Leviticus 12
8 verses
The purification regulations after childbirth address the ritual dimension of the life-giving event without negative judgment on childbirth itself. After the birth of a son, the mother observes seven days of initial impurity (parallel to menstrual impurity) and thirty-three days of secondary purification — forty days total before full sanctuary access is restored; for a daughter, the periods are doubled (fourteen and sixty-six days, eighty total). On the eighth day, the son is circumcised — the covenant sign received on the first day of the mother's ritual cleanness. At the completion of the purification period, the mother brings a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a dove or pigeon for a sin offering; if she cannot afford a lamb, two birds suffice. Luke 2:24 records that Mary brought the two-bird provision at Jesus' presentation, confirming the holy family's limited means. The chapter communicates the covenant's consistent provision: full restoration from every form of ritual impurity, accessible to every level of the community.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
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2
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.
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3
And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
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4
And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.
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5
But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days.
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6
And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest:
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7
Who shall offer it before the Lord, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female.
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8
And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.
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COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
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