Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Leviticus 12:6
And 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:
6. At the end of her purification she was to bring an offering. The alternative of a pigeon for the lamb of the Burnt-Offering is allowed in Lev 1:14 and also in the Sin-Offering (Lev 5:7-10), but the further alternative of a Meal-Offering (Lev 5:11-13) is not found here. The Virgin Mary (Luk 2:24) offered the sacrifices of one whose ‘means suffice not for a lamb.’
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The sacrificial act expressed an acknowledgment of sin and a dedication of herself to Yahweh. See Lev 8:14.
Lev 12:6
Of the first year – literally, as in the margin, a son of his year. This expression is supposed to mean one less than a year old, while the son of a year is one that has just completed its first year.
Lev 12:8
A lamb – Rather, one of the flock; either a sheep or a goat; it is not the same word as in Lev 12:6.
Two turtles, or two young pigeons – See the note at Lev 1:14. The Virgin Mary availed herself of the liberty which the Law allowed to the poor, and offered the inferior burnt-offering Luk 2:24.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 6. When the days of her purifying] It is not easy to account for the difference in the times of purification, after the birth of a male and female child. After the birth of a boy the mother was considered unclean for forty days; after the birth of a girl, four-score days. There is probably no physical reason for this difference, and it is difficult to assign a political one. Some of the ancient physicians assert that a woman is in the order of nature much longer in completely recovering after the birth of a female than after the birth of a male child. This assertion is not justified either by observation or matter of fact. Others think that the difference in the time of purification after the birth of a male and female is intended to mark the inferiority of the female sex. This is a miserable reason, and pitifully supported.
She shall bring – a burnt-offering, and – a sin-offering] It is likely that all these ordinances were intended to show man’s natural impurity and original defilement by sin, and the necessity of an atonement to cleanse the soul from unrighteousness.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
For a son, or for a daughter; for the birth of a son, or of a daughter; but the purification was for herself, as appears from the following verses.
For a sin-offering; either because of her ceremonial uncleanness, which required a ceremonial expiation; or for those particular sins relating to the time and state of child-bearing, of which she is justly presumed to be guilty, which might be many ways.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6-8. the days of herpurifyingThough the occasion was of a festive character, yetthe sacrifices appointed were not a peace offering, but a burntoffering and sin offering, in order to impress the mind of the parentwith recollections of the origin of sin, and that the child inheriteda fallen and sinful nature. The offerings were to be presented theday after the period of her separation had endedthat is,forty-first for a boy, eighty-first for a girl.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter,…. For a son forty days, and for a daughter eighty; but the ancient Jews formerly, that they might not break it, ordered, that the offering enjoined as follows should not be brought until the next day after the time was up: their canon runs thus t,
“a new mother does not bring her offering on the fortieth day for a male, nor on the eightieth day for a female, but after her sun is set; and she brings her offering on the morrow, which is the forty first for a male, and the eighty first for a female; and this is the day of which it is said, “when the days”, c. Le 12:6.”
