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Leviticus 12:6

in Leviticus 12

When 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.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb a year old for a burnt-offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtle-dove, for a sin-offering, unto the door of the tent of meeting, unto the priest:

KJV

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:

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This verse in Leviticus 12

Commentary

8 notes on this verse

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

For a son or a daughter - For the birth of a son, or of a daughter: but the purification was for herself, as appears from the following verses. A sin-offering - Because of her ceremonial uncleanness, which required a ceremonial expiation.

This site's exposition

if she bear a maid child

on Leviticus 12:5-7

Every number doubles for a daughter, two weeks against one and threescore and six days against three and thirty, and the text gives no reason for it. Matthew Henry wrote that he could assign no reason but the will of the Law-maker, and Adam Clarke called the difference difficult to account for. What is asked at verse 6 is the same either way, a lamb for a burnt offering and a bird for a sin offering, so the doubling falls on the waiting rather than on the sacrifice. A sin offering is required and no sin is named anywhere in the chapter, which is why Henry offers two readings of it and settles on neither.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

4 And 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. 5 But 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.

quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture

And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

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.

The Nineteenth Century2 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

the days of her purifying--Though the occasion was of a festive character, yet the sacrifices appointed were not a peace offering, but a burnt offering and sin offering, in order to impress the mind of the parent with recollections of the origin of sin, and that the child inherited a fallen and sinful nature.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

When the days of her purifying - It is not easy to account for the difference in the times of purification, after the birth of a male and female child. After the birth of a boy the mother was considered unclean for forty days; after the birth of a girl, four-score days. There is probably no physical reason for this difference, and it is difficult to assign a political one.
1 more voice on this verse

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

The sacrificial act expressed an acknowledgment of sin and a dedication of herself to Yahweh. See Lev 8:14. Lev 12:6 Of the first year - literally, as in the margin, “a son of his year.” This expression is supposed to mean one less than a year old, while the “son of a year” is one that has just completed its first year. Lev 12:8 A lamb - Rather, one of the flock; either a sheep or a goat; it is not the same word as in Lev 12:6. Two turtles, or two young pigeons - See the note at Lev 1:14. The Virgin Mary availed herself of the liberty which the Law allowed to the poor, and offered the inferior burnt-offering Luk 2:24.

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

On the verses either side of this one

AND HE SHALL OFFER IT BEFORE THE ETERNAL, AND MAKE ATONEMENT FOR HER; AND SHE SHALL BE CLEANSED FROM THE FOUNTAIN OF HER BLOOD. Scripture is stating that she shall offer a ransom for her soul. See Exodus:12.
Ramban: Spain, 1194–1270 · Ramban on Leviticus 12:7:1, via Sefaria, Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

22 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וּבִמְלֹ֣את׀and when are completed

    uvimlotH4390 →249 times

  • יְמֵ֣י[the] days of

    yemeiH3117 →2304 times

  • טָהֳרָ֗הּpurification her

    tohorahH2892 →6 times

  • לְבֵן֮for a son

    levenH1121 →4930 times

  • א֣וֹor

    ʾoH176 →321 times

  • לְבַת֒for a daughter

    levatH1323 →588 times

  • תָּבִ֞יאshe will bring

    tavi'H935 →2568 times

  • כֶּ֤בֶשׂa male lamb

    kevesH3532 →107 times

  • בֶּן־a son of

    ben-H1121 →4930 times

  • שְׁנָתוֹ֙year its

    shenatoH8141 →877 times

  • לְעֹלָ֔הto a burnt offering

    leolahH5930 →287 times

  • וּבֶן־and a young one of

    uven-H1121 →4930 times

  • יוֹנָ֥הa dove

    yonahH3123 →31 times

  • אוֹ־or

    ʾov-H176 →321 times

  • תֹ֖רa turtle-dove

    torH8449 →14 times

  • לְחַטָּ֑אתto a sin offering

    lechatatH2403 →295 times

  • אֶל־to

    ʾel-H413 →5510 times

  • פֶּ֥תַח[the] entrance of

    petachH6607 →164 times

  • אֹֽהֶל־[the] tent of

    ʾohel-H168 →345 times

  • מוֹעֵ֖דmeeting

    moedH4150 →223 times

  • אֶל־to

    ʾel-H413 →5510 times

  • הַכֹּהֵֽן׃the priest

    hakohenH3548 →750 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

15 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Luke 2:22And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord4 worksJohn 1:29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!3 worksLeviticus 15:29On the eighth day she is to take two turtledoves or two young pigeons and bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.3 works1 Peter 1:18–19For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,3 works2 Corinthians 5:21God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.3 worksMatthew 21:12Then Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves.3 works
The other 9 cross-references, with their words ▾
Leviticus 12:2“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.2 worksLeviticus 15:14On the eighth day he is to take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, come before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, and give them to the priest.2 worksNumbers 6:10On the eighth day he must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.2 worksLeviticus 14:22and two turtledoves or two young pigeons, whichever he can afford, one to be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering.2 worksLeviticus 1:10–13If, however, one’s offering is a burnt offering from the flock—from the sheep or goats—he is to present an unblemished male.2 worksLeviticus 5:6–10and he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD for the sin he has committed: a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering. And the priest will make atonement for him concerning his sin.2 worksHebrews 7:26Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.2 worksEzekiel 46:13And you shall provide an unblemished year-old lamb as a daily burnt offering to the LORD; you are to offer it every morning.2 worksLeviticus 9:3Then speak to the Israelites and say, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, a calf and a lamb—both a year old and without blemish—for a burnt offering,2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    2 Corinthians 5:21

    God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

    it leads to

    • 1 Peter 2:22–24

      “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”

    • 1 Peter 3:18

      For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,

    • Romans 5:19

      For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

    • Galatians 3:13

      Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

    • 1 Corinthians 1:30

      It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

  • Through

    John 1:29

    The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

    it leads to

    • Isaiah 53:7

      He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not…

    • 1 John 2:2

      He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

    • 1 Peter 1:19

      but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.

About Leviticus

Moses and Aaron Appear before Pharaoh, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Moses and Aaron Appear before Pharaoh, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Leviticus: the study guide →Read Leviticus 12 →

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

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