Leviticus 12
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
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.
3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
Common Questions About Leviticus 12
What purification process does chapter 12 describe after childbirth?
The chapter describes a period of ceremonial purification for a mother following childbirth, differing in length depending on the child's sex, after which she brings a burnt offering and sin offering, with an allowance for two birds instead of a lamb if she couldn't afford one.
How does this chapter connect to the Gospel account of Jesus's early life?
Luke's Gospel records that Mary and Joseph fulfilled this exact law after Jesus's birth, offering 'a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons' (Luke 2:24), the provision made specifically for those who couldn't afford a lamb, indicating Jesus's family's humble economic circumstances.
Have a different question about this chapter? Ask the Bible Chat Bot below.
Questions to Think About
- This law, connected directly to Jesus's own family life in the Gospels, shows Scripture's threads connecting across centuries. How does noticing these kinds of connections between Old and New Testament deepen your reading of the Bible as one unified story?
- The provision for those who couldn't afford a lamb reflects God's care for the economically vulnerable, even within ceremonial law. Where do you see God's provision for the vulnerable at work in situations around you today?
Ask the Bible Chat Bot below if you'd like to talk through any of these.
