Leviticus 12:6

¶ 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:

And when the days {H3117} of her purifying {H2892} are fulfilled {H4390}, for a son {H1121}, or for a daughter {H1323}, she shall bring {H935} a lamb {H3532} of the first {H1121} year {H8141} for a burnt offering {H5930}, and a young {H1121} pigeon {H3123}, or a turtledove {H8449}, for a sin offering {H2403}, unto the door {H6607} of the tabernacle {H168} of the congregation {H4150}, unto the priest {H3548}:

"'When the days of her purification are over, whether for a son or for a daughter, she is to bring a lamb in its first year for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or dove for a sin offering to the entrance of the tent of meeting, to the cohen.

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.

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:

Commentary

Leviticus 12:6 KJV provides specific instructions regarding the ritual purification of a woman after childbirth, detailing the animal offerings required to complete her period of ceremonial uncleanness.

Context

This verse is part of a broader section in the Book of Leviticus (chapters 11-15) dealing with laws of ritual purity and impurity, particularly concerning bodily discharges and skin diseases. Following the birth of a child, a woman was considered ceremonially unclean for a set period (seven days for a male child, fourteen for a female, followed by 33 or 66 additional days of purification, as outlined in Leviticus 12:1-5). Upon the fulfillment of these days, she was required to bring specific sacrifices to the door of the tabernacle, the central place of Israelite worship, to be presented to the priest.

Key Themes

  • Ritual Purity and Cleansing: The law highlights the importance of ceremonial cleanness within the Israelite community, emphasizing God's holiness and the need for His people to maintain a state of purity to approach Him.
  • Sacrifice and Atonement: The offerings served as a means of atonement, not necessarily for moral sin in childbirth, but for the ritual impurity associated with the natural process of life and death. The burnt offering symbolized complete dedication to God, while the sin offering (Hebrew: chatta't, often meaning "purification offering" in this context) cleansed from ritual defilement.
  • Obedience to God's Law: This verse underscores the Israelites' commitment to obeying God's detailed commands for their communal and spiritual life.

Linguistic Insights

The term "purifying" comes from the Hebrew word tahorah, which refers to ceremonial cleansing or purification rather than moral righteousness. The "sin offering" (chatta't) in this context is best understood as an offering for purification from ritual impurity, not necessarily for a moral transgression. Childbirth was viewed as a natural process, but one that involved the shedding of blood and contact with the beginnings of life, which in the Mosaic Law rendered one temporarily ceremonially unclean.

The Offerings

The verse specifies two types of offerings:

  1. A lamb of the first year for a burnt offering: This represented a total surrender and dedication to God, signifying the woman's desire to be wholly acceptable in His sight.
  2. A young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering: This smaller bird offering for the sin offering provided a gracious alternative for those who might not be able to afford a more expensive animal, demonstrating God's provision and accessibility for all economic levels within Israel (as further clarified in Leviticus 12:8).

Practical Application

While these specific ritual laws are no longer binding for New Covenant believers, they offer profound insights into God's character and His plan of salvation. The elaborate Old Testament sacrificial system, including these purification rites, consistently pointed forward to the ultimate and perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Just as these offerings provided ceremonial cleansing, Christ's death on the cross provides true spiritual purification and atonement for all sin. His sacrifice fulfills the requirements of the law, making it possible for us to approach a holy God without ritualistic animal sacrifices. We are now cleansed by the shedding of His blood, becoming truly pure in His sight.

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Cross-References

  • Luke 2:22 (4 votes)

    And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present [him] to the Lord;

  • Leviticus 15:29 (3 votes)

    And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21 (3 votes)

    For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

  • 1 Peter 1:18 (3 votes)

    Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers;

  • 1 Peter 1:19 (3 votes)

    But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

  • Hebrews 7:26 (3 votes)

    For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

  • John 1:29 (3 votes)

    ¶ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.