Leviticus 14:20

and offer it on the altar, with the grain offering, to make atonement for him, and he will be clean.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The passage continues God’s command to Moses regarding the priest’s duties in the final stage of the skin-disease cleansing ritual. The priest presents the burnt offering and grain offering on the altar after the sinner has already washed and shaved.

The words — The Hebrew verb וְהֶעֱלָ֧ה (ve.he‘elâh) means “and he will offer up,” describing the priest’s action of presenting the sacrifice. The noun מִנְחָ֖ה (minḥâ) translates to “grain offering,” which is placed on the altar alongside the burnt offering.

The thread — The sequence of offering for atonement followed by declared cleanliness runs through Leviticus 14:10 and 14:19. The pattern of a sacrificial offering producing ritual cleansing is referenced in Ephesians 5:2, which describes Christ’s self-giving as a fragrant offering to God.

Why it lands — The text states that the priest must complete the altar presentation before the person is declared clean. A reader must acknowledge that the ritual requires the prescribed offering to be physically placed on the altar before status is restored.

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

וְהֶעֱלָ֧הve./he.'e.Lahand/ he will offer up הַכֹּהֵ֛ןha./ko.Henthe/ priest אֶת־'et-<obj.>הָעֹלָ֥הha./'o.Lahthe/ burnt offering וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>הַמִּנְחָ֖הha./min.Chahthe/ grain offering הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חָהha./miz.Be.cha/hthe/ altar/ towards וְכִפֶּ֥רve./khi.Perand/ he will make atonement עָלָ֛יו'a.La/von/ him הַכֹּהֵ֖ןha./ko.Henthe/ priest וְטָהֵֽר׃ סve./ta.Herand/ he will be clean

King James Version

And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meat offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean.

Cross-references

Leviticus 14:10 On the eighth day he is to bring two unblemished male lambs, an unblemished ewe lamb a year old, a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with olive oil, and one log of olive oil.
Leviticus 14:8 The one being cleansed must wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and bathe with water; then he will be ceremonially clean. Afterward, he may enter the camp, but he must remain outside his tent for seven days.
Ephesians 5:2 and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.