Leviticus 12 4

Leviticus 12:4 kjv

And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.

Leviticus 12:4 nkjv

She shall then continue in the blood of her purification thirty-three days. She shall not touch any hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are fulfilled.

Leviticus 12:4 niv

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.

Leviticus 12:4 esv

Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch anything holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed.

Leviticus 12:4 nlt

After waiting thirty-three days, she will be purified from the bleeding of childbirth. During this time of purification, she must not touch anything that is set apart as holy. And she must not enter the sanctuary until her time of purification is over.

Leviticus 12 verses

Leviticus 12 4 Meaning

Leviticus 12:4 prescribes regulations for a woman after childbirth, specifically concerning the period of her ritual impurity following the birth of a male child. After an initial seven-day period, she must continue in a state of purification for an additional thirty-three days, totalling forty days. During this entire time, she is prohibited from touching anything deemed "hallowed" (sacred) and is forbidden from entering the sanctuary, until the prescribed days of her purification are fully completed. This does not indicate moral uncleanness but a ritual state requiring separation from the holy and an eventual offering to resume full participation in worship.

Leviticus 12 4 Context

Leviticus 12 outlines the laws regarding a woman's purification after childbirth. This chapter follows the detailed food laws of chapter 11 and precedes regulations concerning skin diseases (chap. 13-14) and bodily discharges (chap. 15). All these chapters collectively define various states of ritual impurity in the Israelite community, necessitating purification processes to allow access to the tabernacle and sacred things. Childbirth, involving the flow of blood and the mysterious process of bringing forth life, rendered a woman ritually unclean, not morally sinful. The forty-day period for a male child (and eighty for a female) emphasized the seriousness of purity around God's dwelling and the deep reverence required for His holiness within the camp of Israel. The strictness ensured awareness of human frailty and the need for divine reconciliation even for life-giving events.

Leviticus 12 4 Word analysis

• Then she shall continue (וְיָשְׁבָה v'yashvah): From the root יָשַׁב (yashab), meaning "to sit, dwell, abide, remain." Here, it conveys remaining in a specific state or condition rather than physical sitting. It implies the persistence of her purification period.

• in the blood of her purifying (בִּדְמֵי טָהֳרָהּ bidmey tohorah):

  • blood (דָּם dam): Not necessarily continuous bleeding, but rather the general state associated with post-natal bodily discharge. Blood, representing life (Lev 17:11), but also an agent of impurity when outside the body's vessels or the altar context. Its presence necessitated a separation from the holy.
  • purifying (טָהֳרָה tohorah): Refers to the state or process of ritual cleansing to remove ritual impurity (tum'ah). This is distinct from moral sin. The "purification" refers to the period of separation leading to purity, not just a single act.

• three and thirty days (שְׁלֹשִׁים וּשְׁלֹשָׁה יוֹם sheloshim u'shloshah yom): This specifies the exact duration for the additional period, after the initial seven days (for a male child). The number forty (7+33) held symbolic significance in biblical narratives, often associated with periods of testing, judgment, or divine revelation and renewal (e.g., forty years in wilderness, forty days of flood, forty days of Jesus' temptation).

• she shall touch no hallowed thing (כָּל קֹדֶשׁ לֹא תִגַּע kol qodesh lo tigga):

  • hallowed thing (קֹדֶשׁ qodesh): Refers to anything set apart as holy to the Lord—sacred offerings, utensils, consecrated spaces, or even portions of priestly food. Contact with such things in a state of impurity would defile them and violate God's holiness.

• nor come into the sanctuary (וְאֶל הַמִּקְדָּשׁ לֹא תָבֹא v'el haMishqadsh lo tavo):

  • sanctuary (מִקְדָּשׁ miqdash): Refers to the Tabernacle (and later the Temple), God's dwelling place. Its sacredness demanded utmost purity from anyone entering.

• until the days of her purifying are fulfilled (עַד מְלֹאת יְמֵי טָהֳרָתָהּ ad m'lot yemey tahoratah):

  • until (עַד ad): Marks the terminus of the restriction.
  • fulfilled (מְלֹאת m'lot): Means "to be complete" or "finished." The woman remained in a restricted state until the designated period fully elapsed.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "continue in the blood of her purifying": This phrase underlines the enduring nature of the ritual impurity state. It emphasizes that it's not a fleeting condition but one that spans a defined duration, characterized by the symbolic "blood" and the overall process of purification.
  • "touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary": This paired prohibition highlights the practical consequences of her ritual impurity. It demonstrates a hierarchical concern for holiness, restricting her interaction with any consecrated object and preventing her entry into the sacred dwelling place of God. The physical separation underscored the spiritual distinction between the common/impure and the holy.

Leviticus 12 4 Bonus section

The specific durations for ritual impurity (7 days for male circumcision; 40 days for a male birth total; 80 days for a female birth total) were integral to the rhythm of Israelite life and worship. While the text doesn't explicitly state the reasons for the exact numbers, commentators often note patterns of purification periods being longer for females (double the time). Various interpretations for this differential exist, ranging from sociological (recognizing women's unique biological cycles) to theological (some scholars see it as a symbolic reflection of the greater depth of impurity stemming from the "original sin" and the introduction of sin through Eve, or simply reinforcing distinct gender roles in the economy of ritual). However, it is critical to note that the Law attributes no moral inferiority to women or the birth of a girl. The overall thrust of Levitical laws consistently teaches that purity is required to enter God's presence, highlighting the transcendent holiness of Yahweh and preparing the people for the ultimate spiritual purification to come through the Messiah.

Leviticus 12 4 Commentary

Leviticus 12:4 articulates the precise length and associated prohibitions for a woman's ritual impurity following the birth of a male child. This law is foundational to the Mosaic purity codes, underscoring the Israelite understanding of God's absolute holiness and humanity's inherent distance from it. The specified 33 days (after an initial 7) making a total of 40 days for a male birth (double for a female) is not punitive, but didactic. It teaches about the sanctity of life, the natural cycle of birth (often involving blood, which is symbolic of life, yet when shed outside specific contexts, causes impurity), and the need for atonement and divine enablement to stand in God's holy presence. The separation from "hallowed things" and the "sanctuary" prevented any defilement of God's sacred space or objects, which could jeopardize His dwelling amidst His people. Mary, Jesus' mother, fulfilling this law in Luke 2:22-24, demonstrated the historical reality and spiritual purpose of these commands until their fulfillment in Christ. These laws, though ceremonial and no longer binding for believers today (Col 2:16-17; Heb 9:9-10), highlight timeless principles of God's purity, the gravity of sin (symbolized by ritual impurity pointing to human fallenness), and the ultimate provision of complete purification and access to God through the blood of Jesus Christ (Heb 10:19-20).