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Leviticus 12

BSB·8 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1Then the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → saidוַיְדַבֵּ֥רway·ḏab·bêr — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study → toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → Mosesמֹשֶׁ֥הmō·šeh — Drawn outH4872 — Full Word Study →, 2Sayדַּבֵּ֞רdab·bêr — to speak, say, or declareH1696 — Full Word Study → toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → the Israelitesבְּנֵ֤יbə·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study →, ‘A woman whoאִשָּׁה֙’iš·šāh — Woman; wife; femaleH802 — Full Word Study → becomes pregnantתַזְרִ֔יעַṯaz·rî·a‘ — to sow seed; to plantH2232 — Full Word Study → and gives birth toוְיָלְדָ֖הwə·yā·lə·ḏāh — to give birth, beget, or bear a childH3205 — Full Word Study → a sonזָכָ֑רzā·ḵār — Male, man, or masculine personH2145 — Full Word Study → will be uncleanוְטָֽמְאָה֙wə·ṭā·mə·’āh — to be unclean, to defile or contaminateH2930 — Full Word Study → for sevenשִׁבְעַ֣תšiḇ·‘aṯ — The number seven; sevenfoldH7651 — Full Word Study → daysיָמִ֔יםyā·mîm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study →, as she is during the daysכִּימֵ֛יkî·mê — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → of her menstruationנִדַּ֥תnid·daṯ — Menstrual impurity; ritual uncleanness; separationH5079 — Full Word Study →. 3And on the eighthהַשְּׁמִינִ֑יhaš·šə·mî·nî — eighth; ordinal numeral indicating position in sequenceH8066 — Full Word Study → dayוּבַיּ֖וֹםū·ḇay·yō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → the fleshבְּשַׂ֥רbə·śar — Flesh; body; meat; human natureH1320 — Full Word Study → of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcisedיִמּ֖וֹלyim·mō·wl — to circumcise; to cut off; to destroyH4135 — Full Word Study →. 4The woman shall continueתֵּשֵׁ֖בtê·šêḇ — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → in purificationטָהֳרָ֑הṭā·ho·rāh — purification, cleansing, ritual purityH2893 — Full Word Study → from her bleedingבִּדְמֵ֣יbiḏ·mê — blood; life force; bloodshed; guiltH1818 — Full Word Study → for thirty-threeוּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥יםū·šə·lō·šîm — thirty; group of thirtyH7970 — Full Word Study → daysיוֹם֙yō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study →. She must notלֹֽא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → touchתִגָּ֗עṯig·gā‘ — to touch, reach, strike, or come into contactH5060 — Full Word Study → anythingבְּכָל־bə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → sacredקֹ֣דֶשׁqō·ḏeš — Holiness, sacred, consecrated, set apartH6944 — Full Word Study → or goתָבֹ֔אṯā·ḇō — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → intoוְאֶל־wə·’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → the sanctuaryהַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ham·miq·dāš — Sanctuary, holy place of worshipH4720 — Full Word Study → untilעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → the daysיְמֵ֥יyə·mê — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → of her purificationטָהֳרָֽהּ׃ṭā·ho·rāh — purification, cleansing, ritual purityH2893 — Full Word Study → are completeמְלֹ֖אתmə·lōṯ — to fill, fulfill, completeH4390 — Full Word Study →. 5If, howeverוְאִם־wə·’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study →, she gives birth toתֵלֵ֔דṯê·lêḏ — to give birth, beget, or bear a childH3205 — Full Word Study → a daughterנְקֵבָ֣הnə·qê·ḇāh — Female, woman, or feminine genderH5347 — Full Word Study →, the woman will be unclean for two weeksשְׁבֻעַ֖יִםšə·ḇu·‘a·yim — WeeksH7620 — Full Word Study → as she is during her menstruationכְּנִדָּתָ֑הּkə·nid·dā·ṯāh — Menstrual impurity; ritual uncleanness; separationH5079 — Full Word Study →. Then she must continueתֵּשֵׁ֖בtê·šêḇ — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → inעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → purificationטָהֳרָֽה׃ṭā·ho·rāh — purification, cleansing, ritual purityH2893 — Full Word Study → from her bleedingדְּמֵ֥יdə·mê — blood; life force; bloodshed; guiltH1818 — Full Word Study → for sixty-sixוְשִׁשִּׁ֥יםwə·šiš·šîm — The number sixty; three scoreH8346 — Full Word Study → daysיָמִ֔יםyā·mîm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study →. 