She shall bring a lamb of the first year the Septuagint adds, without blemish, as all sacrifices should be, if not expressed; “or the son of his year” u; some distinguish between “the son of a year”, as the phrase sometimes is, and “the son of his year”, as here; the latter denoting a lamb in its first year, though something wanting of it, the former a full year old, neither more nor less:
for a burnt offering; in gratitude, and by way of thanksgiving for the mercies she had received in childbearing:
and a young pigeon, [or] a turtledove, for a sin [offering]; either the one or the other. With the Persians w, it is incumbent on a new mother, in Abam (the twelfth month), to bring twelve oblations for the sin which proceedeth from childbirth, that so she might be purified from her sins. It is an observation of the Misnic doctors x, that turtles precede pigeons in all places; upon which they ask this question, is it because they are choicer or more excellent than they? observe what is said, Le 12:6 from whence may be learned, that they are both alike, or of equal value. But why a sin offering for childbearing? is it sinful to bear and bring forth children in lawful marriage, where the bed is undefiled? The Jews commonly refer this to some sin or another, that the childbearing woman has been guilty of in relation to childbirth, or while in her labour; and it is not unlikely that she may sometimes be guilty of sin in some way or other, either through an immoderate desire after children, or through impatience and breaking out into rash expressions in the midst of her pains; so Aben Ezra suggests, perhaps some thought rose up in her mind in the hour of childbirth because of pain, or perhaps spoke with her mouth; meaning what was unbecoming, rash, and sinful. Some take the sin to be a rash and false oath: but there seems to be something more than all this, because though one or other of these might be the case of some women, yet not all; whereas this law is general, and reached every new mother, and has respect not so much to any particular sin of her’s, as of her first parent Eve, who was first in the transgression; and on account of which transgression pains are endured by every childbearing woman; and who also conceives in sin, and is the instrument of propagating the corruption of nature to her offspring; and therefore was to bring a sin offering typical of the sin offering Christ is made to take away that, and all other sin; whereby she shall be saved, even in childbearing, and that by the birth of a child, the child Jesus, if she continues in faith, and charity, and holiness, with sobriety, 1Ti 2:15 these offerings were to be brought
unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest; to offer them up for her. When the temple was built, these were brought to the eastern gate, the gate Nicanor, where the lepers were cleansed, and new mothers purified y.
t Maimon. Mechosre Capparah, c. 1. sect. 5. u “filium sui anni”, Montanus, Piscator, Drusius. w Lib. Shad-der, port. 73. apud Hyde, ut supra, (Hist. Relig. Vet. Pers.) p. 473. x Misn. Ceritot. c. 6. sect. 9. y Misn. Sotah, c. 1. sect. 5.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
After the expiration of the days of her purification “ with regard to a son or a daughter, ” i.e., according as she had given birth to a son or a daughter (not for the son or daughter, for the woman needed purification for herself, and not for the child to which she had given birth, and it was the woman, not the child, that was unclean), she was to bring to the priest a yearling lamb for a burnt-offering, and a young pigeon or turtle-dove for a sin-offering, that he might make atonement for her before Jehovah and she might become clean from the course of her issue. , lit., son of his year, which is a year old (cf. Lev 23:12; Num 6:12, Num 6:14; Num 7:15, Num 7:21, etc.), is used interchangeably with (Exo 12:5), and with in the plural (Lev 23:18-19; Exo 29:38; Num 7:17, Num 7:23, Num 7:29). , fountain of bleeding (see at Gen 4:10), equivalent to hemorrhage (cf. Lev 20:18). The purification by bathing and washing is not specially mentioned, as being a matter of course; nor is anything stated with reference to the communication of her uncleanness to persons who touched either her or her couch, since the instructions with regard to the period of menstruation no doubt applied to the first seven and fourteen days respectively. For her restoration to the Lord and His sanctuary, she was to come and be cleansed with a sin-offering and a burnt-offering, on account of the uncleanness in which the sin of nature had manifested itself; because she had been obliged to absent herself in consequence for a whole week from the sanctuary and fellowship of the Lord. But as this purification had reference, not to any special moral guilt, but only to sin which had been indirectly manifested in her bodily condition, a pigeon was sufficient for the sin-offering, that is to say, the smallest of the bleeding sacrifices; whereas a yearling lamb was required for a burnt-offering, to express the importance and strength of her surrender of herself to the Lord after so long a separation from Him. But in cases of great poverty a pigeon might be substituted for the lamb (Lev 12:8, cf. Lev 5:7, Lev 5:11).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
6 And 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: 7 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. 8 And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.
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, Luke ii. 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. ii. 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.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Verses 6-8:
The test describes the offerings the mother must make at the conclusion of her period of separation. They were: (1) the Burnt Offering; and (2) the Sin Offering. The Burnt Offering was for the sin-principle, which the new baby inherited from his father. The Sin Offering was for the individual sins which one commits by choice.
The Burnt Offering was to be a lamb, the Sin Offering was a pigeon or turtledove. Provision for poverty was made. In the event the offerer were poor and unable to afford a lamb, she might bring “two turtles,” or two turtledoves, one for the Burnt Offering and the other for the Sin Offering.
The provisions for this sacrifice point out the poverty to which Jesus was subject in His incarnation, 2Co 8:9. Jesus’ mother Mary brought, as her purification offerings, two turtledoves, Lu 2:22-24.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
b. THE OFFERINGS PRESCRIBED FOR CEREMONIAL CLEANSING 12:68
TEXT 12:68
6
And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb a year old for a burnt-offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtle-dove, for a sin-offering, unto the door of the tent of meeting, unto the priest:
7
and he shall offer it before Jehovah, and make atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the fountain of her blood. This is the law for her that beareth, whether a male or a female.
8
And if her means suffice not for a lamb, then she shall take two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons; the one for a burnt-offering, and the other for a sin-offering: and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 12:68
234.
Why prescribe a burnt offering and a sin offering?
235.
Is there any appropriateness in a lamb and dove for a baby? Discuss.
236.
Atonement is a strong word. What sin had been committed?
237.
The poverty of our Lord can be seen in the provision of pigeons or doves for those without a lamb. Discuss Luk. 2:22-24.
PARAPHRASE 12:68
When these days of purification are ended (the following instructions are applicable whether her baby is a boy or girl), she must bring a yearling lamb as a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. She must take them to the door of the Tabernacle to the priest; and the priest will offer them before the Lord and make atonement for her; then she will be ceremonially clean again after her bleeding at childbirth. These then, are the procedures after childbirth. But if she is too poor to bring a lamb, then she must bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons. One will be for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. The priest will make atonement for her with these, so that she will be ceremonially pure again.
COMMENT 12:68
Lev. 12:6-8 Two things are noticeable here: first, that the burnt offering, symbolizing self-devotion, is far more costly and important than the sin offering, which had not to be offered for any personal sin, but only for human sin, which had been indirectly manifested in her bodily condition. (Keil) and secondly, that in this one case the sin offering appears to succeed the burnt offering instead of preceding it. No doubt the changed order is owing to the cause just mentioned; the idea of sin, though it may not be altogether put aside (Gen. 3:15-16) is not to be prominent, as though it were peculiar to the special woman who was purified. (F. Meyrick)
FACT QUESTIONS 12:68
285.
What does the burnt offering symbolize?
286.
What sin was involved in the sin offering?
287.
Why reverse the order of these offerings?
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(6) And when the days . . . Having described in the previous verses the conditions of defilement arising from childbirth, the legislator now prescribes the offerings to be brought for the purification of the woman. The offerings were brought at the expiration of the fortieth day in the case of a boy, and at the end of the eightieth day in the case of a girl, that is, on the forty-first and on the eighty-first respectively.
For a son, or for a daughter.That is, with regard to a son or a daughter, to either of which she had given birth. The purification was for herself, and was owing to the defiling discharges connected with childbirth, and not for the child to which she gave birth, since the baby was not unclean.
She shall bring a lamb of the first year.Or, as the Margin has it, a son of his year, that is, a lamb which was within the year of its birth. This burnt offering was an expression of gratitude for the Divine mercy vouchsafed to her in the hours of sorrow and danger, or, as some ancients suggest, it was designed as a confession of impatient and reproachful thoughts harboured by the mother during her pregnancy and the time of parturition (comp. Gen. 25:22); whilst the sin offering was to atone for sinful and violent expressions which she may have heedlessly uttered in the hours of labour and agony. Though when the two sacrifices are mentioned together, the sin offering generally precedes the burnt offering (see Lev. 5:7; Lev. 14:31; Lev. 15:15; Lev. 15:30; Lev. 16:3; Lev. 16:5, &c.), here the burnt offering takes precedence, because it is the more costly of the two. Besides the mother after child-birth (Lev. 12:6; Lev. 12:8), there were three other unclean persons who had to bring a sin offering for their uncleanness: the leper (Lev. 14:19; Lev. 14:31), the woman that had an issue (Lev. 15:15), and the man that had an issue (Lev. 15:30).
Unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.Better, to the entrance of the tent of meeting. (See Lev. 1:3.) During the time of the second Temple these sacrifices were brought to the eastern gate, called the Gate of Nicanor. Here the lying-in women were purified and the lepers cleansed. (See Lev. 14:13.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. Burnt offering Although the self-dedicatory offering is mentioned first, the real order is after the sin offering, see Introduction, (5.) We are not to suppose that a sense of guilt was in the mind of the offerer, but only the fact of ceremonial impurity, which required purgation before the woman could be an accepted worshipper. Hence the smallest of the sin offerings was required. Yet this requirement of both mother and child teaches the doctrine of original, or birth sin. On the fortieth day after his birth Jesus, in his sinless humanity, was presented at the earthly temple; on the fortieth day after his resurrection he was presented in his glorified body in the heavenly sanctuary.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb a year old for a whole burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a purification for sin offering, to the door of the tent of meeting, to the priest, and he shall offer it before Yahweh, and make atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from her blood-flow. This is the law for her who bears a child, whether a male or a female.”
Once the woman had safely reached the end of her period of purification she was then to bring a one year old lamb (as for the daily sacrifice) and a young pigeon or turtledove to the priest for him to offer on the altar before Yahweh, ‘to make atonement for her’. This makes clear the connection with required atonement. And note the emphasis on her blood-flow. It is that primarily that has to be cleansed. By giving birth she has released blood, and that has made her unclean. But what it signified was also in mind.
The lamb was for a whole burnt offering. It was an act of gratitude, tribute, dedication and atonement. The bird was for a purification of sin offering. She needed forgiveness and reconciliation with God. By bringing her child into the world she had introduced further sin into the world and increased the burden of sin. She shared the responsibility of Eve.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Lev 12:6. For a burnt-offeringfor a sin-offering The burnt-offering was by way of gratitude to God for her safe deliverance; the sin-offering to complete her purification, and to gain her perfect re-admission to the tabernacle-service. See ch. Lev 15:30. While the Israelites remained in the wilderness, it is probable the women brought these offerings immediately after the days of their separation were over. When they were settled in the land of Canaan, and lived at a distance from the temple, convenience, no doubt, was consulted. See 1Sa 1:21; 1Sa 1:28 and Allix on the Pentateuch.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Observe, both a burnt offering and a sin offering were enjoined, the one to denote GOD’S mercy, the other man’s demerit. Psa 51:5 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Lev 12:6 And 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:
Ver. 6. And when the days of her purifying. ] The Virgin Mary also observed this law, Luk 2:21 not in conscience of any particular sin, which in the conception of our Saviour she was free from; nor in show, to satisfy the law, much less upon hypocrisy; but in conscience of her natural corruption, which by this oblation, according to the law, she did confess holily and religiously before God and his congregation, as one well observeth.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
she shall bring. As Mary did. Luk 2:22-24.
door = entrance.
tabernacle = tent. Hebrew. ‘ohel. App-40.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
a lamb: Lev 1:10-13, Lev 5:6-10, Lev 14:22, Lev 15:14, Lev 15:29, Num 6:10, Luk 2:22, Joh 1:29, 2Co 5:21, Heb 7:26, 1Pe 1:18, 1Pe 1:19
of the first year: Heb. a son of his year
Reciprocal: Lev 9:3 – both Lev 14:19 – General Lev 16:7 – General Eze 46:13 – of the first year Mat 21:12 – doves Luk 2:24 – A pair
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Lev 12:6. For a son or a daughter For the birth of either; but the purification was for herself, as appears from the following verses. A sin- offering Because of her ceremonial uncleanness, which required a ceremonial expiation.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
12:6 And 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 {f} tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest:
(f) Where the burnt offerings were wont to be offered.