Leviticus 1:14
in Leviticus 1If, instead, one’s offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, he is to present a turtledove or a young pigeon.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And if his oblation to Jehovah be a burnt-offering of birds, then he shall offer his oblation of turtle-doves, or of young pigeons.
KJV
And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the Lord be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons.
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This verse in Leviticus 1
Commentary
6 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Of turtledoves, or of young pigeons - The offering of a bird was permitted to one who was too poor to offer a quadruped. (Compare the marginal references.) But in certain rites of purification birds were appointed for all, whatever might be their circumstances. See Lev 15:14, Lev 15:29; Num 6:10. The limitation of the age of the pigeons may be accounted for by the natural habits of the birds.
This site's exposition
be of fowls, then he shall bring
on Leviticus 1:14-15
A bird is what a man brings when he has nothing else, and Leviticus 5:7 and 12:8 name it as the provision for one who cannot reach a lamb. Luke 2:24 has Mary and Joseph bringing a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons at the temple, which is that provision in use. Here the priest does the killing rather than the offerer, wringing off the head at the altar with his hands, so the poorest offering is the one its owner is not asked to butcher.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
In very many ceremonies of the law one who needed to be cleansed was ordered to be cleansed by [offering] these [birds]. A pigeon indicates simplicity and a turtledove indicates chastity, for a pigeon is a lover of simplicity and a turtledove is a lover …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Turtle-doves - These birds were appointed for the poor who could not bring better. And these birds are preferred before others, partly because they were easily gotten, and partly because they are fit representations of Christ's chastity, and meekness, and gentleness, for which these birds are remarkable.
And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the Lord be of fowls,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
if the burnt sacrifice . . . be of fowls--The gentle nature and cleanly habits of the dove led to its selection, while all other fowls were rejected, either for the fierceness of their disposition or the grossness of their taste; and in this case, there being from the smallness of the animal no blood for waste, the priest was directed to prepare it at the altar and sprinkle the blood.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
Scripture chose these two species [of birds] because they are accessible and can be more easily caught than other [birds], just as our Rabbis have mentioned. Vayikra Rabbah:6. with reference to any of the sheep, and any of the goats, 166 Deuteronomy:4.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
This “bringing” means bringing it up onto the altar, signifying that the priest is to bring up the bird onto the altar and nip off its head there, as the nipping off may only be done on top of the altar. 172 Zebachim 65a.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 2 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
15 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְאִ֧ם | veim | and if | H518 → | 1069 times |
| מִן־ | min- | from | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| הָע֛וֹף | haof | the bird[s] | H5775 → | 71 times |
| עֹלָ֥ה | ʾolah | [is] a burnt offering | H5930 → | 287 times |
| קָרְבָּנ֖וֹ | karebano | present his | H7133 → | 82 times |
| לַֽיהוָ֑ה | layahweh | to Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| וְהִקְרִ֣יב | vehikriv | and he will present | H7126 → | 280 times |
| מִן־ | min- | from | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| הַתֹּרִ֗ים | hatorim | the turtle-doves | H8449 → | 14 times |
| א֛וֹ | ʾo | or | H176 → | 321 times |
| מִן־ | min- | from | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| בְּנֵ֥י | benei | [the] young ones of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| הַיּוֹנָ֖ה | haiyonah | the dove | H3123 → | 31 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| קָרְבָּנֽוֹ׃ | karebano | present his | H7133 → | 82 times |
וְאִ֧םand if
veimH518 →1069 times
מִן־from
min-H4480 →1188 times
הָע֛וֹףthe bird[s]
haofH5775 →71 times
עֹלָ֥ה[is] a burnt offering
ʾolahH5930 →287 times
קָרְבָּנ֖וֹpresent his
karebanoH7133 →82 times
לַֽיהוָ֑הto Yahweh
layahwehH3068 →6520 times
וְהִקְרִ֣יבand he will present
vehikrivH7126 →280 times
מִן־from
min-H4480 →1188 times
הַתֹּרִ֗יםthe turtle-doves
hatorimH8449 →14 times
א֛וֹor
ʾoH176 →321 times
מִן־from
min-H4480 →1188 times
בְּנֵ֥י[the] young ones of
beneiH1121 →4930 times
הַיּוֹנָ֖הthe dove
haiyonahH3123 →31 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
קָרְבָּנֽוֹ׃present his
karebanoH7133 →82 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 11:29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 6:16
This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’ Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.…
- 1 John 2:6
Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked.
- Philippians 2:7–8
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.
- John 13:15
I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you.
- Luke 6:46–48
Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I say?
- Jeremiah 6:16
Through
Luke 2:24and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
it leads to
- Leviticus 12:6–8
When the days of her purification are complete, whether for a son or for a daughter, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting a year-old lamb…
- Leviticus 12:6–8
Through
Genesis 15:9And the LORD said to him, “Bring Me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a turtledove and a young pigeon.”
it leads to
- 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.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Leviticus 14:22
Through
Leviticus 12:8But 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…
it leads to
- 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…
- Leviticus 5:7
Where this verse is studied
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About Leviticus
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Homilies on the Gospels 1.18; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.