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Leviticus 12
The shortest chapter in Leviticus turns from clean animals to childbirth. A mother is unclean seven days after a son (with circumcision on the eighth), then thirty-three more days of purification blood; a daughter doubles both counts to fourteen and sixty-six. The numbers, not any explanation, carry the weight. At the end of that span she brings a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a pigeon or dove for a sin offering — and a crucial escape clause if she cannot afford the lamb.
- 1
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
- 2
“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If a woman conceives, and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of her monthly period she shall be unclean.
- 3
In the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
- 4
She shall continue in the blood of purification thirty-three days. She shall not touch any holy thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed.
- 5
But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her period; and she shall continue in the blood of purification sixty-six days.
- 6
“‘When the days of her purification are completed for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the door of the Tent of Meeting, a year old lamb for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove, for a sin offering.
- 7
He shall offer it before the LORD, and make atonement for her; then she shall be cleansed from the fountain of her blood. “‘This is the law for her who bears, whether a male or a female.
- 8
If she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons: the one for a burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering. The priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.’”
- 1
O SENHOR falou a Moisés, dizendo:
- 2
“Fale aos filhos de Israel, dizendo: 'Se uma mulher conceber e der à luz um menino, então ela ficará impura por sete dias; assim como nos dias do seu período menstrual, ela ficará impura.
- 3
No oitavo dia, a carne do prepúcio dele será circuncidada.
- 4
Ela permanecerá no sangue da purificação por trinta e três dias. Ela não tocará em nada santo, nem entrará no santuário, até que se completem os dias da sua purificação.
- 5
Mas, se ela der à luz uma menina, então ficará impura por duas semanas, como no seu período menstrual; e ela permanecerá no sangue da purificação por sessenta e seis dias.
- 6
“‘Quando se completarem os dias da sua purificação por um filho ou por uma filha, ela trará ao sacerdote, à porta da Tenda do Encontro, um cordeiro de um ano para holocausto, e um pombinho ou uma rolinha, para oferta pelo pecado.
- 7
Ele o oferecerá perante o SENHOR, e fará expiação por ela; então ela será purificada da fonte do seu sangue. “‘Esta é a lei para a que dá à luz, seja um menino ou uma menina.
- 8
Se ela não tiver recursos para um cordeiro, então tomará duas rolinhas ou dois pombinhos: um para holocausto, e o outro para oferta pelo pecado. O sacerdote fará expiação por ela, e ela ficará pura.’”
The poor woman's two birds
Verse 8 lets a mother who "cannot afford a lamb" bring "two turtledoves or two young pigeons" instead — one for each offering. The law builds poverty into its own provision rather than pricing anyone out of purification.
This is the exact offering Luke reports for Mary, the quiet marker that Jesus was born into a household too poor for the lamb. The chapter's small print becomes a detail the Gospel later leans on.
Context layers
Keep these closed by default and open them only when you want more context.
- Leviticus 16:29-30Key passage connected to Atonement.
- Romans 3:24-26Key passage connected to Atonement.
- Hebrews 9:11-14Key passage connected to Atonement.
- Proverbs 1:7Key passage connected to Fear of the Lord.
- Psalms 111:10Key passage connected to Fear of the Lord.
- Luke 12:4-7Key passage connected to Fear of the Lord.
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