Leviticus 12:7 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The priest offers the sacrifice before the LORD to atone for the mother and cleanse her of the blood discharge, concluding the law for both son and daughter births.
The Context of Leviticus 12:7
The priest's atoning action cleanses the mother and finalizes the purification law.
What Does Leviticus 12:7 Mean?
The priest stands between the mother and God, performing the atoning act through sacrifice. The phrase 'cleansed from the issue of her blood' marks the endpoint of ritual separation; the physical discharge has ended, the offering has been made, and the mother returns to her normal standing. This atonement is not forensic payment but the ritual mechanism by which transition from one state to another is sanctioned before God.
The concluding statement 'This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female' unifies the entire chapter, confirming that despite the different purification timelines, the same fundamental process—waiting, then bringing sacrifices through the priest—applies equally to all mothers. The law establishes order and holiness in the community by marking these transitions with care.
Leviticus 12:7 in the Original Language
kippurim (כִּפּוּרִים), 'atonement' — the covering or cleansing that restores one to proper standing with God and the community
Frequently Asked Questions About Leviticus 12:7
What does Leviticus 12:7 mean?
The priest offers the sacrifice before the LORD to atone for the mother and cleanse her of the blood discharge, concluding the law for both son and daughter births.
What is the context of Leviticus 12:7?
The priest's atoning action cleanses the mother and finalizes the purification law.