6When the daysיְמֵ֣יyə·mê — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → of her purificationטָהֳרָ֗הּṭā·ho·rāh — purification, cleansing, ritual purityH2893 — Full Word Study → are completeוּבִמְלֹ֣את׀ū·ḇim·lōṯ — to fill, fulfill, completeH4390 — Full Word Study →, whether for a sonלְבֵן֮lə·ḇên — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → orא֣וֹ’ōw — or, whether; also expressing desire or preferenceH176 — Full Word Study → for a daughterלְבַת֒lə·ḇaṯ — daughter; female child or descendantH1323 — Full Word Study →, she is to bringתָּבִ֞יאtā·ḇî — to come, go, enter, arriveH935 — Full Word Study → toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → the priestהַכֹּהֵֽן׃hak·kō·hên — priest; one who serves in God's sanctuaryH3548 — Full Word Study → atאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → the entranceפֶּ֥תַחpe·ṯaḥ — doorway, entrance, openingH6607 — Full Word Study → to the Tentאֹֽהֶל־’ō·hel- — A tent; portable dwelling placeH168 — Full Word Study → of Meetingמוֹעֵ֖דmō·w·‘êḏ — appointed time; solemn assemblyH4150 — Full Word Study → a year-oldבֶּן־ben- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → lambכֶּ֤בֶשׂke·ḇeś — A young male sheep; lambH3532 — Full Word Study → for a burnt offeringלְעֹלָ֔הlə·‘ō·lāh — burnt offering; ascending sacrificeH5930 — Full Word Study → and a youngוּבֶן־ū·ḇen- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → pigeonיוֹנָ֥הyō·w·nāh — dove or pigeon; symbol of purity and innocenceH3123 — Full Word Study → orאוֹ־’ōw- — or, whether; also expressing desire or preferenceH176 — Full Word Study → a turtledoveתֹ֖רṯōr — Turtledove; a small migratory doveH8449 — Full Word Study → for a sin offeringלְחַטָּ֑אתlə·ḥaṭ·ṭāṯ — sin; sin offering; sinfulnessH2403 — Full Word Study →. 7And the priest will present them beforeלִפְנֵ֤יlip̄·nê — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → and make atonementוְכִפֶּ֣רwə·ḵip·per — To atone; to cover sin and make reconciliationH3722 — Full Word Study → for herעָלֶ֔יהָ‘ā·le·hā — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →; and she shall be ceremonially cleansedוְטָהֲרָ֖הwə·ṭā·hă·rāh — to be clean, purify, make pureH2891 — Full Word Study → from her flowמִמְּקֹ֣רmim·mə·qōr — A spring, fountain, or source of waterH4726 — Full Word Study → of bloodדָּמֶ֑יהָdā·me·hā — blood; life force; bloodshed; guiltH1818 — Full Word Study →. Thisזֹ֤אתzōṯ — This, that; demonstrative pronounH2063 — Full Word Study → is the lawתּוֹרַת֙tō·w·raṯ — instruction, teaching, law, guidanceH8451 — Full Word Study → for a woman giving birthהַיֹּלֶ֔דֶתhay·yō·le·ḏeṯ — to give birth, beget, or bear a childH3205 — Full Word Study →, whether to a maleלַזָּכָ֖רlaz·zā·ḵār — Male, man, or masculine personH2145 — Full Word Study → orא֥וֹ’ōw — or, whether; also expressing desire or preferenceH176 — Full Word Study → to a femaleלַנְּקֵבָֽה׃lan·nə·qê·ḇāh — Female, woman, or feminine genderH5347 — Full Word Study →. 8But ifוְאִם־wə·’im- — If, whether; conditional conjunction with wide applicabilityH518 — Full Word Study → she cannotלֹ֨אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → affordתִמְצָ֣אṯim·ṣā — to find, discover, obtainH4672 — Full Word Study → a lambשֶׂה֒śeh — A small domesticated quadruped, sheep or lambH7716 — Full Word Study →, she shall bringוְלָקְחָ֣הwə·lā·qə·ḥāh — to take, seize, or receiveH3947 — Full Word Study → twoשְׁתֵּֽי־šə·tê- — The number two; a pair or coupleH8147 — Full Word Study → turtledovesתֹרִ֗יםṯō·rîm — Turtledove; a small migratory doveH8449 — Full Word Study → orא֤וֹ’ōw — or, whether; also expressing desire or preferenceH176 — Full Word Study → twoשְׁנֵי֙šə·nê — The number two; a pair or coupleH8147 — Full Word Study → youngבְּנֵ֣יbə·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → pigeonsיוֹנָ֔הyō·w·nāh — dove or pigeon; symbol of purity and innocenceH3123 — Full Word Study →, oneאֶחָ֥ד’e·ḥāḏ — One; unity; single; firstH259 — Full Word Study → for a burnt offeringלְעֹלָ֖הlə·‘ō·lāh — burnt offering; ascending sacrificeH5930 — Full Word Study → and the otherוְאֶחָ֣דwə·’e·ḥāḏ — One; unity; single; firstH259 — Full Word Study → for a sin offeringלְחַטָּ֑אתlə·ḥaṭ·ṭāṯ — sin; sin offering; sinfulnessH2403 — Full Word Study →. Then the priestהַכֹּהֵ֖ןhak·kō·hên — priest; one who serves in God's sanctuaryH3548 — Full Word Study → will make atonementוְכִפֶּ֥רwə·ḵip·per — To atone; to cover sin and make reconciliationH3722 — Full Word Study → for herעָלֶ֛יהָ‘ā·le·hā — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study →, and she will be cleanוְטָהֵֽרָה׃פwə·ṭā·hê·rāh — to be clean, purify, make pureH2891 — Full Word Study →.’”
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Chapter Commentary — Leviticus 12
Chapter Overview

