12:1-81 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 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.
3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
Say this to the Israelites,If a woman has a baby boy, she is unclean for seven days. [1]When he is eight days old, circumcise the flesh of his foreskin. [2]
4 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.
After her 7 days of uncleanness pass, she must continue in the blood of her purifying for 33 days, during which she must not touch any holy thing or come into the sanctuary.
5 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.
If a baby girl is born, her mother will be unclean for 14 days, and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying for another 66 days. [3]
6 And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or dove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest:
After a mother's days of purifying are over, she must sacrifice a first-year lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon for a sin offering. [4]
7 Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female.
A priest will offer her sacrifices in front of God and she will be cleansed from the issue of her blood.
8 And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.
If the mother isn't able to bring a lamb, she can bring two doves or pigeons.
The priest will make atonement for her and she will be clean.
Women are unclean and sinful after childbirth, so God prescribes rituals for their purification.
Baby girls make mothers twice as sinful and dirty as baby boys do. (See note 1.)
