Purification After Childbirth

12 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then (A)she shall be unclean seven days. (B)As at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. And on the (C)eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch anything holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed. But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation. And she shall continue in the blood of her purifying for sixty-six days.

(D)“And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, and he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female. And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take (E)two turtledoves or two pigeons,[a] (F)one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. (G)And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 12:8 Septuagint two young pigeons

Purification after Childbirth

12 The Lord spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites: When a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to a male child,(A) she will be unclean seven days, as she is during the days of her menstrual impurity.(B) The flesh of his foreskin(C) must be circumcised(D) on the eighth day.(E) She will continue in purification(F) from her bleeding(G) for 33 days. She must not touch any holy thing or go into the sanctuary until completing her days of purification. But if she gives birth to a female child, she will be unclean for two weeks as she is during her menstrual impurity. She will continue in purification from her bleeding for 66 days.

“When her days of purification are complete, whether for a son or daughter, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old male lamb for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin[a] offering. He will present them before the Lord and make atonement on her behalf; she will be clean from her discharge of blood. This is the law for a woman giving birth, whether to a male or female. But if she doesn’t have sufficient means[b](H) for a sheep, she may take two turtledoves or two young pigeons,(I) one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin[c] offering. Then the priest will make atonement on her behalf, and she will be clean.”

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 12:6 Or purification
  2. Leviticus 12:8 Lit if her hand cannot obtain what is sufficient
  3. Leviticus 12:8 Or purification