Leviticus 12 · Purification after Childbirth

1GOD spoke to Moses, saying:

2Speak to the Israelite people thus: When a woman at childbirth, lit. “brings forth seed.” bears a male, she shall be impure seven days; she shall be impure as at the time of her condition of menstrual separation.—

3On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.—

4She shall remain in a state of blood purification uncertain. for thirty-three days: she shall not touch any consecrated thing, nor enter the sanctuary until her period of purification is completed.

5If she bears a female, she shall be impure two weeks as during her menstruation, and she shall remain in a state of blood purification for sixty-six days.

6On the completion of her period of purification, for either son or daughter, she shall bring to the priest, at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, a lamb in its first year for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a purgation offering.

7He shall offer it before GOD and make expiation on her behalf; she shall then be pure from her flow of blood. Such are the rituals concerning a woman who bears a child, male or female.

8If, however, her means do not suffice for a sheep, she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a purgation offering. The priest shall make expiation on her behalf, and she shall be pure.