Keraia
Leviticus 12

Leviticus 12:4

Purification after Childbirth · Leviticus 12:1–8
Read Leviticus 12

Translations

Modern
The woman shall continue in purification from her bleeding for thirty-three days. She must not touch anything sacred or go into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are complete.
Traditional
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.
Literal
And thirty days and three days she shall continue in the blood of her purification. She shall not touch any holy thing, and she shall not come into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are fulfilled.
Latin
…ipsa vero triginta tribus diebus manebit in sanguine purificationis suæ. Omne sanctum non tanget, nec ingredietur in sanctuarium, donec impleantur dies purificationis suæ.

Original

Hebrew
English
The woman shall continue in purification from her bleeding for thirty-three days. She must not touch anything sacred or go into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are complete.

Notes

Leviticus 12:4

These thirty-three days, plus the previous seven days mentioned in Leviticus 12:2, 3 make a total of forty days for the mother's period of purification.

Leviticus 12:1–8

These verses explain the rules about childbirth. Any bodily discharge, including blood, was "abnormal" because it weakened the person and made them ceremonially unclean (see study notes on Leviticus 5:3; 11:1–15:33). These verses focus on the discharge that comes with childbirth, not childbirth itself (12:2, 5, 7). The uncleanness was not sinful unless they ignored it and it came into contact with something holy (see 5:2–3).

Glossary

Biblical Concept of Law Deuteronomy, Book of History of Israel Law of Moses Leviticus, Book of Medicine and Medical Practice Worship

Topics

Defilement: Caused by Childbirth Sanitation: Women in Childbirth Touch