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Leviticus 12:1-8 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559

2 Speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 If a woman H802 have conceived seed, H2232 and born H3205 a man child: H2145 then she shall be unclean H2930 seven H7651 days; H3117 according to the days H3117 of the separation H5079 for her infirmity H1738 shall she be unclean. H2930

3 And in the eighth H8066 day H3117 the flesh H1320 of his foreskin H6190 shall be circumcised. H4135

4 And she shall then continue H3427 in the blood H1818 of her purifying H2893 three H7969 and thirty H7970 days; H3117 she shall touch H5060 no hallowed H6944 thing, nor come H935 into the sanctuary, H4720 until the days H3117 H3117 of her purifying H2892 be fulfilled. H4390

5 But if she bear H3205 a maid child, H5347 then she shall be unclean H2930 two weeks, H7620 as in her separation: H5079 and she shall continue H3427 in the blood H1818 of her purifying H2893 threescore H8346 and six H8337 days. H3117

6 And when the days H3117 of her purifying H2892 are fulfilled, H4390 for a son, H1121 or for a daughter, H1323 she shall bring H935 a lamb H3532 of the first H1121 year H8141 for a burnt offering, H5930 and a young H1121 pigeon, H3123 or a turtledove, H8449 for a sin offering, H2403 unto the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation, H4150 unto the priest: H3548

7 Who shall offer H7126 it before H6440 the LORD, H3068 and make an atonement H3722 for her; and she shall be cleansed H2891 from the issue H4726 of her blood. H1818 This is the law H8451 for her that hath born H3205 a male H2145 or a female. H5347

8 And if she be not able to bring H4672 H1767 H3027 a lamb, H7716 then she shall bring H3947 two H8147 turtles, H8449 or two young H1121 pigeons; H3123 the one H259 for the burnt offering, H5930 and the other H259 for a sin offering: H2403 and the priest H3548 shall make an atonement H3722 for her, and she shall be clean. H2891

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Leviticus 12

Commentary on Leviticus 12 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 12

After the laws concerning clean and unclean food come the laws concerning clean and unclean persons; and the first is in this chapter concerning the ceremonial uncleanness of women in child-birth (v. 1-5). And concerning their purification from that uncleanness (v. 6, etc.).

Lev 12:1-5

The law here pronounces women lying-in ceremonially unclean. The Jews say, "The law extended even to an abortion, if the child was so formed as that the sex was distinguishable.'

  • 1. There was some time of strict separation immediately after the birth, which continued seven days for a son and fourteen for a daughter, v. 2, 5. During these days she was separated from her husband and friends, and those that necessarily attended her were ceremonially unclean, which was one reason why the males were not circumcised till the eighth day, because they participated in the mother's pollution during the days of her separation.
  • 2. There was also a longer time appointed for their purifying; thirty-three days more (forty in all) if the birth were a male, and double that time if a female, v. 4, 5. During this time they were only separated from the sanctuary and forbidden to eat of the passover, or peace-offerings, or, if a priest's wife, to eat of any thing that was holy to the Lord. Why the time of both those was double for a female to what it was for a male I can assign no reason but the will of the Law-maker; in Christ Jesus no difference is made of male and female, Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11. But this ceremonial uncleanness which the law laid women in child-bed under was to signify the pollution of sin which we are all conceived and born in, Ps. 51:5. For, if the root be impure, so is the branch, Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? If sin had not entered, nothing but purity and honour had attended all the productions of that great blessing, Be fruitful and multiply; but now that the nature of man is degenerated the propagation of that nature is laid under these marks of disgrace, because of the sin and corruption that are propagated with it, and in remembrance of the curse upon the woman that was first in the transgression. That in sorrow (to which it is here further added in shame) she should bring forth children. And the exclusion of the woman for so many days from the sanctuary, and all participation of the holy things, signified that our original corruption (that sinning sin which we brought into the world with us) would have excluded us for ever from the enjoyment of God and his favours if he had not graciously provided for our purifying.

Lev 12:6-8

A woman that had lain in, when the time set for her return to the sanctuary had come, was not to attend there empty, but must bring her offerings, v. 6.

  • 1. A burnt-offering; a lamb if she was able, if poor, a pigeon. This she was to offer in thankfulness to God for his mercy to her, in bringing her safely through the pains of child-bearing and all the perils of child-bed, and in desire and hopes of God's further favour both to her and to the child. When a child is born there is joy and there is hope, and therefore it was proper to bring this offering, which was of a general nature; for what we rejoice in we must give thanks for, and what we are in hopes of we must pray for. But, besides this,
  • 2. She must offer a sin-offering, which must be the same for poor and rich, a turtle-dove or a young pigeon; for, whatever difference there may be between rich and poor in the sacrifices of acknowledgment, that of atonement is the same for both. This sin-offering was intended either,
    • (1.) To complete her purification from that ceremonial uncleanness which, though it was not in itself sinful, yet was typical of moral pollution; or,
    • (2.) To make atonement for that which was really sin, either an inordinate desire of the blessing of children or discontent or impatience under the pains of child-bearing. It is only by Christ, the great sin-offering, that the corruption of our nature is done away, and to that it is owing that we are not for ever excluded by it from the sanctuary, and from eating of the holy things. According to this law, we find that the mother of our blessed Lord, though he was not conceived in sin as others, yet accomplished the days of purification, and then presented her son to the Lord, being a first-born, and brought her own offering, a pair of turtle-doves, Lu. 2:22-24. So poor were Christ's parents that they were not able to bring a lamb for a burnt-offering; and so early was Christ made under the law, to redeem those that were under it. The morality of this law obliges those women that have received mercy from God in child-bearing with all thankfulness to own God's goodness to them, acknowledging themselves unworthy of it, and (which is the best purification of women that have been saved in child-bearing, 1 Tim. 2:15) to continue in faith, and charity, and holiness, with sobriety; for this shall please the Lord better than the turtle-doves or the young pigeons.