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About this chapterThe Lord gives Moses instructions about a woman after childbirth. After bearing a son she is ceremonially unclean for seven days and the boy is circumcised on the eighth day, followed by thirty-three days of purification during which she must not touch anything sacred. After bearing a daughter, the periods are doubled. At the end of the time, she brings a lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or dove for a sin offering, or two birds if she cannot afford a lamb, and the priest makes atonement for her. Mary followed this law after Jesus' birth, offering the birds of the poor.

The Lord gives Moses instructions about a woman after childbirth. After bearing a son she is ceremonially unclean for seven days and the boy is circumcised on the eighth day, followed by thirty-three days of purification during which she must not touch anything sacred. After bearing a daughter, the periods are doubled. At the end of the time, she brings a lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or dove for a sin offering, or two birds if she cannot afford a lamb, and the priest makes atonement for her. Mary followed this law after Jesus' birth, offering the birds of the poor.

Themes

  • Purification after childbirth
  • Circumcision
  • Provision for the poor

Key verses

Audio Bible · Leviticus 12

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Leviticus 12

Berean Standard Bible8 verses · 1 min read

1Then 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.’”
Verses in Leviticus 12

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