Leviticus 12:8

But if she cannot afford a lamb, she shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. Then the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God instructs Moses on the postpartum purification law, specifying the ritual requirements for a woman whose financial means fall short of the standard lamb sacrifice.

The words — לֹא (lo') = not [H3808] and תִמְצָא (tim.Tza') = it will find [H4672] combine with דֵי (dei) = sufficiency of [H1767] to literally render the condition "if her hand does not find sufficiency."

The thread — Leviticus 5:7 applies this same financial provision to restitution for sin, while Leviticus 1:14 permits bird offerings generally and Leviticus 4:26 mandates burning fat, neither of which addresses economic inability.

Why it lands — The text establishes a mandatory economic tier for ritual access, requiring the priest to accept alternative offerings and complete atonement regardless of the worshiper’s wealth.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.

Cross-references

Leviticus 5:7 If, however, he cannot afford a lamb, he may bring to the LORD as restitution for his sin two turtledoves or two young pigeons—one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering.
Leviticus 4:26 He must burn all its fat on the altar, like the fat of the peace offerings; thus the priest will make atonement for that man’s sin, and he will be forgiven.
Leviticus 1:14 If, instead, one’s offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, he is to present a turtledove or a young pigeon.
Leviticus 14:22 and two turtledoves or two young pigeons, whichever he can afford, one to be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering.
Luke 2:22 And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
Leviticus 15:14 On the eighth day he is to take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, come before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, and give them to the priest.
Leviticus 15:29 On the eighth day she is to take two turtledoves or two young pigeons and bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.