The final part of this section (verses 7-13) deals with the question of those members of the community who may not have sufficient means to offer a sheep or a goat. It shows that the forgiveness of God is not absolutely bound to the type of victim offered. The sacrifice is a symbolic expression of the request for forgiveness and the desire for reconciliation, as well as the need for restitution involving the life of a sacrificial animal.

But: the Hebrew conjunction here is a very common one and does not necessarily have to be translated explicitly in every instance. The translators of Revised Standard Version (as well as New English Bible) apparently felt the need of a transition word here to mark the contrast between those who could afford the usual sacrificial animal and those who could not. New American Bible has “however.” But many translations (including Good News Translation, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, and An American Translation) move directly to the case of the person who cannot afford a sheep or a goat without any transition word. They do, however, begin a new paragraph at this point.

If he cannot afford: literally “if his hand does not reach the amount of….” In some languages this idea will be expressed quite differently. It may be necessary to say “if he does not have enough wealth (or, possessions)” or perhaps simply “if he cannot get a sheep or a goat.”

A lamb: that is, “a sheep or a goat.” See 3.7.

Two turtledoves or two young pigeons: see 1.14.

As his guilt offering: as in verse 6 above, this is another nontechnical use of the same word that is also used for the “guilt offering” later in this chapter. Here it means “what he is required to bring,” “as his penalty,” or “as his punishment,” as in the preceding verse.

One for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering: in addition to bringing a bird for a sin offering to replace the sheep or goat mentioned in verse 7, a second bird is required as a whole burnt offering. This is perhaps to acknowledge God’s gracious provision for those of lesser means.

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René and Ellington, John. A Handbook on Leviticus. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1990. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .