Leviticus12
English Standard Version
1The Lord to , ,
2 to the of , , If a and a , then she shall be . As at the of her , she shall be .
3And on the the of his shall be .
4Then she shall for in the of her . She shall not anything , nor into the , until the of her are .
5But if she a , then she shall be two , as in her . And she shall in the of her for .
6And when the of her are , whether for a or for a , she shall to the at the of the of a a for a , and a or a for a ,
7and he shall it the Lord and for her. Then she shall be from the of her . This is the for her who a child, either or .
8And she a , then she shall or two , for a and the for a . And the shall for her, and she shall be .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Leviticus 12.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Ceremonial purification. (1-8).
vv1-8
After the laws concerning clean and unclean food, come the laws concerning clean and unclean persons. Man imparts his depraved nature to his offspring, so that, excepting as the atonement of Christ and the sanctification of the Spirit prevent, the original blessing, “Increase and multiply,” Ge 1:28, is become to the fallen race a direful curse, and communicates sin and misery. Let those women who have received mercy from God in child-bearing, with all thankfulness own God's goodness to them; and this shall please the Lord better than sacrifices.
Key Words
דָבַר: perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
מֹשֶׁה: Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אִשָּׁה: a woman
זָרַע: to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify
יָלַד: to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
זָכָר: properly, remembered, i.e. a male (of man or animals, as being the most noteworthy sex)
טָמֵא: to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated)
Cross References
Leviticus 12Mary and Joseph present Jesus at the temple when the days of her purification were accomplished.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Mary offers the poor option of two turtledoves or two pigeons, showing Christ's humble birth.
Supported by JFB
The foundational covenant command to circumcise male children on the eighth day.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
David laments being shapen in iniquity, illustrating hereditary corruption from birth.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Jesus is circumcised on the eighth day in fulfillment of this law.
Supported by JFB
Relates the doubled uncleanness period for a female birth to Eve being first in transgression.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The basic law for ceremonial uncleanness during menstrual separation.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Asks who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean, highlighting born corruption.
Supported by John Calvin
Contrastive hope that women are saved in childbearing, reversing the curse.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
In Christ there is neither male nor female; the gender distinction in purification is removed.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The previous law allowing poor offering substitutions of turtledoves or young pigeons.
Supported by JFB
The original creation blessing to multiply now carries fallen hereditary pollution.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Spiritual circumcision, the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jesus discusses the origin of eighth-day circumcision, traced back to the patriarchs.
Supported by Matthew Poole