Leviticus 12 7

Leviticus 12:7 kjv

Who 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.

Leviticus 12:7 nkjv

Then he shall offer it before the LORD, and make atonement for her. And she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who has borne a male or a female.

Leviticus 12:7 niv

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.

Leviticus 12:7 esv

and he shall offer it before the LORD and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female.

Leviticus 12:7 nlt

The priest will then present them to the LORD to purify her. Then she will be ceremonially clean again after her bleeding at childbirth. These are the instructions for a woman after the birth of a son or a daughter.

Leviticus 12 verses

Leviticus 12 7 Meaning

Leviticus 12:7 concludes the purification ritual for a woman after childbirth. It states that after the designated period of impurity, she must bring specified offerings to the priest, who will then present them to the LORD to make atonement for her. This act renders her ritually clean, allowing her to resume full participation in the community and worship. The verse affirms that this divine law applies equally to a woman who has given birth to either a male or a female child.

Leviticus 12 7 Context

Leviticus 12 is situated within the book of Leviticus, which meticulously details God's laws concerning holiness, purification, and worship for the newly formed nation of Israel. Chapters 11-15 particularly focus on laws of purity and impurity ("clean" and "unclean" animals, skin diseases, bodily discharges). Childbirth, while a celebrated event, involved a discharge of blood, rendering the mother ritually impure according to the Mosaic Law. This impurity was not moral sin, but a state that separated individuals from the holy sphere of the tabernacle and full communal participation. The prescribed offerings and priestly mediation in verse 7 were God's ordained method to restore the woman to ritual purity, allowing her to approach Him in worship again. These laws served to teach Israel about the absolute holiness of God and humanity's inherent need for purification to dwell in His presence, preparing them for the ultimate perfect atonement found in Christ.

Leviticus 12 7 Word analysis

• And he shall offer it: The "he" refers to the priest (mentioned in the preceding verses, Lev 12:6), specifically one of Aaron's sons. This highlights the vital mediatorial role of the Levitical priesthood in restoring individuals to a state of ritual purity and fellowship with God. Without priestly action, access to God's presence was impossible.
• before the LORD: (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה - lifnei Adonai) Signifies that the offering is directed to God Himself. It implies presentation at the Tabernacle (or later the Temple), the designated dwelling place of the LORD, making the act sacred and recognized by divine authority. It underscores God as the ultimate recipient and authority in matters of purity and atonement.
• and make atonement for her: (וְכִפֶּר עָלֶיהָ - v'kipper aleha) The Hebrew verb kappar means "to cover," "to purge," "to make reconciliation," or "to atone." In this context, it signifies a ceremonial purification that removes ritual impurity and restores fellowship, rather than directly forgiving moral sin (though all impurity stemmed from the consequences of the fall). The atonement rendered the woman "covered" or "purged" of her uncleanness, making her fit to re-enter holy spaces and communal life.
• and she shall be clean: (וְטָהֲרָה - v'taharah) Derived from the Hebrew root tahar, meaning "to be clean," "pure," "purified." This is the desired outcome of the ritual: transformation from a state of ritual impurity (tumah) to ritual purity (taharah). This was a fundamental requirement for full participation in Israelite religious life and society, particularly regarding access to sacred spaces.
• from the flow of her blood: (מִמְּקֹר דָּמֶיהָ - mim'qor dameha) "From the source of her blood." This directly refers to the postpartum bleeding that was the cause of her ritual impurity. This was a physical state, not a moral failing. The law acknowledged a natural, life-giving process but emphasized God's holiness required separation from anything associated with life's boundary (blood outside of a sin offering was often considered defiling).
• This is the law: (זֹאת תּוֹרַת - zot Torat) "This is the instruction," "This is the teaching." The term Torah here signifies a divine statute, a binding ordinance revealed by God, emphasizing its authoritative and non-negotiable nature for the people of Israel. It's a fundamental part of the covenant.
• for her who has borne a male or a female: (הַיֹּלֶדֶת לְזָכָר אוֹ לִנְקֵבָה - ha'yoledet le'zachar o le'neqevah) This ensures the universality of the law for all Israelite women. While the duration of impurity differed between male and female births (Lev 12:2, 5), the requirement for atonement and purification was constant for both, reflecting God's equitable standards.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And he shall offer it before the LORD, and make atonement for her": This phrase highlights divine provision through a human mediator. The offerings were not brought randomly; they were precisely offered by the authorized priest directly "before the LORD" at His dwelling place, underscoring the necessity of a God-ordained system for restoration. The "atonement" here covers ritual uncleanness, making clear God's active role in maintaining purity within His covenant community.
• "and she shall be clean from the flow of her blood": This clause reveals the direct and immediate outcome of the atonement process. The priest's action, empowered by God, leads to the woman's declared ritual cleanness, specifically released from the impurity incurred through childbirth. It underscores the practical, tangible result of obeying God's laws concerning purity.
• "This is the law for her who has borne a male or a female": This closing statement reaffirms the divine origin and universal application of these purification regulations within Israel. It emphasizes that this instruction is not arbitrary or optional but a foundational Torah binding upon every Israelite mother, irrespective of the child's gender, making God's requirements explicit and comprehensive.

Leviticus 12 7 Bonus section

The specific distinction between a longer impurity period for a female child (66 days total vs. 33 for a male child, Lev 12:2-5) has drawn various interpretations throughout history. Some suggest it could relate to theological reasons (the female being associated with the first sin in some traditions, though this is speculative and not directly supported in the text for ritual impurity). Others suggest it might relate to the cultural valuing of male heirs in ancient societies, or simply reflect a physiological difference in recovery, though the Bible itself does not give a specific reason. The most consistent understanding is that the law simply states a fact without further elaboration, demonstrating that while the underlying need for purification applied universally, the precise details of the divine ordinance could vary. It emphasized God's sovereignty in establishing such laws. Moreover, it reinforced the constant presence and meticulous detail required in a relationship with a holy God. The entire process, with its set days and specific offerings, was a teaching tool for the holiness of God and the need for a mediator and sacrifice for reconciliation and access.

Leviticus 12 7 Commentary

Leviticus 12:7 encapsulates the concluding act of ritual purification for a new mother in ancient Israel. It underscores that cleanness from even physiological conditions, though not sinful, required divine intervention through sacrifice. The priest's role was pivotal, acting as God's designated mediator to "make atonement" (כָּפַר, kipper), removing the state of ritual impurity caused by childbirth bleeding. This allowed the woman to return to the congregation and access the holy presence of God, signifying re-integration and spiritual access.

This seemingly strict law served several purposes: it instilled profound reverence for God's absolute holiness, demonstrating that any breach, even an unwitting physiological one, needed a divine remedy. It distinguished Israel's worship from pagan fertility cults that might valorize life-giving processes without acknowledging ritual distinctions. Most importantly, it perpetually reminded Israel of the pervasive nature of impurity and sin, creating a deep need for a more comprehensive and final atonement.

While the Levitical system provided temporary, repeated purification for ritual uncleanness, it foreshadowed the perfect and complete cleansing achieved by Jesus Christ. His shed blood on the cross makes the ultimate atonement (Rom 3:25; Heb 9:12-14), purging not just ritual defilement but the deeper spiritual impurity of sin. For Christians, spiritual cleansing is a one-time event upon accepting Christ, leading to a new heart and constant access to God (Heb 10:19-22; 1 Jn 1:7), superseding the need for these physical purification rituals.

Examples of Practical Usage/Thematic Application:

• God's Provision: Just as God provided a clear pathway for restoration to purity for the Israelite woman, He always provides a way for His people to be restored to fellowship with Him.
• Redemption & Restoration: The passage illustrates God's deep concern for restoring His people, providing a structured way back into His presence even from natural human states that were deemed "unclean."
• Anticipating Christ: Every purification ceremony in the Old Testament, including this one, pointed forward to Jesus. He is our ultimate priest and sacrifice, the one who purifies us once for all, addressing our greatest defilement: sin.