Leviticus 12:8
in Leviticus 12But 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.’”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And if her means suffice not for a lamb, then she shall take two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons; the one for a burnt-offering, and the other for a sin-offering: and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.
KJV
And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.
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This verse in Leviticus 12
Commentary
7 notes on this verseAnd if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons - As the Virgin Mary brought only the latter, hence it is evident that she was not able, i. e., she was not rich enough to provide the former; for such a holy woman would not have brought the less offering had she been capable of bringing the greater. How astonishing is this! The only heir to the throne of David was not able to bring a lamb to offer in sacrifice to God!
This site's exposition
if she cannot afford a lamb
The last verse lowers the price to two turtledoves or two young pigeons. Luke 2:22-24 has Mary and Joseph bringing exactly that pair, which places the household of Jesus on the lower line of this verse.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
The Lord commanded in the law that those who could were to offer a lamb for a son or a daughter, along with a turtledove or a pigeon. But one who did not have sufficient wealth to offer a lamb should offer two turtledoves or …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The morality of this law obliges women who have received mercies from God in child-bearing, with all thankfulness to acknowledge his goodness to them, owning themselves unworthy of it, and (which is the best purification) to continue in faith, and love, and holiness, with sobriety.
And if she be not able to bring a lamb,.... As everyone was not in circumstances sufficient to be at the expense of buying a lamb for this purpose, having none of their own: then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; which was a kind and merciful provision for the poorer sort; since it was necessary that by them the favour received should be acknowledged, as well as the sin attending them in such circumstances should be atoned for.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
bring two turtles, &c.--(See on Le 5:6). This was the offering made by Mary, the mother of Jesus, and it affords an incontestable proof of the poor and humble condition of the family (Lu 2:22-24).
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A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
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.
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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.
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
21 Hebrew wordsEvery 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.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְאִם־ | veim- | and if | H518 → | 1069 times |
| לֹ֨א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| תִמְצָ֣א | timtza' | it will find | H4672 → | 455 times |
| יָדָהּ֮ | yadah | hand her | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| דֵּ֣י | dei | sufficiency of | H1767 → | 39 times |
| שֶׂה֒ | seh | a sheep | H7716 → | 47 times |
| וְלָקְחָ֣ה | velakechah | and she will take | H3947 → | 966 times |
| שְׁתֵּֽי־ | shetei- | two | H8147 → | 768 times |
| תֹרִ֗ים | torim | turtle-doves | H8449 → | 14 times |
| א֤וֹ | ʾo | or | H176 → | 321 times |
| שְׁנֵי֙ | shenei | two | H8147 → | 768 times |
| בְּנֵ֣י | benei | young ones of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| יוֹנָ֔ה | yonah | a dove | H3123 → | 31 times |
| אֶחָ֥ד | ʾechad | one | H259 → | 971 times |
| לְעֹלָ֖ה | leolah | to a burnt offering | H5930 → | 287 times |
| וְאֶחָ֣ד | veechad | and one | H259 → | 971 times |
| לְחַטָּ֑את | lechatat | to a sin offering | H2403 → | 295 times |
| וְכִפֶּ֥ר | vekhiper | and he will make atonement | H3722 → | 102 times |
| עָלֶ֛יהָ | ʾaleiha | on her | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| הַכֹּהֵ֖ן | hakohen | the priest | H3548 → | 750 times |
| וְטָהֵֽרָה׃ פ | vetaherah | and she will be pure | H2891 → | 94 times |
וְאִם־and if
veim-H518 →1069 times
לֹ֨אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
תִמְצָ֣אit will find
timtza'H4672 →455 times
יָדָהּ֮hand her
yadahH3027 →1618 times
דֵּ֣יsufficiency of
deiH1767 →39 times
שֶׂה֒a sheep
sehH7716 →47 times
וְלָקְחָ֣הand she will take
velakechahH3947 →966 times
שְׁתֵּֽי־two
shetei-H8147 →768 times
תֹרִ֗יםturtle-doves
torimH8449 →14 times
א֤וֹor
ʾoH176 →321 times
שְׁנֵי֙two
sheneiH8147 →768 times
בְּנֵ֣יyoung ones of
beneiH1121 →4930 times
יוֹנָ֔הa dove
yonahH3123 →31 times
אֶחָ֥דone
ʾechadH259 →971 times
לְעֹלָ֖הto a burnt offering
leolahH5930 →287 times
וְאֶחָ֣דand one
veechadH259 →971 times
לְחַטָּ֑אתto a sin offering
lechatatH2403 →295 times
וְכִפֶּ֥רand he will make atonement
vekhiperH3722 →102 times
עָלֶ֛יהָon her
ʾaleihaH5921 →5755 times
הַכֹּהֵ֖ןthe priest
hakohenH3548 →750 times
וְטָהֵֽרָה׃ פand she will be pure
vetaherahH2891 →94 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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
Leviticus 1:14If, instead, one’s offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, he is to present a turtledove or a young pigeon.
it leads to
- Leviticus 5:7
If, however, he cannot afford a lamb, he may bring to the LORD as restitution for his sin two turtledoves or two young pigeons—one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Luke 2:24
and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
- Leviticus 5:7
Through
Leviticus 4:26He must burn all its fat on the altar, like the fat of the peace offerings; thus the priest will make atonement for that man’s sin, and he will be forgiven.
it leads to
- Leviticus 4:20
He shall offer this bull just as he did the bull for the sin offering; in this way the priest will make atonement on their behalf, and they will be forgiven.
- Numbers 15:28
And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the person who erred by sinning unintentionally; and when atonement has been made for him, he will be forgiven.
- Leviticus 3:5
Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar atop the burnt offering that is on the burning wood, as an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
- Leviticus 4:20
Through
Leviticus 5:7If, however, he cannot afford a lamb, he may bring to the LORD as restitution for his sin two turtledoves or two young pigeons—one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt…
it leads to
- Leviticus 14:21–22
If, however, the person is poor and cannot afford these offerings, he is to take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved to make atonement for him, along with a tenth…
- Matthew 10:16
Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
- Leviticus 14:21–22
Through
Leviticus 14:22and two turtledoves or two young pigeons, whichever he can afford, one to be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering.
it leads to
- Ezekiel 7:16
The survivors will escape and live in the mountains, moaning like doves of the valley, each for his own iniquity.
- Ezekiel 7:16
Where this verse is studied
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About Leviticus

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bede, HOMILY XV. ON THE PURIFICATION OF BLESSED MARY; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament.
