This verse reminds us that God’s call to restoration is extended to everyone.
In Leviticus 14:22, the law continues its prescription for the purification of a healed leper by requiring him to bring “two turtledoves or two young pigeons, which ever he can afford, the one shall be a sin offering, and the other a burnt offering, so the priest shall make atonement for him who is to be cleansed before the LORD” (v.22). This command ensures that even those of modest means are granted a way to fully participate in their restoration and reentry into the covenant community. It reflects the heart of God, who provides for equal access to atonement and fellowship, regardless of wealth or social status. In the broader biblical story, sin offerings and burnt offerings serve importantly to acknowledge both humanity’s brokenness and the need for consecration in the presence of a holy God.
Moses, who lived in the second millennium BC, received and recorded this instruction during Israel’s wilderness period, after they had been delivered from Egypt. The two turtledoves or two young pigeons are among the least expensive sacrificial animals (Leviticus 5:7), confirming that the divine law accounts for the poor within the community. A sin offering symbolized forgiveness for wrongdoing, while a burnt offering symbolized complete devotion to God. Taken together, they signified a full cleansing, re-dedicating the healed person to serve the LORD.
In the New Testament, Jesus Himself cleansed lepers and instructed them to fulfill the Mosaic requirements (Mark 1:40-44). This foreshadows the ultimate atonement He offers through His death and resurrection (Hebrews 13:11-13). Jesus’ sacrifice stands as the final sin offering, providing atonement for all who place their faith in Him. Yet the underlying principle in Leviticus 14:22 remains constant: God graciously meets people at their point of need and invites them to be made clean and set apart for His service.
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Leviticus 14:22 meaning
In Leviticus 14:22, the law continues its prescription for the purification of a healed leper by requiring him to bring “two turtledoves or two young pigeons, which ever he can afford, the one shall be a sin offering, and the other a burnt offering, so the priest shall make atonement for him who is to be cleansed before the LORD” (v.22). This command ensures that even those of modest means are granted a way to fully participate in their restoration and reentry into the covenant community. It reflects the heart of God, who provides for equal access to atonement and fellowship, regardless of wealth or social status. In the broader biblical story, sin offerings and burnt offerings serve importantly to acknowledge both humanity’s brokenness and the need for consecration in the presence of a holy God.
Moses, who lived in the second millennium BC, received and recorded this instruction during Israel’s wilderness period, after they had been delivered from Egypt. The two turtledoves or two young pigeons are among the least expensive sacrificial animals (Leviticus 5:7), confirming that the divine law accounts for the poor within the community. A sin offering symbolized forgiveness for wrongdoing, while a burnt offering symbolized complete devotion to God. Taken together, they signified a full cleansing, re-dedicating the healed person to serve the LORD.
In the New Testament, Jesus Himself cleansed lepers and instructed them to fulfill the Mosaic requirements (Mark 1:40-44). This foreshadows the ultimate atonement He offers through His death and resurrection (Hebrews 13:11-13). Jesus’ sacrifice stands as the final sin offering, providing atonement for all who place their faith in Him. Yet the underlying principle in Leviticus 14:22 remains constant: God graciously meets people at their point of need and invites them to be made clean and set apart for His service.