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Leviticus 12:2 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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2 Speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 If a woman H802 have conceived seed, H2232 and born H3205 a man child: H2145 then she shall be unclean H2930 seven H7651 days; H3117 according to the days H3117 of the separation H5079 for her infirmity H1738 shall she be unclean. H2930

Cross Reference

Romans 5:12-19 STRONG

KJV ASV YLT DARBY WEB BBE

Wherefore, G1223 G5124 as G5618 by G1223 one G1520 man G444 sin G266 entered G1525 into G1519 the world, G2889 and G2532 death G2288 by G1223 sin; G266 and G2532 so G3779 death G2288 passed G1330 upon G1519 all G3956 men, G444 for G1909 that G3739 all G3956 have sinned: G264 (For G1063 until G891 the law G3551 sin G266 was G2258 in G1722 the world: G2889 but G1161 sin G266 is G1677 not G3756 imputed G1677 when there is G5607 no G3361 law. G3551 Nevertheless G235 death G2288 reigned G936 from G575 Adam G76 to G3360 Moses, G3475 even G2532 over G1909 them that had G264 not G3361 sinned G264 after G1909 the similitude G3667 of Adam's G76 transgression, G3847 who G3739 is G2076 the figure G5179 of him that was to come. G3195 But G235 not G3756 as G5613 the offence, G3900 so G3779 also G2532 is the free gift. G5486 For G1063 if G1487 through the offence G3900 of one G1520 many G4183 be dead, G599 much G4183 more G3123 the grace G5485 of God, G2316 and G2532 the gift G1431 by G1722 grace, G5485 which is G3588 by one G1520 man, G444 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 hath abounded G4052 unto G1519 many. G4183 And G2532 not G3756 as G5613 it was by G1223 one G1520 that sinned, G264 so is the gift: G1434 for G1063 G3303 the judgment G2917 was by G1537 one G1520 to G1519 condemnation, G2631 but G1161 the free gift G5486 is of G1537 many G4183 offences G3900 unto G1519 justification. G1345 For G1063 if G1487 by one man's G1520 offence G3900 death G2288 reigned G936 by G1223 one; G1520 much G4183 more G3123 they which receive G2983 abundance G4050 of grace G5485 and G2532 of the gift G1431 of righteousness G1343 shall reign G936 in G1722 life G2222 by G1223 one, G1520 Jesus G2424 Christ.) G5547 Therefore G686 G3767 as G5613 by G1223 the offence G3900 of one G1520 judgment came upon G1519 all G3956 men G444 to G1519 condemnation; G2631 even G2532 so G3779 by G1223 the righteousness G1345 of one G1520 the free gift came upon G1519 all G3956 men G444 unto G1519 justification G1347 of life. G2222 For G1063 as G5618 by G1223 one G1520 man's G444 disobedience G3876 many G4183 were made G2525 sinners, G268 so G3779 G2532 by G1223 the obedience G5218 of one G1520 shall G2525 many G4183 be made G2525 righteous. G1342

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Leviticus 12

Commentary on Leviticus 12 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill   Keil & Delitzsch   Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible  

Chapter 12

After the laws concerning clean and unclean food come the laws concerning clean and unclean persons; and the first is in this chapter concerning the ceremonial uncleanness of women in child-birth (v. 1-5). And concerning their purification from that uncleanness (v. 6, etc.).

Lev 12:1-5

The law here pronounces women lying-in ceremonially unclean. The Jews say, "The law extended even to an abortion, if the child was so formed as that the sex was distinguishable.'

  • 1. There was some time of strict separation immediately after the birth, which continued seven days for a son and fourteen for a daughter, v. 2, 5. During these days she was separated from her husband and friends, and those that necessarily attended her were ceremonially unclean, which was one reason why the males were not circumcised till the eighth day, because they participated in the mother's pollution during the days of her separation.
  • 2. There was also a longer time appointed for their purifying; thirty-three days more (forty in all) if the birth were a male, and double that time if a female, v. 4, 5. During this time they were only separated from the sanctuary and forbidden to eat of the passover, or peace-offerings, or, if a priest's wife, to eat of any thing that was holy to the Lord. Why the time of both those was double for a female to what it was for a male I can assign no reason but the will of the Law-maker; in Christ Jesus no difference is made of male and female, Gal. 3:28; Col. 3:11. But this ceremonial uncleanness which the law laid women in child-bed under was to signify the pollution of sin which we are all conceived and born in, Ps. 51:5. For, if the root be impure, so is the branch, Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? If sin had not entered, nothing but purity and honour had attended all the productions of that great blessing, Be fruitful and multiply; but now that the nature of man is degenerated the propagation of that nature is laid under these marks of disgrace, because of the sin and corruption that are propagated with it, and in remembrance of the curse upon the woman that was first in the transgression. That in sorrow (to which it is here further added in shame) she should bring forth children. And the exclusion of the woman for so many days from the sanctuary, and all participation of the holy things, signified that our original corruption (that sinning sin which we brought into the world with us) would have excluded us for ever from the enjoyment of God and his favours if he had not graciously provided for our purifying.

Lev 12:6-8

A woman that had lain in, when the time set for her return to the sanctuary had come, was not to attend there empty, but must bring her offerings, v. 6.

  • 1. A burnt-offering; a lamb if she was able, if poor, a pigeon. This she was to offer in thankfulness to God for his mercy to her, in bringing her safely through the pains of child-bearing and all the perils of child-bed, and in desire and hopes of God's further favour both to her and to the child. When a child is born there is joy and there is hope, and therefore it was proper to bring this offering, which was of a general nature; for what we rejoice in we must give thanks for, and what we are in hopes of we must pray for. But, besides this,
  • 2. She must offer a sin-offering, which must be the same for poor and rich, a turtle-dove or a young pigeon; for, whatever difference there may be between rich and poor in the sacrifices of acknowledgment, that of atonement is the same for both. This sin-offering was intended either,
    • (1.) To complete her purification from that ceremonial uncleanness which, though it was not in itself sinful, yet was typical of moral pollution; or,
    • (2.) To make atonement for that which was really sin, either an inordinate desire of the blessing of children or discontent or impatience under the pains of child-bearing. It is only by Christ, the great sin-offering, that the corruption of our nature is done away, and to that it is owing that we are not for ever excluded by it from the sanctuary, and from eating of the holy things. According to this law, we find that the mother of our blessed Lord, though he was not conceived in sin as others, yet accomplished the days of purification, and then presented her son to the Lord, being a first-born, and brought her own offering, a pair of turtle-doves, Lu. 2:22-24. So poor were Christ's parents that they were not able to bring a lamb for a burnt-offering; and so early was Christ made under the law, to redeem those that were under it. The morality of this law obliges those women that have received mercy from God in child-bearing with all thankfulness to own God's goodness to them, acknowledging themselves unworthy of it, and (which is the best purification of women that have been saved in child-bearing, 1 Tim. 2:15) to continue in faith, and charity, and holiness, with sobriety; for this shall please the Lord better than the turtle-doves or the young pigeons.