Leviticus 12, On Childbirth

Five chapters of Leviticus, chapters 11 through 15, cover various issues of cleanness and uncleaness. Generally fluids associated with life that is, blood or fluid associated with reproduction, are viewed as unclean in the Levitical law.

Leviticus 12:1-5, Birth of a son

The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites: `A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. 

Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. 

If she gives birth to a daughter,  for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding.  

Birth (and the fluids associated with it, particular blood) left the mother unclean for a time. If the child was a daughter, the uncleaness was for twice as long as when the child was a son. (No explanation was given for this difference.) A male child was to be circumcised on the eighth day, as part of the covenant.

Leviticus 12:6-8, An offering for her child

"`When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, 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 dove for a sin offering. He shall offer them before the LORD to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood. 

"`These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. If she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make  atonement for her, and she will be clean.'"   

At the end of her time of uncleanness, the mother is to bring a sacrifice, both a burnt offering and a sin offering. An alternative option is given for the mother who cannot afford a lamb. (The parents of Jesus perform this sacrifice in Luke 2:22-24.)

First published August 13, 2025; updated August 13, 2025