Leviticus 12:6-8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Leviticus 12:6-8

A woman that had lain in, when the time set for her return to the sanctuary had come, was not to attend there empty, but must bring her offerings, Lev. 12:6. 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 12:6

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 F20 Maimon. Mechosre Capparah, c. 1. sect. 5. ,"a new mother does not bring her offering on the fortieth day for a male, nor on the eightieth day for a female,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 12:7

Who shall offer it before the Lord ,.... Upon the altar of burnt offering: and make an atonement for her ; for whatsoever sin in connection with or that attended childbearing; as typical of the atonement by Christ both for sin original and actual: and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood ; in a ceremonial sense, and according to that law be pure and clean: this is the law for her that hath born a male or a female ; enjoined her, and to be observed by her; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Leviticus 12:8

And if she be not able to bring a lamb ,.... As everyone was not in circumstances sufficient to be at the expense of buying a lamb for this purpose, having none of their own: then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons ; which was a kind and merciful provision for the poorer sort; since it was necessary that by them the favour received should be acknowledged, as well as the sin attending them in such circumstances should be atoned for. This being the offering brought by the... 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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 12:2-7

Woman under the Law and under the gospel. Every childbirth re-echoes in the ears of woman the sentence passed upon her ancestress Eve. That such a season of rejoicing should be attended with such throes of agony speaks loudly of the curse entailed by sin. There is no earthly pleasure entirely free from its shadow, pain. Great movements of society, deep thoughts, even inspiring melodies, are not ushered into the world without the pangs of travail. I. THE LAW REMINDS US HERE ... read more

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