Leviticus 12:1-8 NIV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 12:2

If a woman have conceived - In the extent mentioned here the ordinances of this chapter have little relation to us: and to inquire into their physical reasons, as far as they related to the Jews, could afford but little edification; and to make such a subject sufficiently plain would require such minute examination and circumstantial detail as could scarcely be proper for several readers. All that is necessary to be said the reader will find on Leviticus 12:4 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 12:3

And in the eighth day - Before this time the child could scarcely be considered as having strength sufficient to bear the operation; after this time it was not necessary to delay it, as the child was not considered to be in covenant with God, and consequently not under the especial protection of the Divine providence and grace, till this rite had been performed. On circumcision see Clarke's note on Genesis 17:10 . Circumcision was to every man a constant, evident sign of the covenant into... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 12:4

The blood of her purifying - A few words will make this subject sufficiently plain. God designs that the human female should bring forth children. That children should derive, under his providence, their being, all their solids and all their fluids, in a word, the whole mass of their bodies, from the substance of the mother. For this purpose he has given to the body of the female an extra quantity of blood and nutritious juices. Before pregnancy this superabundance is evacuated at... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 12:6

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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 12:8

And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons - As the Virgin Mary brought only the latter, hence it is evident that she was not able, i. e., she was not rich enough to provide the former; for such a holy woman would not have brought the less offering had she been capable of bringing the greater. How astonishing is this! The only heir to the throne of David was not able to bring a lamb to offer in sacrifice to God! How abominable must sin be... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 12:2

Verse 2 2.If a woman have conceived seed. This ceremony had reference to two points; for, first, the Jews were reminded by it of the common corruption of our nature; and secondly, the remedy of the evil was set before them. There is little difficulty in understanding why a woman who has conceived and given birth to a child, should be pronounced unclean; viz., because the whole race of Adam is polluted and defiled, so that the woman already contracts uncleanness from the offspring which she... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 12:4

Verse 4 4.And she shall then continue. The uncleanness of seven days in the case of a male, and fourteen days for a female, has reference to the hemorrhage, as we shall also see elsewhere of the menstrual discharge. For the remainder of the time she is forbidden to take part in religious services, and to approach the sanctuary, (by which word the court is here meant,) and thus is accounted unholy, not only that she should herself lament her condition, but that her husband also, admonished by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 12:1-8

The purification of the Church. At the commencement of his treatise on this Book of Leviticus, Cyril of Alexandria truly says, that as the Word of God came into the world arrayed in flesh, in which bodily appearance he was seen of all, while his divinity was seen only by the elect; so has the written Word a letter, or outward sense, which is obvious to ordinary perception, and an inward meaning which must be spiritually discerned. According to this rule, the purification of the Church is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 12:1-8

Born in sin. cf. Genesis 3:16 ; Psalms 51:5 ; Luke 2:21 ; 1 Timothy 2:15 . From the division of the animals into clean and unclean, and the sanctity thereby inculcated, we are invited to proceed to those personal liabilities to uncleanness for which due rites were provided. The first of these takes life at its fountain-head, and refers to the uncleanness connected with birth. Motherhood involved a longer or shorter period of ceremonial separation—forty days in the case of a son,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 12:1-8

The statutes on maternity. We may seek— I. THE EXPLANATION or THIS STATUTE . And we shall find the explanation 1 . The sorrow of maternity ( John 16:21 ) points clearly to the primeval curse, and therefore to the primeval sin ( Genesis 3:16 ). 2 . The birth of a human child means the entrance into the world of one in whom are the germs of sin ( Psalms 51:5 ; Psalms 58:3 ; Ephesians 2:3 ). 3 . Maternity suggests the sexual relation, and that suggests the... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 12:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 12:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 12:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 12:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 12:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 12:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Leviticus 12:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 12:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 12:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 12:1-8

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