The Meaning of Leviticus 5:11 Explained

Leviticus 5:11

KJV: But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering.

YLT: And if his hand reach not to two turtle-doves, or to two young pigeons, then he hath brought in his offering -- he who hath sinned -- a tenth of an ephah of flour for a sin-offering; he putteth no oil on it, nor doth he put on it frankincense, for it is a sin-offering,

Darby: But if his hand cannot attain to two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin-offering: he shall put no oil on it, neither shall he put frankincense thereon; for it is a sin-offering.

ASV: But if his means suffice not for two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, then he shall bring his oblation for that wherein he hath sinned, the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin-offering: he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon; for it is a sin-offering.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But if he  be not able to bring  two  turtledoves,  or two  young  pigeons,  then he that sinned  shall bring  for his offering  the tenth  part of an ephah  of fine flour  for a sin offering;  he shall put  no oil  upon it, neither shall he put  [any] frankincense  thereon: for it [is] a sin offering. 

What does Leviticus 5:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Leviticus 5:1-13 - Trespass-Offerings For Various Sins
The sin-offering was closely resembled by the trespass-offering; but they differed in this: that the former was meant to fix the thought of the sinner rather on the evil of his character, and that there was within him a root of bitterness and a poisonous fountain. But the latter deals with the acts of transgression to which this evil character gives rise, and more especially with the harm which it inflicts on others. We need to confess our trespasses as often as we eat our daily bread; and it is very reassuring that, through the blood of Jesus, God forgives all our trespasses. See Colossians 2:13.
It is very touching to notice the provision made for the very poor. Mary, the mother of our Lord, had to content herself with the two pigeons or turtle doves of Leviticus 5:11. But none of us are exempted. We cannot come to the close of any day without kneeling to confess our sins and asking that we may be sprinkled from an evil conscience. [source]

Chapter Summary: Leviticus 5

1  He who sins in concealing his knowledge
2  in touching an unclean thing
4  or in making an oath
6  His trespass offering, of the flock
7  of fowls
11  or of flour
14  The trespass offering in sacrilege
17  and in sins of ignorance

What do the individual words in Leviticus 5:11 mean?

But if not he is able to bring - two turtledoves or two young pigeons then shall bring - for his offering which he who sinned a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering No He shall put on it oil nor shall he put on it frankincense for [is] a sin offering it
וְאִם־ לֹא֩ תַשִּׂ֨יג יָד֜וֹ לִשְׁתֵּ֣י תֹרִ֗ים אוֹ֮ לִשְׁנֵ֣י בְנֵי־ יוֹנָה֒ וְהֵבִ֨יא אֶת־ קָרְבָּנ֜וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָטָ֗א עֲשִׂירִ֧ת הָאֵפָ֛ה סֹ֖לֶת לְחַטָּ֑את לֹא־ יָשִׂ֨ים עָלֶ֜יהָ שֶׁ֗מֶן וְלֹא־ יִתֵּ֤ן עָלֶ֙יהָ֙ לְבֹנָ֔ה כִּ֥י חַטָּ֖את הִֽיא

וְאִם־  But  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
תַשִּׂ֨יג  he  is  able  to  bring 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: מַשֶּׂגֶת 
Sense: to reach, overtake, take hold upon.
יָד֜וֹ  - 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
לִשְׁתֵּ֣י  two 
Parse: Preposition-l, Number, fdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
תֹרִ֗ים  turtledoves 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: תֹּור  
Sense: dove, turtledove.
לִשְׁנֵ֣י  two 
Parse: Preposition-l, Number, mdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
בְנֵי־  young 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יוֹנָה֒  pigeons 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: יׄונָה  
Sense: dove, pigeon.
וְהֵבִ֨יא  then  shall  bring 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
קָרְבָּנ֜וֹ  for  his  offering 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרְבָּן 
Sense: offering, oblation.
חָטָ֗א  he  who  sinned 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָטָא 
Sense: to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness.
עֲשִׂירִ֧ת  a  tenth 
Parse: Number, ordinal feminine singular construct
Root: עֲשִׂירִי  
Sense: ordinal number.
הָאֵפָ֛ה  of  an  ephah 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֵיפָה  
Sense: ephah.
סֹ֖לֶת  of  fine  flour 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: סׄלֶת  
Sense: fine flour.
לְחַטָּ֑את  as  a  sin  offering 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חַטָּאָה 
Sense: sin, sinful.
לֹא־  No 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יָשִׂ֨ים  He  shall  put 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
עָלֶ֜יהָ  on  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
שֶׁ֗מֶן  oil 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁמֶן  
Sense: fat, oil.
וְלֹא־  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִתֵּ֤ן  shall  he  put 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
עָלֶ֙יהָ֙  on  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
לְבֹנָ֔ה  frankincense 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: לְבֹונָה 
Sense: frankincense.
חַטָּ֖את  [is]  a  sin  offering 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חַטָּאָה 
Sense: sin, sinful.