1The purification of a woman after childbirth: 6her offerings for her purifying.
1AND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived 1seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; 2according to the days of the 3separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.
1 Understand hereby the conception of a human being in the mother’s womb, proceeding not only from the man, but also from the woman; for the word signifies both to give seed, and to bring forth, Gen. 1:11, 12. Compare Heb. 11:11.
2 That is, according as she is seven days unclean, when her monthly course is upon her, Lev. 15:19, so she shall likewise be unclean for seven days, when she brought forth.
3 Thus called, because that during their ordinary monthly courses, they were to be separated from the company of other people, not to be touched by any; for every one that touched any woman in that condition, and whatsoever was touched by her, and he likewise that touched the same things, were to be held unclean for a time. See Lev. 15:19, 20, 21, etc.
3Anda4in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
a Gen. 17:12; Luke 1:59; 2:21; John 7:22.
4 For by this time the mother was free again of her former uncleanness (whereof verse 2), whereby it appears that the circumcision could not be administered before this day till when both mother and child were unclean.
4And she shall then continue 5in the blood of her purifying 6three and thirty days; she shall touch 7no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.
5 Hebr. in the bloods, that is, in the blood of her monthly course, whereof she must first be entirely cleansed, before she might go into the sanctuary of the Lord.
6 Namely, before she shall be held absolutely clean, remaining separated all this while, not wholly from all society, as in the first seven days, but only from the sanctuary, and from things appertaining to God’s public worship and service.
7 That is, no remainder of anything that was offered or hallowed to the Lord.
5But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two 8weeks, 9as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days.
8 That is, as long again when she had brought forth a son; similarly she was then to forbear coming to the sanctuary just as long, that is, sixty-six days.
9 That is, according to the manner of her being separated from the society of people, by reason of her monthly courses. See on verse 2.
6And 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:
7Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female.
8And 10if she be not 11able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles,b or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a 12sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.
10 That is, if she has not the ability and means to find or provide so much. See a similar phrase in Lev. 25:26. The mother of the Lord was likewise so poor that she was not able to offer a lamb, Luke 2:24.
11 Hebr. sufficiency of a lamb.
b turtle-doves*
12 This offering had a special regard to original sin, wherein as well the mother as the fruit of her womb, was conceived and born; none excepted, but only our Lord Jesus Christ.