Leviticus 12

King James Version

Full text for Leviticus Chapter 12

1¶ And 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.

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:

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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Leviticus 12 outlines the laws concerning a woman's ritual uncleanness after childbirth. If she bears a male child, she is unclean for seven days, followed by thirty-three days of purification. For a female child, the period of uncleanness is fourteen days, followed by sixty-six days of purification. Upon completion, she must bring specific burnt and sin offerings to the priest for atonement and cleansing.

Medium Summary

Leviticus 12 details the Mosaic law regarding a woman's purification after giving birth. Following the birth of a male child, she is ritually unclean for seven days, during which the child is to be circumcised on the eighth day. She then undergoes a thirty-three-day period of purification, during which she cannot touch hallowed things or enter the sanctuary. If a female child is born, the period of uncleanness doubles to fourteen days, followed by sixty-six days of purification. After these periods, she is required to bring a lamb for a burnt offering and a pigeon or turtledove for a sin offering to the priest at the tabernacle. These offerings are presented to the LORD to make atonement for her, thereby cleansing her from the ritual impurity of childbirth. A provision is made for those unable to afford a lamb, allowing two birds instead.

Long Summary

Leviticus chapter 12 establishes the specific regulations for a woman's ritual purification following childbirth, as commanded by the LORD to Moses for the children of Israel. Upon bearing a male child, the mother is declared ritually unclean for a period of seven days, mirroring the uncleanness associated with her menstrual separation. During this initial week, specifically on the eighth day, the male child is commanded to be circumcised. Following these seven days, the mother enters a longer phase of purification, lasting thirty-three days, during which she is prohibited from touching any hallowed object or entering the sanctuary. Should she bear a female child, the periods of uncleanness and purification are notably extended. She is considered unclean for fourteen days, double the period for a male child, and then continues in a purification period for sixty-six days, also double the duration. Once the prescribed days of purification are fully completed, regardless of the child's gender, the woman is required to bring specific offerings to the priest at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. These offerings consist of a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering and either a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. The priest is to present these sacrifices before the LORD to make atonement for her, thereby effecting her ritual cleansing from the "issue of her blood" associated with childbirth. The chapter concludes by providing a compassionate alternative for those who cannot afford a lamb, allowing them to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons instead, one for the burnt offering and the other for the sin offering, ensuring that all women could fulfill the requirements for their cleansing.

Core Concepts

  • Ritual UncleannessThe state of being ceremonially impure after childbirth, which prevents a woman from touching hallowed things or entering the sanctuary, requiring a period of separation and purification.
  • Purification PeriodThe prescribed duration, varying by the child's gender, during which a woman is considered unclean and then undergoes a process of purification before being ritually clean again.
  • Childbirth RegulationsSpecific laws given by God concerning the ritual status of a woman after giving birth, detailing the periods of uncleanness and the required steps for her restoration to ritual purity.
  • Sacrificial OfferingsThe required animal sacrifices—a lamb for a burnt offering and a bird for a sin offering—that a woman must bring to the priest at the tabernacle to achieve atonement and cleansing after her purification period.
  • CircumcisionThe commandment for a male child to be circumcised on the eighth day, which is mentioned within the context of the mother's initial period of uncleanness after bearing a son.
  • Gender Distinction in LawThe differentiation in the length of uncleanness and purification periods based on whether the newborn child is male or female, with female births requiring double the time for cleansing.
  • Atonement and CleansingThe ultimate purpose of the purification process and the sacrificial offerings, whereby the priest makes atonement for the woman before the LORD, leading to her being ritually cleansed from the impurity of childbirth.