Overview of Leviticus 12

Leviticus 12 addresses the ritual purification of mothers following childbirth. This law may seem strange to modern readers, but it reveals God's holiness and His gracious provision for His people. The chapter establishes a period of separation and ceremonial uncleanness after delivery, followed by specific offerings that restore the mother to full participation in worship. Rather than viewing this as punishment for childbirth, we should understand it as God's compassionate framework for physical recovery and spiritual restoration, while also pointing us forward to the work of Christ in our redemption.

Verses 1–5: The Period of Separation and Uncleanness

God instructs Moses to teach the Israelites that after a woman gives birth to a male child, she is ceremonially unclean for seven days, following the pattern of her monthly separation (v. 2). On the eighth day, the male child is circumcised, the sign of the covenant (v. 3). The mother then continues in purification for an additional thirty-three days, during which she cannot touch anything holy or enter the sanctuary (v. 4). If she bears a female child, the periods are doubled: fourteen days of uncleanness and sixty-six days of continued purification (v. 5).

The difference in duration for male versus female children reflects the cultural context of ancient Israel, though the exact reason remains debated among scholars. What matters is that both sons and daughters are valued, and both require the mother's ritual cleansing. This period of separation was likely practical—allowing the mother physical recovery—and spiritual, emphasizing that even the joy of new life involves the reality of the fallen human condition. The regulations were merciful, not harsh: they protected the mother's health and acknowledged the sacred space of God's sanctuary.

Verses 6–8: Restoration Through Offering

After her purification is complete, the mother brings sacrifices to the priest at the tabernacle: a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or turtledove for a sin offering (v. 6). The priest offers these before the Lord and makes atonement for her, cleansing her from the issue of blood (v. 7). This applies equally whether she has borne a male or female child.

Verses 8 provides gracious provision: if a woman cannot afford a lamb, she may bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons instead. This shows God's heart for the poor and ensures that all women, regardless of economic status, could be restored to full community and worship participation. The offerings themselves point to Christ—the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)—and the sin offering reminds us that all humanity, even in the midst of blessing and joy, lives under the reality of sin and the need for grace.

The burnt offering speaks of complete dedication and surrender to God; the sin offering addresses the spiritual reality of our fallen nature. Together, they restored the mother ceremonially and spiritually, allowing her to approach God's holy place again.

Application for Today

While we are no longer bound by Old Testament ceremonial laws, Leviticus 12 teaches us that God cares about both our physical and spiritual wholeness. The laws honoring childbirth and recovery affirm that motherhood is sacred work. The provision for the poor reminds us that God's grace is always accessible. Most importantly, the offerings point us to Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice alone cleanses us from all sin and restores us completely to God. As we read these ancient regulations, we can thank God that we approach Him not through animal sacrifices, but through faith in Christ's perfect, once-for-all offering on our behalf.

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