of him Isaiah wrote, “He was pierced for our transgressions” (Isaiah 53:5). Now, rich or poor, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins” (1 John 1:9).
The Significance of Leviticus 5:7
- Grace within reach of all
No one is too poor to come to God. Christ has paid the full price.
- Do not exploit the poor
God’s provision for the poor must never become a source of profit.
Cross-References:
Mark 11:15: "Jesus entered into the temple, and began to throw out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of those who sold the doves." Jesus defends the poor worshippers.
Hebrews 10:12: "but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God" The final sacrifice.
1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Forgiveness for all who confess.
Conclusion: Leviticus 5:7 allowed someone who could not afford a lamb to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, so that poverty never shut anyone out of atonement. Jesus later defended the poor worshippers in the temple, and he became the final sacrifice through whom all who confess their sins are forgiven.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible