Preface: These are the specific rituals for the cleansing of pregnant women.

The Bible Summary of Leviticus 12 (in 140 characters or less): A male child shall be circumcised on the eighth day. A woman who gives birth shall bring offerings after her days of purification.

Leviticus 12 is one of the shortest chapters in the Bible, consisting of only 8 verses. When a woman gives birth, she is considered unclean; and this chapter provides the necessary ritual to make the woman clean.

There are many chapter commentaries on the book of Leviticus. This will be the most extensive examination of Leviticus 12, where you will be able to examine in depth every word of the original text. Every attempt has been made to make this both a complete and self-contained study. Therefore, all references, vocabulary, and related concepts should be found within this extensive study. Easy access links to more in-depth studies of some vocabulary words, concepts and doctrines are also provided.

Outline of Chapter 12:

Introduction

         vv.     1–5           The Ceremonial Uncleanness of a Woman Who Has Given Birth

         vv.     6–8           The Offerings to Make a New Mother Clean

Chapter Summary

Addendum

Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines:

         Preface               Quotations

         Introduction         Titles and/or Brief Descriptions of Leviticus 12 (by various commentators)

         Introduction         Brief, but insightful observations of Leviticus 12 (various commentators)

         Introduction         Fundamental Questions About Leviticus 12

         Introduction         The Prequel of Leviticus 12

         Introduction 

         Introduction 

         Introduction         The Principals of Leviticus 12

         Introduction         The Places of Leviticus 12

         Introduction         By the Numbers

         Introduction         Timeline for Leviticus 12

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Leviticus 12

         Introduction         Outlines of Leviticus 12 (Various Commentators)

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Leviticus 12 from the Summarized Bible

         Introduction         The Big Picture (Leviticus 1–15)

         Introduction 

         Introduction 

         Introduction         Changes—additions and subtractions (for Leviticus 12)

         Introduction 

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         Summary            A Set of Summary Doctrines and Commentary

         Summary            Why Leviticus 12 is in the Word of God

         Summary            What We Learn from Leviticus 12

         Summary            Jesus Christ in Leviticus 12

         Summary            Shmoop Summary of Leviticus 12

         Summary            Edersheim Summarizes Leviticus 12

         Summary 

         Addendum          God’s Name – incorrectly restored to the Hebrew text? (From the 2001 Translation)

         Addendum 

         Addendum 

         Addendum 

         Addendum          Josephus’ History of this Time Period

         Addendum          A Complete Translation of Leviticus 12

         Addendum          Doctrinal Teachers Who Have Taught Leviticus 12

         Addendum          Word Cloud from a Reasonably Literal Paraphrase of Leviticus 12

         Addendum          Word Cloud from Exegesis of Leviticus 12

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An Introduction to Leviticus 12

I ntroduction: Like the last chapter, Leviticus 12 is an unusually short self-contained unit. It deals with the uncleanness of women who have given birth. How women were made unclean and how they became clean is completely unrelated to any concept of morality.

This may help us with the word unclean, as there is a strong moral connotation in more people’s minds when hearing this word. However, God made man the way that they are, with normal desires for one another. God told all in his animal kingdom to go forth and multiply, and this applies to people as well. Elsewhere in Scripture, children are spoken of as great blessings. Therefore, when a woman in her menstrual cycle is declared unclean, this does not mean that she has done wrong or is in the midst of some sort of evil. In this chapter, a woman is declared unclean for a period of time if she has given birth. If childbirth is a normal part of life; if God has mandated that for all life; and if marriage and children are a blessing—then the woman said to be unclean here in this chapter is not an indication that she has committed some horrible sin. Nevertheless, she is unclean.

Timeline for Leviticus

There is very little narrative in the book of Leviticus; so this information may have been given to Moses in a few days or, at most, a few weeks; and Moses both wrote these things down and informed the people. Because of information previously studied in the introduction, we are not 100% certain if all of this material was given to Moses while in the newly erected Tabernacle. I would lean towards that being the case.

As I have done previously, since this chapters is what God is saying to Moses, I will begin and end the chapter with quotation marks. I will not insert a new set of quotation marks for each new paragraph.

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The Ceremonial Uncleanness of a Woman Who Has Given Birth

Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:                       Note: I compare the Hebrew text to English translations of the Latin, Syriac (= Aramaic) and Greek texts, using the Douay-Rheims translation; George Lamsa’s translation, and Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton’s translation as revised and edited by Paul W. Esposito, respectively. I often update these texts with non-substantive changes (e.g., you for thou, etc.). I often use the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible instead of Brenton’s translation, because it updates the English text.

The Septuagint was the earliest known translation of a book (circa 200 b.c.). Since this translation was made before the textual criticism had been developed into a science and because different books appear to be translated by different men, the Greek translation can sometimes be very uneven.

When there are serious disparities between my translation and Brenton’s (or the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible), I look at the Greek text of the Septuagint (the LXX) to see if a substantive difference actually exists (and I reflect these changes in the English rendering of the Greek text). I use the Greek LXX with Strong’s numbers and morphology available for e-sword. The only problem with this resource (which is a problem for similar resources) is, there is no way to further explore Greek verbs which are not found in the New Testament. Although I usually quote the Complete Apostles’ Bible here, I have begun to make changes in the translation when their translation conflicts with the Greek and note what those changes are.

The Masoretic text is the Hebrew text with all of the vowels (vowel points) inserted (the original Hebrew text lacked vowels). We take the Masoretic text to be the text closest to the original. However, differences between the Masoretic text and the Greek, Latin and Syriac are worth noting and, once in a great while, represent a more accurate text possessed by those other ancient translators.

In general, the Latin text is an outstanding translation from the Hebrew text into Latin and very trustworthy (I say this as a non-Catholic). Unfortunately, I do not read Latin—apart from some very obvious words—so I am dependent upon the English translation of the Latin (principally, the Douay-Rheims translation).

The comparisons which I do are primarily between the English translations which are taken from the ancient tongues. For the most part, the variances are so minor that I rarely investigate them any further than that.

Underlined words indicate differences in the text.

Bracketed portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls are words, letters and phrases lost in the scroll due to various types of damage. Underlined words or phrases are those in the Dead Sea Scrolls but not in the Masoretic text.

I will only list the translation from the Dead Sea Scrolls if it exists and if it is different from the Masoretic text.

The Targum of Onkelos is actually the Pentateuchal Targumim, which are The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan Ben Uzziel. On the Pentateuch With The Fragments of the Jerusalem Targum From the Chaldee by J. W. Etheridge, M.A. From http://www.becomingjewish.org/texts/targum/onkelos_Leviticus.html and first published in 1862.

Occasionally, there is an obvious error in the English translation, and I correct those without additional mention or footnoting. For instance, the online version of the Targum of Onkelos which I use has gorund in Ex. 4:9; I simply corrected the text. This may occur once or twice in a chapter.

I attempt to include translations which are different in their vocabulary and phrasing. On many occasions, I may include a translation which is not substantially different than another listed translation.

Most of the translations can be found here.

Ancient texts:

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        And so speaks Y^ehowah unto Moses to say, “Speak unto sons of Israel, to say, ‘A woman when she conceives and she has borne a male child; and she has been unclean seven of as days of an impurity of her illness [possibly, menstration]. And in the day the eighth will be circumcised a flesh of his foreskin. And thirty a day and three days she is remaining in bloods of purification. In any holy [thing] she will not touch; and unto the sanctuary she will not come, as far as a completion of days of her purification.

Dead Sea Scrolls                   .

Targum (Onkelos)                  Adonoy spoke to Moshe saying:

Speak to Bnei Yisroel, saying, when a woman conceives and gives birth to a male child she will be ritually unclean for seven days; as the days of her menstrual flow [the state of her impure ‘separation’], she will be unclean.

On the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

For thirty-three days she will remain [in the status] that the blood [she sees] is ritually pure. She shall not touch anything holy and she shall not come into the Sanctuary, until the days of her purity are completed. Translation for Onkelos and Pseudo-Jonathan by J. W. Etheridge, M.A. (1862).

Targum (Pseudo-Jonathan)   And the Lord spake with Mosheh, saying: Speak with the sons of Israel, saying: When a woman hath conceived and borne a male child, she shall be unclean seven days, as the days of the removal of her uncleanness shall she be unclean. But on the eighth day she shall be loosed, and her child shall be circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. And thirty and three continuous days she shall have for the purification of the whole blood; but she must not touch things sacred, nor come into the sanctuary until the time when the days of her purification be completed.

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: If a woman having received seed shall bear a man child, she shall be unclean seven days, according to the days of separation of her flowers.

And on the eighth day the infant shall be circumcised:

But she shall remain three and thirty days in the blood of her purification. She shall touch no holy thing: neither shall she enter into the sanctuary, until the days of her purification, be fulfilled.

Aramaic ESV of Peshitta        Mar-Yah spoke to Mosha, saying,

"Speak to the B'nai Yisrael, saying, 'If a woman conceives, and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of her monthly period she shall be unclean.

In the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

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

Lamsa’s Peshitta (Syriac)     And LORD JEHOVAH spoke with Moshe and said to him: “Speak with the children of Israel and say to them: 'When a woman shall conceive and shall bear a male, she will be defiled seven days; according to the days of her menstruation she will be defiled. And the eighth day they shall circumcise the flesh of his foreskin. And thirty and three days she shall stay for the blood cleansing and she shall not touch any holiness and she shall not enter the holy place until the days of her cleansing are fulfilled.

Samaritan Pentateuch           And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.

And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

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.

Updated Brenton (Greek)       And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

Speak to the children of Israel, and you shall say to them, Whatsoever woman shall have conceived and born a male child shall be unclean seven days, she shall be unclean according to the days of separation for her monthly courses.

And on the eighth day she shall circumcise the flesh of his foreskin.

And for thirty-three days she shall continue in her unclean blood; she shall touch nothing holy, and shall not enter the sanctuary, until the days of her purification be fulfilled.

Significant differences: 

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             And the Lord said to Moses, 

Say to the children of Israel, If a woman is with child and gives birth to a male child, she will be unclean for seven days, as when she is unwell. 

And on the eighth day let him be given circumcision. 

And she will be unclean for thirty-three days till the flow of her blood is stopped; no holy thing may be touched by her, and she may not come into the holy place, till the days for making her clean are ended.

Easy English                          What a woman must do when she has a baby

The Lord said to Moses, ‘Say this to Israel's people. When a boy is born, his mother is not clean for seven days. When she is bleeding each month, the rule is the same. She is not clean. Eight days after he is born, they must circumcise the boy. The woman must wait for 35 days after the boy is born. All this time she must not touch anything that is holy. She must not go into the Tent of Meeting. After this time, she will become clean.

Easy-to-Read Version–2008  The LORD said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites: "When a woman gives birth, she will be unclean, just as she is during her monthly time of bleeding. If the baby is a boy, the mother will be unclean for seven days. The baby boy must be circumcised on the eighth day. Because of the blood from childbirth, another 33 days must pass before she can touch anything that is holy. She must not enter the Holy Place until the time of her purification is finished.

Good News Bible (TEV)         The LORD gave Moses the following regulations for the people of Israel. For seven days after a woman gives birth to a son, she is ritually unclean, as she is during her monthly period. On the eighth day, the child shall be circumcised. Then it will be thirty-three more days until she is ritually clean from her loss of blood; she must not touch anything that is holy or enter the sacred Tent until the time of her purification is completed.

The Message                         Childbirth

God spoke to Moses: “Tell the People of Israel, A woman who conceives and gives birth to a boy is ritually unclean for seven days, the same as during her menstruation. On the eighth day circumcise the boy. The mother must stay home another thirty-three days for purification from her bleeding. She may not touch anything holy or enter the Sanctuary until the days of her purification are complete.

Names of God Bible               Instructions for Women after Childbirth

Yahweh spoke to Moses, “Tell the Israelites: When a woman gives birth to a boy, she will be unclean for seven days. This is the same number of days she is unclean for her monthly period. The boy must be circumcised when he is eight days old. Then she must stay at home for 33 days in order to be made clean from her bleeding. She must not touch anything holy or go into the holy place until the days needed to make her clean are over.

NIRV                                      Becoming “Clean” After Having a Baby

The Lord spoke to Moses. He said, “Speak to the Israelites. Tell them, ‘Suppose a woman becomes pregnant and has a baby boy. Then she will be “unclean” for seven days. It is the same as when she is “unclean” during her monthly period. On the eighth day the boy must be circumcised. After that, the woman must wait for 33 days to be made pure from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred until the 33 days are over. During that time she must not go to the sacred tent.

New Simplified Bible              Jehovah spoke to Moses: »Tell the Israelites: When a woman gives birth to a boy, she will be unclean for seven days. This is the same number of days she is unclean for her monthly period. » The boy must be circumcised when he is eight days old. » She must stay at home for thirty-three days in order to be made clean from her bleeding. She must not touch anything holy or go into the holy place until the days needed to make her clean are over.

Thought-for-thought translations; dynamic translations; paraphrases:

Casual English Bible             Leviticus 12

When Mom has a baby

If it’s a boy, stay home 33 days

The LORD told Moses: Give this message to the people of Israel:

When a woman has a baby boy, she’s ritually unclean for seven days—just as she is during her menstrual cycle. When the boy is eight days old, circumcise him. Cut away the foreskin. The mother needs to stay home for 33 days. This is a time of purification, to allow the bleeding from childbirth to subside. She shouldn’t touch anything that is ritually clean. She should not go onto the sacred grounds of the tent worship center.

Contemporary English V.       The LORD told Moses to say to the community of Israel: If a woman gives birth to a son, she is unclean for seven days, just as she is during her monthly period. Her son must be circumcised on the eighth day, but her loss of blood keeps her from being completely clean for another thirty-three days. During this time she must not touch anything holy or go to the place of worship.

The Living Bible                     The Lord told Moses to give these instructions to the people of Israel:

“When a baby boy is born, the mother shall be ceremonially defiled for seven days, and under the same restrictions as during her monthly menstrual periods. On the eighth day, her son must be circumcised. Then, for the next thirty-three days, while she is recovering from her ceremonial impurity, she must not touch anything sacred nor enter the Tabernacle.

New Berkeley Version           .

New Life Version                    Women after Childbirth

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to the people of Israel, ‘When a woman gives birth to a male child, she will be unclean for seven days as during her time each month. On the eighth day the child is to go through the religious act of becoming a Jew. The mother will be unclean for thirty-three days, until her blood stops flowing. She will not touch any holy thing or go into the holy place, until the days for making her clean are finished.

New Living Translation           Purification after Childbirth

The Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. If a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son, she will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her menstrual period. On the eighth day the boy’s foreskin must be circumcised. 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.

Unfolding Bible (simplified)    Yahweh also said to Moses, "Tell this to the Israelite people. If a woman gives birth to a boy, she must be avoided for seven days, as she must be avoided when she is menstruating each month.  The baby boy must be circumcised eight days after he is born.  Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding during childbirth. She must not touch anything that is sacred, that belongs to me only, or enter the area of the sacred tent, until that time is ended.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          Then the Lord spoke to Moses and said,

‘You must speak to the children of IsraEl and tell them this:

Whenever a woman gets pregnant and gives birth to a male child, she must be [considered] unclean for seven days, just as she is [considered] unclean during her monthly [menstrual] periods.

Then on the eighth day, she must circumcise [her son’s] foreskin flesh.

And for [the next] thirty-three days, she must continue as in [a state] of an unclean blood [flow]; so, she should not touch anything holy and [she] must not enter the Holy Place until the full period of her purification is fulfilled.

Note on the Lord is placed in the Addendum.

Beck’s American Translation .

Common English Bible           Purification after childbirth

The Lord said to Moses: Say to the Israelites: If a woman conceives a child and gives birth to a son, she will be unclean for seven days—just as she is during her menstrual period. On the eighth day, the flesh of the boy’s foreskin must be circumcised. For thirty-three days the mother will be in a state of blood purification. She must not touch anything holy or enter the sacred area until her time of purification is completed.

New Advent (Knox) Bible       And the Lord spoke to Moses, giving him this message for the Israelites: If a woman conceives, and gives birth to a boy, she will be unclean for seven days, as she is unclean at her monthly times. On the eighth day, the child must be circumcised, and after that she must wait for thirty-three days more to be purified after her loss of blood, touching nothing that is hallowed, never entering the sanctuary, until the time is up.

Translation for Translators                                 Purifying women after they give birth

Yahweh also said to Moses/me, “Tell this to the Israeli people: ‘If a woman gives birth to a son, she must be avoided for seven days, like she must be avoided when she is menstruating each month. The baby son must be circumcised on the eighth day after he is born. Then the woman must wait 33 days to be purified from her bleeding during childbirth. She must not touch anything that is sacred or enter the Sacred Tent area until that time is ended.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Ferrar-Fenton Bible                The EVER-LIVING also spoke to Moses saying;

Sanitary Laws for Women.

Speak to the children of Israel commanding;—"A woman who is delivered and bears a boy is unclean for seven days, as though she were unclean with the uncleanness of menstruation; and at the eighth day his fore-flesh shall be circumcised. But for a period of thirty three days she shall be secluded for her purification. She shall not approach anything sacred, and shall not come to the sacred place until the days of her purification are completed.

International Standard V        Post-Natal Purification

The Lord spoke to Moses, “Tell the Israelis that a woman who conceives and bears a son is unclean for seven days. Just like the days of her menstruation, [Lit. days of her impurity, she is ill] she is unclean. On the eighth day, the flesh of the baby’s foreskin is to be circumcised. For 33 days, she is to remain in purification due to her blood loss. [The Heb. lacks loss] She is not to touch any sacred thing or enter the sanctuary until the days of her purification have been completed.

Unfolding Bible Literal Text    Yahweh said to Moses, "Speak to the people of Israel, saying, 'If a woman conceives and gives birth to a male child, then she will be unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during the days of her monthly period.  On the eighth day the flesh of a baby boy's foreskin must be circumcised.  Then the mother's purification from her bleeding will continue for thirty-three days. She must not touch any holy thing or come into the tabernacle area until the days of her purification are finished.

Urim-Thummim Version         YHWH spoke to Moses saying, Speak to the children of Israel saying, If a woman has become pregnant and genders a baby boy, then will she be unclean for 7 days according to the time of menstruation for her infirmity she will be unclean. And on the 8th day the flesh of his foreskin will be circumcised. The woman must then wait 33 days to be cleansed from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the Sacred Place until the days of her purification are finished.

Wikipedia Bible Project          And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying:

Speak to the sons of Israel, saying:
A woman who will bear seed, and gave birth to a male, and she is defiled for seven days. As the days of her menstruation impurity, so she will be defiled.

And on the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin will be circumcised.

And thirty three days, she will sit in the blood of her purification. Of anything holy, she will not touch, and to the temple she will not come, until the fulfillment of her purification days.

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)  Purification of a woman after childbirth

• Yahweh spoke to Moses: “Say to the Israelites: when a woman gives birth to a male child, she shall be unclean for seven days as in the days of her monthly period. On the eighth day the child is to be cir cum cised; then she shall wait for thirty-three days to be purified of her bleeding. She shall not touch anything that is consecrated nor enter the sanctuary until the days of her purification are completed.

• 12.1 Primitive people often contrast the “pure” and noble blood of a male, shed in wars, to the “impure” flow of blood during a woman’s period. Therefore, childbirth and a woman’s periods preoccupy men (they are the ones who impose the rules and make the laws) and they require purification rituals.

In this we see how, although they are part of the word of God, the rules of the Old Testament were adapted to ancient times and to the criteria of the people of Israel. God’s people were aware of this, which they expressed in their own way by saying that the Law was planned by angels: Acts 7:38; Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 2:2.

Jesus and his mother submitted themselves to these rituals (Lk 2:21).

The Heritage Bible                          And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying,

Speak to the children of Israel, saying, If a woman has conceived seed, and borne a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the menstruation she shall be unclean.

And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

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

New American Bible(2011)    Uncleanness of Childbirth.

The LORD said to Moses:

Tell the Israelites: When a woman has a child, giving birth to a boy, she shall be unclean* for seven days, with the same uncleanness as during her menstrual period.^a On the eighth day, the flesh of the boy’s foreskin shall be circumcised,* ^b and then she shall spend thirty-three days more in a state of blood purity; she shall not touch anything sacred nor enter the sanctuary till the days of her purification are fulfilled.

* [12:2–5] The mother has two stages of uncleanness or impurity: the first where her uncleanness is as severe as during her menstrual period and is contagious to profane persons and objects (cf. 15:19–24), and the second where she does not contaminate persons and objects but is still impure to what is holy, such as the sanctuary (12:4) or sacrifices. The implication is that in the second stage she may resume sexual relations with her husband (which would be prohibited in the first stage according to 18:19).

* [12:3] Circumcision is the sign of the covenant between God and Israel (Gn 17:1–27) and allows full participation in the religious community (Ex 12:43–49; Jos 5:2–10). This command was fulfilled after Jesus’ birth (Lk 2:21).

a. [12:2] Lv 15:19.

b. [12:3] Gn 17:12; Jn 7:22.

The Catholic Bible                  Purification after Childbirth.^[a] The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the children of Israel: When a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to a male child, she shall be considered to be unclean for seven days, just as when she menstruates. On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin will be circumcised. Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch any holy thing nor shall she enter into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are complete.

[a] It was thought that any woman bearing a child lost some of her vital energy; she would recover it by means of rites uniting her to God, the source of all life. Even the mother of Jesus would submit to this law of Leviticus (Lk 2:22-38).

Revised English Bible–1989   The LORD told Moses to say to the Israelites: When a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to a male child, she will be unclean for seven days, as in the period of her impurity through menstruation. On the eighth day, the child is to have the flesh of his foreskin circumcised. The woman must then wait for thirty-three days because her blood requires purification; she must touch nothing that is holy, and must not enter the sanctuary till her days of purification are completed.

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           Parashah 27: Tazria (She conceives) 12:1–13:59

[In regular years read with Parashah 28, in leap years read separately]

Adonai said to Moshe, “Tell the people of Isra’el: ‘If a woman conceives and gives birth to a boy, she will be unclean for seven days with the same uncleanness as in niddah, when she is having her menstrual period. On the eighth day, the baby’s foreskin is to be circumcised. She is to wait an additional thirty-three days to be purified from her blood; she is not to touch any holy thing or come into the sanctuary until the time of her purification is over.

Hebrew Transliteration S.      And Adonai spoke to Moshe, saying:

Speak to children of Yisrael, instructing: "If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she will be unclean for seven days, as in the days of her niddah she will be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 'Then she shall remain in the blood of her purification for thirty-three days; she shall not touch any consecrated thing, nor enter the sanctuary until the days of her purification are completed.

Kaplan Translation                 God spoke to Moses, telling him to speak to the Israelites, relating the following: When a woman conceives and gives birth to a boy, she shall be ritually unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during the time of separation when she has her period. On the eighth day, [the child’s] foreskin shall be circumcised. Then, for 33 additional days, she shall have a waiting period during which her blood is ritually clean. Until this purification period is complete, she shall not touch anything holy and shall not enter the sanctuary. The Kaplan Translation, particularly in Leviticus through Deuteronomy, takes note of historic rabbinic opinions.

12:1 God spoke . . . After discussing unclean animals, the Torah now discusses human uncleanness; see 7:21, 11:1.

12:2 time of separation when she has her period (Saadia; Rashbam). See below, 15:19-24. Or, “when she has her periodic discharge” (Rashi); or, “when she has her periodic sickness” {Rashi; Ibn Ezra; Ramban).

12:3 On the eighth day . . . See Genesis 17:12

12:4 for 33 additional days. Making a total of 40.

— her blood is ritually clean. That is, even if the woman experiences vaginal bleeding during this time, she does not have the status of a menstruant woman (Niddah 35b; Yad, Issurey Biyah 4:5; Rashbam). The current practice, however, is to consider the woman unclean if she bleeds, even during the latter 33 days {Yad, Issurey Biyah 11:5-7; Turey Zahav, Yoreh Deah 194:1).

The Scriptures–2009              And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, “Speak to the children of Yisra’ěl, saying, ‘When a woman has conceived, and has given birth to a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days, as in the days of her monthly separation she is unclean.  ‘And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin is circumcised.  ‘And she remains in the blood of her cleansing thirty-three days. She does not touch whatever is set-apart, and she does not come into the set-apart place until the days of her cleansing are completed.

Tree of Life Version                Then Adonai spoke to Moses saying:

“Speak to Bnei-Yisrael, instructing: If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she will be unclean for seven days, as in the days of her niddah she will be unclean. In the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin is to be circumcised. She must wait during the blood of purification for 33 days. She is not to touch any holy thing, nor come into the Sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed.

Weird English, Olde English, Anachronistic English Translations:

Alpha & Omega Bible            AND JESUS SPOKE TO MOSES, SAYING,

“SPEAK TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND YOU SHALL SAY TO THEM, ‘WHATSOEVER WOMAN SHALL HAVE CONCEIVED AND BORN A MALE CHILD SHALL BE UNCLEAN SEVEN DAYS, SHE SHALL BE UNCLEAN ACCORDING TO THE DAYS OF SEPARATION FOR HER MONTHLY COURSES.

AND ON THE EIGHTH DAY SHE SHALL CIRCUMCISE THE FLESH OF HIS FORESKIN.

AND FOR THIRTY-THREE DAYS SHE SHALL CONTINUE IN HER UNCLEAN BLOOD; SHE SHALL TOUCH NOTHING HOLY, AND SHALL NOT ENTER THE SANCTUARY, UNTIL THE DAYS OF HER PURIFICATION BE FULFILLED.

Awful Scroll Bible                   Sustains To Become was to speak to Moses, to the intent:

Be speaking to the sons of Isra-el, to the intent: Was a woman, scattered of seed, even is to have bore forth a male, she is to have been unclean seven days, the days of her tainted unwholesomeness was to be unclean.

On the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin was to be circumcised.

She was to stay because of the blood, purifying for thirty three days - was she to touch that set apart? - even was she to go in the set apart place in those days? - On the day her purifying is to be fulfilled.

Concordant Literal Version    Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying.

Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, When a woman conceives seed and bears a male then she will be unclean seven days; as the days of her menstrual period shall she be unclean.

On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

Then she shall dwell thirty-three days more in her cleansing blood-flows. She shall not touch anything holy, and she shall not come to the sanctuary until the days of her cleansing be full.

exeGeses companion Bible   TORAH ON BIRTHING

And Yah Veh words to Mosheh, saying,

Word to the sons of Yisra El, saying,

If a woman seeds and births a male:

then she becomes foul seven days;

according to the days of the exclusion

- foul for her menstruation:

and in the eighth day

circumcise the flesh of his foreskin:

and she sits in the blood of her purifying

three days and thirty days:

she neither touches the holies nor enters the holies

until the days of her purifying are fulfilled.

Orthodox Jewish Bible           TAZRIA-METZORA

And Hashem spoke unto Moshe, saying,

Speak unto the Bnei Yisroel, saying, If an isha have conceived, and born a zachar, then she shall be temeiah shivat yamim; according to the yamim of the niddah (menstruation separation) for her infirmity shall she be temeiah (unclean).

And in the yom hashemini the basar of his arel (uncircumcision, foreskin) shall be circumcised.

And shloshim yom ushloshet she shall then remain in demei tohorah (blood of her purifying, i.e., period in which she would be unclean); she shall touch no kodesh, nor enter the Mikdash, until the yamei of her tohorah be fulfilled.

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. § 10. Laws for Women after Childbirth.

Chapter 12.

And Yahweh spake unto Mosesˎ saying:

Speak unto the sons of Israelˎ saying,

<A ||woman|| when she conceiveth seedˎ and giveth birth to a male child> then shall she be unclean seven days, <according to the days of her removal in her sickness shall she be unclean. And <on the eighth day> shall the flesh of his foreskin be circumcised.

And <for thirty-three days> shall she continue in the blood of purification,—<no hallowed thing> shall she touchˎ and <into the sanctuary> shall she not enter, until her days of purification are fulfilled.

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                Laws of Motherhood

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying,

‘If a woman conceives and gives birth to a male child, she shall be [ceremonially] unclean for seven days, unclean as during her monthly period. On the eighth day the flesh of the male child’s foreskin shall be circumcised. Then she shall remain [intimately separated] thirty-three days to be purified from the blood; she shall not touch any consecrated thing nor enter the [courtyard of the] sanctuary until the days of her purification are over.

The Expanded Bible              Rules for New Mothers

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the ·people [^L sons; children] of Israel this: ‘If a woman [^L conceives; becomes pregnant and] gives birth to a son, she will become unclean [^C in a ritual sense] for seven days, as she is unclean during her ·monthly period [menstruation; 15:19]. On the eighth day the ·boy [^L flesh of his foreskin] must be circumcised [Gen. 17:10–14]. Then it will be thirty-three days before she becomes clean from her loss of blood. She must not touch anything that is holy or enter the ·Holy Tent [^L sanctuary] until her time of ·cleansing [purification] is finished.

Kretzmann’s Commentary    Verses 1-8

The Purification after Childbirth.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, if a woman have conceived seed, brought forth bodily issue, and born a man child, a boy, then she shall be unclean seven days, this being the time of her personal uncleanness, during which every person and thing touched by her itself became defiled; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean, that is, during the average time of the flow following birth.

And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised, Genesis 17, this notice being here inserted lest this very necessary rite be neglected.

And she shall then, counting from the eighth day, continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days, this making a total of forty days, during which she was to stay at home, although the restrictions of the first seven days were now made much lighter; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the Sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. Although free to perform the ordinary duties of the household, she could not take part in sacrificial meals, the Passover and other festivals, nor was she permitted to enter the court of the Sanctuary. The forty days were the symbolical time of purification, of exclusion from the world.

Lexham English Bible            Purification After Childbirth

Then [Or “And”] Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

“Speak to the Israelites, [Literally “sons/children of Israel”] saying, ‘When a woman becomes pregnant and she gives birth to a male, [Or “son”] then [Or “and”] she shall be unclean seven days—as in the time of her menstrual bleeding, she shall become unclean. And on the eighth day his foreskin’s flesh shall be circumcised. And for thirty-three days she shall stay in the blood of her cleansing; she must not touch any holy object , and she may not come to the sanctuary until the fulfilling of the days of her cleansing.

Syndein/Thieme                     And Jehovah/God spoke/ 'communicated doctrine categorically' {dabar - Piel intensive stem} unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child.

Then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.

And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

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.

The Voice                               The Eternal One addressed Moses.

Eternal One: Go, talk with the Israelites, and tell them, “If a woman conceives and gives birth to a boy, then she will be ritually unclean for seven days, just like she is unclean when she is menstruating. When the eighth day arrives, the boy will be circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. A woman who gives birth to a boy must not have contact with any holy thing or go into the sanctuary for 33 days. She must wait until her purification is complete and her bleeding from childbirth ends.

Bible Translations with Many Footnotes:

The Complete Tanach           And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the children of Israel, saying: If a woman conceives and gives birth to a male, she shall be unclean for seven days; as [in] the days of her menstrual flow, she shall be unclean.

And on the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And for thirty three days, she shall remain in the blood of purity; she shall not touch anything holy, nor may she enter the Sanctuary, until the days of her purification have been completed.

NET Bible®                             Purification of a Woman after Childbirth

The Lord spoke to Moses: “Tell the Israelites, ‘When a woman produces offspring¹ and bears a male child,² she will be unclean seven days, as she is unclean during the days of her menstruation.³ On⁴ the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin⁵ must be circumcised. Then she will remain⁶ thirty-three days in blood purity.⁷ She must not touch anything holy and she must not enter the sanctuary until the days of her purification are fulfilled.⁸

^1tn Heb “produces seed” (Hiphil of זָרַע, zara’; used only elsewhere in Gen 1:11-12 for plants “producing” their own “seed”), referring to the process of childbearing as a whole, from conception to the time of birth (H. D. Preuss, TDOT 4:144; cf. J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [WBC], 164-65; and J. Milgrom, Leviticus [AB], 1:742-43). Smr and LXX have Niphal “be impregnated” (see, e.g., Num 5:28); note KJV “If a woman have conceived seed” (cf. ASV, NAB, NRSV; also NIV, NLT “becomes pregnant”).

^2sn The regulations for the “male child” in vv. 2-4 contrast with those for the “female child” in v. 5 (see the note there).

^3tn Heb “as the days of the menstrual flow [nom.] of her menstruating [q. inf.] she shall be unclean” (R. E. Averbeck, NIDOTTE 1:925-26; the verb appears only in this verse in the OT). Cf. NASB “as in the days of her menstruation”; NLT “during her menstrual period”; NIV “during her monthly period.”

^sn See Lev 15:19-24 for the standard purity regulations for a woman’s menstrual period.

^4tn Heb “and in….”

^5tn This rendering, “the flesh of his foreskin,” is literal. Based on Lev 15:2-3, one could argue that the Hebrew word for “flesh” here (בָּשָׂר, basar) is euphemistic for the male genitals and therefore translate “the foreskin of his member” (see, e.g., J. Milgrom, Leviticus [AB], 1:748). A number of English versions omit this reference to the foreskin and mention only circumcision, presumably for euphemistic reasons (cf. NIV, NCV, TEV, CEV, NLT).

^6tn Heb “sit, dwell” (יָשָב, yashav) normally means “to sit, to dwell”), but here it means “to remain, to stay” in the same condition for a period of time (cf., e.g., Gen 24:55).

^7tn Heb “in bloods of purification” or “purifying” or “purity”; NASB “in the blood of her purification”; NRSV “her time of blood purification.” See the following note.

^8tn The initial seven days after the birth of a son were days of blood impurity for the woman as if she were having her menstrual period. Her impurity was contagious during this period, so no one should touch her or even furniture on which she has sat or reclined (Lev 15:19-23), lest they too become impure. Even her husband would become impure for seven days if he had sexual intercourse with her during this time (Lev 15:24; cf. 18:19). The next thirty-three days were either “days of purification, purifying” or “days of purity,” depending on how one understands the abstract noun טֹהֳרָה (toharah, “purification, purity”) in this context. During this time the woman could not touch anything holy or enter the sanctuary, but she was no longer contagious like she had been during the first seven days. She could engage in normal everyday life, including sexual intercourse, without fear of contaminating anyone else (B. A. Levine, Leviticus [JPSTC], 73-74; cf. J. Milgrom, Leviticus [AB], 1:749-50). Thus, in a sense, the thirty-three days were a time of blood “purity” (cf. the present translation) as compared to the previous seven days of blood “impurity,” but they were also a time of blood “purification” (or “purifying”) as compared to the time after the thirty-three days, when the blood atonement had been made and she was pronounced “clean” by the priest (see vv. 6-8 below). In other words, the thirty-three day period was a time of “blood” (flow), but this was “pure blood,” as opposed to the blood of the first seven days.

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

Charles Thomson OT            Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a woman hath conceived, and brought forth a male, she shall be unclean seven days. During her days of separation for her lying in she shall be unclean. And on the eighth day she shall circumcise the flesh of his foreskin, and continue thirty three days in her impurity. She shall not touch any thing that is hallowed, nor come to the sanctuary, until the days of her purification be completed.

Context Group Version          And YHWH spoke to Moses, saying,

Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, If a woman conceives seed, and bears a man-child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of her menstrual impurity she shall be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And she shall continue in the blood of [her] purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no made special thing, nor come into the special place, until the days of her purifying are fulfilled.

Legacy Standard Bible           Atonement After Giving Birth

Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying:

‘When a woman gives birth [Lit produces seed] and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean for seven days, as in the days of her menstruation [Lit the impurity of her sickness] she shall be unclean. Now on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. Then she shall remain in the blood of her cleansing for thirty-three days; she shall not touch any holy thing; and she shall not enter the sanctuary until the days of her cleansing are fulfilled.

New European Version          Uncleanness at Childbirth

Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘If a woman conceives, and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of her monthly period she shall be unclean. In the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. She shall continue in the blood of purification thirty-three days. She shall not touch any holy thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed.

New King James Version       The Ritual After Childbirth

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If a woman has conceived, and borne a male child, then she shall be unclean [impure] seven days; as in the days of her customary impurity she shall be unclean. And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. She shall then continue in the blood of her purification thirty-three days. She shall not touch any hallowed [consecrated] thing, nor come into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are fulfilled.

Niobi Study Bible                   The Ritual After Childbirth
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying,

The Purification of Women
"Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, `If a woman have conceived seed and borne a manchild, then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 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 are fulfilled.

Revised Mechanical Trans.    ...and YHWH spoke to Mosheh, saying, speak to the sons of Yisra'eyl, saying, a woman that will produce and bring forth a male, then she will be dirty seven days, like the days of removal of her illness, she will be dirty, and in the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin will be snipped off, and thirty and three days she will settle in the bloodshed of the cleanliness, with all special things she will not touch, and she will not come to the sanctuary until the filling of the days of her cleanliness,...

Young’s Updated LT             And Jehovah speaks unto Moses, saying,

“Speak unto the sons of Israel, saying, A woman when she give seed, and has born a male, then she has been unclean seven days, according to the days of separation for her sickness she is unclean; and in the eighth day is the flesh of his foreskin circumcised; and thirty and three days she does abide in the blood of her cleansing; against any holy thing she does not come, and unto the sanctuary she does not go in, till the fulness of the days of her cleansing.

The gist of this passage:     God speaks to Moses about the uncleanness in women.

1-4

Translation: Y^ehowah spoke to Moses, saying,...

As before, we do not know when these teaching sessions occurred, whether most of them all at once; or did Moses learn new things each day? Or week?

Leviticus 12:1 Y^ehowah spoke to Moses, saying,... (Kukis mostly literal translation)

The majority of the text in Leviticus are direct quotes from God to Moses.

Translation: ...“Speak to the sons of Israel, saying,...

Moses is going to speak to the sons of Israel. However, interestingly enough, this is going to be about women giving birth.

Translation: ...‘A woman, when she conceives and [then] bears a male child,...

This verse is a little difficult, as several Bibles throw in menstruation here and others leave it out entirely. The first verb is the Hiphil imperfect of zâra‛ (זָרַא) [pronounced zaw-RAH], a word used for planting seeds, as we find it poetically used when Y^ehowah plants Israel in the land (Hosea 2:23); however, it is usually used in it common meaning sowing [seed] (Genesis 47:23 Leviticus 25:22); however, it can be used for sowing iniquity (Prov. 22:8). Here, in the causative stem, it can be reasonably rendered conceive.

The woman first conceives and then, about 9 months later, gives birth. In this case, we are specifically looking at giving birth to a son.

Translation: ...will be unclean for seven days as the days of her menstrual impurity.

This phrase begins with the kaph preposition, which simply means as, like. It is followed by the construct of yom, the word for day. This is followed by the construct of nîdâh (נִדָּה) [pronounced nid-DAWH] and it means impurity, as in abhorrent, shunned and this is a word associated with menstruation (see Leviticus 15:19–20, 24–26 Ezek. 18:6) and it is very likely that we could translate it menstruation. Strong's #5079 BDB #622. This is followed by the Qal infinitive construct of dâvâh (דָּוָה) [pronounced daw-VAW] and it is a word found only one time in the Old Testament and that is here. Strong’s #1738 BDB #188. Luckily, we have an adjective, dâweh (דָּוֶה) [pronounced daw-WEH] which is also a word associated with menstruation. It is found in Leviticus 15:33 20:18 Isa. 30:22 Lam. 1:13 5:17. Strong's #1739 BDB #188.

Her is the feminine suffix of this word. This is followed by the Qal imperfect of a verb found twice in this verse, ţâmêʾ (טָמֵא) [pronounced taw-MAY], the word for ceremonial uncleanness. When used of childbirth, it is in the Qal perfect, meaning it is seen as an entire finished process, whereas the second time it is used, it is in the imperfect, meaning that we have a process; together they aptly describe childbirth as compared to menstruation when it comes to uncleanness. I have translated the imperfect as remains unclean. Strong's #2930 BDB #379. Uncleanness due to menstruation will be covered in more detail in Leviticus 15:19–24.

After giving birth to a son, a woman is unclean for 7 days, just as she is for her period.

Leviticus 12:2 ...“Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘A woman, when she conceives and [then] bears a male child, will be unclean for seven days as the days of her menstrual impurity. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

We get a better focus upon ceremonial uncleanness here. Every woman menstruates and God has commanded women from the dawn of time to bear children; so these things are not wrong. However, menstruation is closely associated with blood, which is unclean when it is the blood of something of this earth; and child birth makes a woman unclean because (1) she bleeds somewhat during childbirth, and (2) she has brought another old sin nature into the world. Neither is an act of sin, nor is the woman necessarily out of fellowship during either of these times (although, often she is); but these things make her ceremonially unclean. She is not made unclean due to sinfulness.

Translation: On the eighth day, the flesh of the [child’s] foreskin will be circumcised.

On the eighth day, the son will be circumcised. This sets the child apart to God. This does not mean that the child is saved, but it does mean that the parents are willing to teach their child about their God.

Leviticus 12:3 On the eighth day, the flesh of the [child’s] foreskin will be circumcised. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

This verse seems to indicate that the last sentence in v. 2 is parenthetical, which is why several translators have given v. 2 as one sentence, linking the two sentences with as or as when, which words are not found. Circumcision is in the Niphal, which is the passive stem, which is what we would expect.

Translation: She will remain in the blood of [her] purification for thirty-three days.

The woman is said to remain in the blood of her purification for 33 more days. Exact what is meant by that comes next:

Translation: She will not touch any holy thing...

The woman cannot come into contact with any holy thing.

This is interesting to me because, for the most people, people did not come into contact with anything that was holy. So this is further explained in the next phrase:

Translation: ...and she will not come into the sanctuary until her days of purification are complete.

She cannot go into the sanctuary during this time period, which is considered her days of purification.

Now, no one enters into the sanctuary proper, apart from priests who go inside in order to do their particular duties. So, this would mean that she cannot come into the courtyard.

Leviticus 12:4 She will remain in the blood of [her] purification for thirty-three days. She will not touch any holy thing and she will not come into the sanctuary until her days of purification are complete. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Because she has brought an unclean thing into the world (a child with an old sin nature—and notice that it is a male-child), she first sees that the child is set apart to God through circumcision, but she remains ceremonially unclean for 33 days.

Leviticus 12:1–4 Y^ehowah spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘A woman, when she conceives and [then] bears a male child, will be unclean for seven days as the days of her menstrual impurity. On the eighth day, the flesh of the [child’s] foreskin will be circumcised. She will remain in the blood of [her] purification for thirty-three days. She will not touch any holy thing and she will not come into the sanctuary until her days of purification are complete. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Leviticus 12:1–4 Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, “Communicate this information to the sons of Israel: ‘If a woman conceives and bears a male child, she will be unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her menstrual cycle. The male child will be circumcised on the eighth day. However, the woman will remain separated for 33 more days in the blood of her purification. During that time, she will not touch any holy thing and she will not come into the courtyard of the Tabernacle, as her purification is completed. (Kukis paraphrase)

——————————

Here is how others have translated this verse:

Ancient texts:

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        And if a female [child] she bears, and she is made unclean fourteen [days] as her menstruation; and sixty a day and six days she will remain upon bloods of purification.

Dead Sea Scrolls                   .

Targum (Onkelos)                  If she gives birth to a female she will be unclean for two weeks [fourteen days] as during her menstruation [‘separation’]. For sixty-six days she will remain [in the status] that the blood [she sees] is ritually pure.

Targum (Pseudo-Jonathan)   And if she hath borne a daughter, she shall be unclean fourteen continuous days according to (the law of) her separation; and on the fifteenth she shall be released; but sixty and six continuous days shall she have for the (full) purification of the blood.

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) But if she shall bear a maid child, she shall be unclean two weeks, according to the custom of her monthly courses. And she shall remain in the blood of her purification sixty-six days.

Aramaic ESV of Peshitta        But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her period; and she shall continue in the blood of purification sixty-six days.

Lamsa’s Peshitta (Syriac)     And if she shall bear a female she will be defiled fourteen days according to her menstruation and she shall stay sixty and six days for the blood of cleansing.

Samaritan Pentateuch           But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days.

Updated Brenton (Greek)       But if she should have born a female child, then she shall be unclean fourteen days, according to the time of her monthly courses; and for sixty-six days shall she remain in her unclean blood.

Significant differences: 

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             But if she gives birth to a female child, then she will be unclean for two weeks, as when she is unwell; and she will not be completely clean for sixty-six days.

Easy English                          After a girl is born, her mother will not be clean for two weeks. The rule is the same as for each month, when she is bleeding. She will not be clean then. She must wait 66 days after a girl is born. Then she will become clean.

Easy-to-Read Version–2008  But if she gives birth to a girl, the mother will be unclean for 14 days, just as she is during her monthly time of bleeding. Because of the blood from childbirth, another 66 days must pass before she becomes clean.

God’s Word™                         "When a woman gives birth to a girl, she will be unclean as in her monthly period. However, she will be unclean for two weeks. Then she must stay at home for 66 days in order to be made clean from her bleeding.

Good News Bible (TEV)         For fourteen days after a woman gives birth to a daughter, she is ritually unclean, as she is during her monthly period. Then it will be sixty-six more days until she is ritually clean from her loss of blood.

The Message                         If she gives birth to a girl, she is unclean for fourteen days, the same as during her menstruation. She must stay home for sixty-six days for purification from her bleeding.

NIRV                                      But suppose she has a baby girl. Then she will be “unclean” for two weeks. It is the same as during her period. After the two weeks, she must wait for 66 days to be made pure from her bleeding.

Thought-for-thought translations; dynamic translations; paraphrases:

Casual English Bible             If it’s a girl, stay home 66 days

If a woman gives birth to a girl, double the numbers. [1] The mother remains unclean for two weeks. This is what happens during her menstrual cycle. Also, the new mother’s time of staying home in isolation for purity extends to 66 days. This allows for the bleeding from childbirth to subside.

¹12:5 The writer gives no reason for doubling the numbers when a girl is born, and there seems to be no medical reason for it, either. But it was a man’s world in this patriarchal age. And perhaps this was a tip of the hat to the times, in the way the apostle Paul would later tell runaway slaves to go back to their masters. Others might speculate that the story got garbled as people passed it on from generation to generation, before someone finally wrote it down. Or perhaps an editor later tweaked the numbers to convey the idea that Girl = good and Boys = better.

Contemporary English V.       Any woman who gives birth to a daughter is unclean for two weeks, just as she is during her period. And she won't be completely clean for another sixty-six days.

The Living Bible                     When a baby girl is born, the mother’s ceremonial impurity shall last two weeks, during which time she will be under the same restrictions as during menstruation. Then for a further sixty-six days she shall continue her recovery. [shall continue her recovery, literally, “shall continue in her blood of purification.”]

New Berkeley Version           .

New Life Version                    If she gives birth to a female child, she will be unclean for two weeks, as during the time she is unclean each month. She will be unclean for sixty-six days, until her blood stops flowing.

Unfolding Bible Simplified      If a woman gives birth to a baby girl, she must be avoided for two weeks, as she must be avoided when she is menstruating each month. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding when the baby was born.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          But if she gives birth to a female child, she must be considered unclean for fourteen days, and for the next sixty-six days she will remain [as in a state] of an unclean blood flow.

Beck’s American Translation .

Common English Bible           But if the woman gives birth to a daughter, she will be unclean for two weeks—just as she is during her menstrual period—and will be in a state of blood purification [Heb uncertain] for sixty-six days.

New Advent (Knox) Bible       If she gives birth to a girl, she will be unclean as at her monthly times, for fourteen days, and she will wait for sixty-six days more to be purified after her loss of blood.

Translation for Translators     If a woman gives birth to a daughter, she must be avoided for two weeks, like she must be avoided when she is menstruating each month. Then she must wait 66 days to be purified from the bleeding that occurred when her baby was born.

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Christian Standard Bible        But if she gives birth to a female child, she will be unclean for two weeks as she is during her menstrual impurity. She will continue in purification from her bleeding for sixty-six days.

Conservapedia Translation    But if the mother gives birth to a daughter, then she is unclean for two weeks: she must heal for sixty-six days. Conservapedia had a translation for the first five verses of this chapter only.

Revised Ferrar-Fenton Bible  "But if she bears a girl, then she shall be separated as unclean for twice seven, as in menstruation; and for a period of sixty-six days she shall be secluded, for purification from her blood.

International Standard V        If she gives birth to a female, then she is to remain unclean for two weeks, just like her menstruation. She is to remain in purification for 66 days due to her blood loss. [The Heb. lacks loss].

Urim-Thummim Version         But if she gives birth to a female child, then she will be unclean for two weeks, as she is during her period. Then the mother's purification will continue for sixty-six days.

Wikipedia Bible Project          And if she gives birth to a female, and her impurity is two weeks, as her menstruation, and sixty six days she will sit on the blood of her purification.

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

New American Bible (2011)   If she gives birth to a girl, for fourteen days she shall be as unclean as during her menstrual period, after which she shall spend sixty-six days* in a state of blood purity.

* [12:5] If she gives birth to a girl…sixty-six days: while the longer period of uncleanness following the birth of a girl, compared to that following the birth of a boy, might reflect the relative disparity in social status between men and women in ancient Israel (and attested in other cultures), this is by no means certain. There is no simple correlation in the Bible between the worth of something and the degree of impurity it can occasion.

The Catholic Bible                  But if she gives birth to a girl, she shall be unclean for two weeks as during her menstruation. She shall continue in the blood of her purifying for sixty-six days. [This prescription shows the inferiority of women in the mind of the ancient East.] [Kukis: No it doesn’t!!]

Revised English Bible–1989   If she bears a female child, she will be unclean as in menstruation for fourteen days and must wait for sixty-six days because her blood requires purification.

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           But if she gives birth to a girl, she will be unclean for two weeks, as in her niddah; and she is to wait another sixty-six days to be purified from her blood.

Hebrew Transliteration S.      But if she bears a female child, then she will be unclean for two weeks, as in her niddah, and she is to wait in the blood of purification for sixty-six days.

Kaplan Translation                 If she gives birth to a girl, she shall have for two weeks the same ritually unclean status as during her menstrual period. Then, for 66 days after that, she shall have a waiting period during which her blood is ritually clean.

12:5 for 66 days after that. . . Making a total of 80 days.

The Scriptures–2009              ‘But if she gives birth to a female child, then she shall be unclean for two weeks, as in her monthly separation, and she remains in the blood of her cleansing for sixty-six days.

Tree of Life Version                But if she bears a female child, then she will be unclean for two weeks, as in her niddah, and she is to wait in the blood of purification for 66 days.

Weird English, Olde English, Anachronistic English Translations:

Alpha & Omega Bible            BUT IF SHE SHOULD HAVE BORN A FEMALE CHILD, THEN SHE SHALL BE UNCLEAN TWICE SEVEN DAYS, ACCORDING TO THE TIME OF HER MONTHLY COURSES; AND FOR SIXTY-SIX DAYS SHALL SHE REMAIN IN HER UNCLEAN BLOOD.

Awful Scroll Bible                   Was she to bear forth a female, she is to have been unclean for two weeks for her taintedness, and she was to stay because of the blood, purifying for sixty six days.

Concordant Literal Version    And if she should bear a female, then she will be unclean two weeks, as during her period, and she shall dwell sixty-six days more in her cleansing blood-flows.

exeGeses companion Bible   And if she births a female,

then she becomes foul two weeks,

as in her exclusion:

and she sits in the blood of her purifying

sixty days and six days...

Orthodox Jewish Bible           But if she bear a nekevah, then she shall be temeiah two weeks, as in her niddah (separation); and she shall remain in the blood of her tohorah sixty-six days.

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. But <if ||a female child|| she bear> then shall she be unclean two weeksˎ as in her removal,—and <for sixty-six days> shall she continue in the blood of purification.

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                But if she gives birth to a female child, then she shall be unclean for two weeks, as during her monthly period, and she shall remain [intimately separated] sixty-six days to be purified from the blood.

Kretzmann’s Commentary    But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation, the extra seven days probably being an equivalent for the rite of circumcision in the case of the boy; and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying, for the average length of the entire flow, threescore and six days, this making a total of eighty days in the case of a girl. Natural sanitary reasons were probably the basis of the Levitical ordinance.

Lexham English Bible            But [Or “And”] if she gives birth to a female, [Or “daughter”] then [Or “and”] she shall be unclean for two weeks as in her menstruation, and for sixty-six days she shall stay through [Or “at” or “on”] the blood of her cleansing.

The Voice                               Eternal One: But if the woman gives birth to a girl she will be ritually unclean for 14 days—just like she is unclean when she is menstruating. She must wait 66 days for her purification from bleeding to be complete.

Bible Translations with Many Footnotes:

NET Bible®                             If she bears a female child, she will be impure fourteen days as during her menstrual flow, and she will remain sixty-six days in⁹ blood purity.¹⁰

^9tn Heb “on purity blood.” The preposition here is עַל (’al) rather than בְּ (bÿ, as it is in the middle of v. 4), but no doubt the same meaning is intended.

^10tn For clarification of the translation here, see the notes on vv. 2-4 above.

^sn The doubling of the time after the birth of a female child is puzzling (see the remarks in J. Milgrom, Leviticus [AB], 1:750-51; and G. J. Wenham, Leviticus [NICOT], 188). Some have argued, for example, that it derives from the relative status of the sexes, or a supposed longer blood flow for the birth of a woman, or even to compensate for the future menstrual periods of the female just born. Perhaps there is a better explanation. First, a male child must be circumcised on the eighth day, so the impurity of the mother could not last beyond the first seven days lest it interfere with the circumcision rite. A female child, of course, was not circumcised, so the impurity of the mother would not interfere and the length of the impure time could be extended further. Second, it would be natural to expect that the increased severity of the blood flow after childbirth, as compared to that of a woman’s menstrual period, would call for a longer period of impurity than the normal seven days of the menstrual period impurity (compare Lev 15:19 with 15:25-30). Third, this suggests that the fourteen day impurity period for the female child would have been more appropriate, and the impurity period for the birth of a male child had to be shortened. Fourth, not only the principle of multiples of seven but also multiples of forty applies to this reckoning. Since the woman’s blood discharge after bearing a child continues for more than seven days, her discharge keeps her from contact with sacred things for a longer period of time in order to avoid contaminating the tabernacle (note Lev 15:31). This ended up totaling forty days for the birth of a male child (seven plus thirty-three) and a corresponding doubling of the second set of days for the woman (fourteen plus sixty-six). See R. E. Averbeck, NIDOTTE 2:368-70. The fact that the offerings were the same for either a male or a female infant (vv. 6-8) suggests that the other differences in the regulations are not due to the notion that a male child had greater intrinsic value than a female child (J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [WBC], 169).

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

Bond Slave Version               But if she bear a maid child, then she will be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she will continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days.

Charles Thomson OT            But if she hath brought forth a female, she shall be unclean twice seven days for her lying in, and shall continue sixty six days in her impurity.

Context Group Version          But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her impurity; and she shall continue in the blood of [her] purifying sixty six days.

Literal Standard Version        And if she bears a female, then she has been unclean [for] two weeks, as in her separation; and she abides by the blood of her cleansing [for] sixty-six days.

New American Standard B.    But if she gives birth to a female child, then she shall be unclean for two weeks, as in her menstruation; and she shall stay at home in her condition of blood purification [i.e., ritually clean blood from childbirth] for sixty-six days.

Revised Mechanical Trans.    ...and if she will bring forth a female, then she will be dirty two weeks, like her removal, and sixty and six days she will settle upon the bloodshed of cleanliness,...

Young’s Updated LT             “And if a female she bear, then she has been unclean two weeks, as in her separation; and sixty and six days she does abide for the blood of her cleansing.

The gist of this passage:     The time of separation is given for having a daughter.

Translation: If she bears a female child,...

She might give birth to a little girl.

Translation: ...she will be unclean for two weeks, as [in] her menstruation;...

After giving birth to a girl, the mother is considered unclean for two weeks, just as she is unclean during her menstruation. It is not the time which is considered here; but simply being unclean during a period of time.

Translation: ...she will remain [separated from holy things] for sixty-six days on account of her blood purification.

First what should be mentioned is the hypallage [pronounced hy-PAL-la-gee] which is found in this verse. Hypallage means interchange. In this verse, what is in the construct should not be and what is not, should. That is, this should not read in the blood of her purifying but in her purification from blood. Such an interchange draws attention to what is really said. This emphasizes that it is the blood of man which makes the woman unclean.

Just as she was not to have contact with holy things or go into the Tabernacle courtyard for a period of time after giving birth, the same is true here, but for 66 days.

It is somewhat odd that her time of impurity is more lengthy with a female child.

Leviticus 12:5 If she bears a female child, she will be unclean for two weeks, as [in] her menstruation; she will remain [separated from holy things] for sixty-six days on account of her blood purification. (Kukis mostly literal translation)