Leviticus 5:7

7 But if he may not offer a beast, offer he two turtles, either two birds of culvers to the Lord, one for [the] sin, and the tother into burnt sacrifice. (And if he cannot offer such a beast, offer he two turtledoves, or two young pigeons to the Lord, one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt sacrifice.)

Leviticus 5:7 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 5:7

And if he be not able to bring a lamb
He is not possessed of a lamb, nor able to purchase one:

then he shall bring for his trespass which he hath committed, two
turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the Lord;
either the one or the other; these were common, and in great plenty in the land of Israel, as Maimonides ^F25 observes, which was the reason of their being ordered, since to be had cheap. The turtledoves were larger, as the Targum of Jonathan calls them, being older, and the pigeons lesser, being young; or the one were grown, and not little, and the other little, and not grown, as the Jewish writers ^F26 observe; and either of them were proper emblems of Christ in his purity, innocence, and meekness, by whom an atonement is made both for the rich and poor:

one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering;
one of the turtle doves or pigeons, whichsoever were brought, was offered up as a sin offering, and the other that remained was offered up as a burnt offering; so that the poor man had two sorts of offerings out of what he brought, when the rich had but one; and may denote the completeness of his sacrifice, and the full atonement made by it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F25 Moreh Nevochim, par. 3. c. 46.
F26 Maimon & Bartenora in Misn. Cholin, c. 1. sect. 5.

Leviticus 5:7 In-Context

5 do he penance for his sin,

6 and offer he of the flocks a female lamb, either a goat, (for a sin offering); and the priest shall pray for him, and for his sin.

7 But if he may not offer a beast, offer he two turtles, either two birds of culvers to the Lord, one for [the] sin, and the tother into burnt sacrifice. (And if he cannot offer such a beast, offer he two turtledoves, or two young pigeons to the Lord, one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt sacrifice.)

8 And he shall give those to the priest, which shall offer the first for [the] sin, and shall fold again the head thereof to the wings, so that it cleave to the neck, and be not broken utterly. (And he shall give them to the priest, who shall offer the first for a sin offering; and he shall fold back its head to its wings, but it shall still cleave to the neck, and not be broken completely off.)

9 And the priest shall sprinkle the wall of the altar, of the blood thereof; soothly whatever is residue, he shall make to drop down at the foundament of the altar, for it is for sin. (And the priest shall sprinkle the side of the altar with some of its blood; and whatever is left, he shall pour out at the foundation, or at the base, of the altar, for it is a sin offering.)