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Atomic Bible
Leviticus

Chapter 12

Purification after Childbirth

Leviticus 12 sets out the periods of impurity and purification that follow childbirth, distinguishing between the birth of a son and a daughter and marking the boy's circumcision on the eighth day. It ends with the offerings that complete the mother's cleansing and makes room for those who cannot afford a lamb.

Within Leviticus, this chapter extends the book's concern with bodily states that affect access to holy things. After the laws on clean and unclean animals, it turns to childbirth and shows how ordinary human life is brought under the same ordered pattern of holiness.

1 section·248 words·~1 min read


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Leviticus 12

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vv. 1-8

Purification after Childbirth

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T1hen the LORD said to Moses, 2“Say to the Israelites, ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be unclean for seven days, as she is during the days of her menstruation. 3And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.

4The woman shall continue in purification from her bleeding for thirty-three days. She must not touch anything sacred or go into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are complete. 5If, however, she gives birth to a daughter, the woman will be unclean for two weeks as she is during her menstruation. Then she must continue in purification from her bleeding for sixty-six days.

6When the days of her purification are complete, whether for a son or for a daughter, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. 7And the priest will present them before the LORD and make atonement for her; and she shall be ceremonially cleansed from her flow of blood. This is the law for a woman giving birth, whether to a male or to a female. 8But if she cannot afford a lamb, she shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. Then the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’”