Leviticus 12:1

Purification After Childbirth

1 The LORD said to Moses,

Leviticus 12:1 in Other Translations

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

1 The LORD said to Moses,

1 God spoke to Moses:

1 The Lord spoke to Moses:

Leviticus 12:1 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 12:1

And the Lord spake unto Moses
The laws in the preceding chapter were delivered both to Moses and Aaron, but what follows in this only to Moses; but inasmuch as the priest had a concern in it, it being his business to offer the sacrifices required by the following law, it was no doubt given to Moses, to be delivered to Aaron, as well as to the people. R. Semlai remarks, that as the creation of man was after that of the beasts, fowls, fishes so the laws concerning the uncleanness of men are after those relating to beasts, &c, and they begin with the uncleanness of a new mother, because, as Aben Ezra observes, the birth is the beginning of man:

saying:
as follows.

Leviticus 12:1 In-Context

1 The LORD said to Moses,

2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period.

3 On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised.

4 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.

5 If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding.