Leviticus 15:30 - The priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her before Yahweh for the uncleanness of her discharge.

Generated Verse: Leviticus 15:30

What does "Leviticus 15:30" mean?


Leviticus 15:30 is part of the laws concerning bodily discharges and ritual purity. Let's break down the verse to understand its meaning:

"The priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering...": This refers to two bird sacrifices. The "one" and "the other" are likely referring to two young pigeons or turtledoves, as mentioned in verse 29. The sin offering (khatat in Hebrew) was a sacrifice offered to cleanse unintentional sin or impurity, while the burnt offering (olah in Hebrew) was a whole offering to God, signifying complete dedication and atonement.

"...and the priest shall make atonement for her before Yahweh for the uncleanness of her discharge.": "Atonement" (kippur in Hebrew) means to cover, cleanse, or make reconciliation for sin or impurity. In this context, the sacrifices are a means of ritual purification. The "her" refers to a woman who has been discharged from her period. Because the discharge makes her ritually unclean, this verse speaks about the priest offering atonement so that the uncleanness is removed.

In summary, Leviticus 15:30 instructs the priest to perform specific sacrifices (a sin offering and a burnt offering) to purify a woman after the completion of her menstrual cycle. These sacrifices are a means of atonement for the ritual impurity associated with the discharge, allowing her to be considered ritually clean again before God (Yahweh).

Important Considerations:

Ritual vs. Moral Purity: It's crucial to understand that these laws deal with ritual purity, not necessarily moral sin. The discharge itself isn't considered morally wrong, but it creates a state of ritual uncleanness that temporarily restricts a person from participating in certain religious activities.
Symbolic Meaning: Many scholars see these laws as having symbolic meaning, representing the sanctity of life, the importance of purity in approaching God, and the need for cleansing from defilement.
Historical Context: These laws were part of the covenant God made with the Israelites and were specifically relevant to their society and religious practices at that time.

Therefore, the verse describes a ritual purification process involving specific sacrifices to atone for the uncleanness caused by a woman's discharge after her period, restoring her to a state of ritual purity.

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