Leviticus 12 -- Old Testament -- Gospel Daily

Leviticus

Chapter 12

Purification Laws After Childbirth

The LORD instructs Moses to convey to the Israelites the laws governing a woman's ritual uncleanness following childbirth. After bearing a son, she is unclean for seven days, the son is circumcised on the eighth day, and she continues in purification for thirty-three more days; after bearing a daughter, the periods are doubled to fourteen and sixty-six days respectively. Once her days of purification are complete, she must bring a yearling lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or turtledove for a sin offering to the tabernacle, where the priest makes atonement for her and she is declared clean. A provision for the poor allows two turtledoves or two young pigeons to substitute for the lamb, ensuring the ordinance is accessible to all.

ritual puritychildbirth and uncleannesscircumcisionatonement offeringsprovision for the poor

¹And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

²Speak 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.

³And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

⁴And 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.

⁵But 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.

⁶And 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:

⁷Who 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.

⁸And 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.