Leviticus 12:4

Authorized King James Version

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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.

Original Language Analysis

וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים and thirty H7970
וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים and thirty
Strong's: H7970
Word #: 1 of 19
thirty; or (ordinal) thirtieth
יְמֵ֥י days H3117
יְמֵ֥י days
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 2 of 19
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
וּשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת three H7969
וּשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת three
Strong's: H7969
Word #: 3 of 19
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
יְמֵ֥י days H3117
יְמֵ֥י days
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 4 of 19
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
תֵּשֵׁ֖ב And she shall then continue H3427
תֵּשֵׁ֖ב And she shall then continue
Strong's: H3427
Word #: 5 of 19
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
בִּדְמֵ֣י in the blood H1818
בִּדְמֵ֣י in the blood
Strong's: H1818
Word #: 6 of 19
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
טָֽהֳרָֽהּ׃ of her purifying H2893
טָֽהֳרָֽהּ׃ of her purifying
Strong's: H2893
Word #: 7 of 19
ceremonial purification; moral purity
בְּכָל H3605
בְּכָל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 8 of 19
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
קֹ֣דֶשׁ no hallowed H6944
קֹ֣דֶשׁ no hallowed
Strong's: H6944
Word #: 9 of 19
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
לֹֽא H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 10 of 19
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִגָּ֗ע she shall touch H5060
תִגָּ֗ע she shall touch
Strong's: H5060
Word #: 11 of 19
properly, to touch, i.e., lay the hand upon (for any purpose; euphemistically, to lie with a woman); by implication, to reach (figuratively, to arrive
וְאֶל H413
וְאֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 12 of 19
near, with or among; often in general, to
הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ into the sanctuary H4720
הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ into the sanctuary
Strong's: H4720
Word #: 13 of 19
a consecrated thing or place, especially, a palace, sanctuary (whether of jehovah or of idols) or asylum
לֹ֣א H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 14 of 19
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תָבֹ֔א thing nor come H935
תָבֹ֔א thing nor come
Strong's: H935
Word #: 15 of 19
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
עַד H5704
עַד
Strong's: H5704
Word #: 16 of 19
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
מְלֹ֖את be fulfilled H4390
מְלֹ֖את be fulfilled
Strong's: H4390
Word #: 17 of 19
to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively)
יְמֵ֥י days H3117
יְמֵ֥י days
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 18 of 19
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
טָֽהֳרָֽהּ׃ of her purifying H2893
טָֽהֳרָֽהּ׃ of her purifying
Strong's: H2893
Word #: 19 of 19
ceremonial purification; moral purity

Analysis & Commentary

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.

This verse falls within the section on Purification After Childbirth. Regulations for ritual purification following childbirth, acknowledging both the blessing of life and effects of the fall.

Leviticus 17:11 declares 'the life of the flesh is in the blood,' establishing blood's sacred role in atonement, pointing to Christ's blood shed for redemption.
Hebrews 9-10 explains how Christ's once-for-all sacrifice supersedes the repeated Levitical offerings, providing permanent cleansing from sin.

Historical Context

Regulations for ritual purification following childbirth, acknowledging both the blessing of life and effects of the fall. Chapters 11-15 address ritual purity, teaching Israel to distinguish clean from unclean. These laws served multiple purposes: promoting health, teaching spiritual lessons about sin's defilement, and separating Israel from pagan practices. Archaeological evidence shows Canaanite worship involved practices Israel's laws explicitly prohibited. Israel received these laws while encamped at Sinai, before entering Canaan. The laws prepared them for life in the promised land, distinguishing them from Canaanite practices and establishing their identity as God's holy nation. The portable tabernacle, central to Levitical worship, accompanied them through wilderness wanderings and eventually found permanent form in Solomon's temple. Archaeological discoveries at sites like Ugarit reveal Canaanite religious practices Israel's laws explicitly rejected, confirming the Bible's historical reliability and the distinctiveness of Israelite worship.

Questions for Reflection

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