Leviticus

Childbirth

The Lord 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 circumcised;

then she shall wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She shall not touch anything consecrated nor enter the Sanctuary until her days of purification are complete.

If she gives birth to a daughter, she shall be unclean for two weeks as in her menstruation. She shall wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding.

When the days of her purification are completed, whether for a son or daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the door of the Tent of Meeting, a lamb born that year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering.

The priest shall then offer it to the Lord to make atonement for her, and she shall be cleansed from the flow of her blood.

This is the law for the woman who gives birth to a child, male or female.

But if she cannot offer a lamb, she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, the one for a burnt offering, the other for a sin offering. The priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be purified.”