7 'Then he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her, and she shall be cleansed from the flow of her blood . This is the law for her who bears a child, whether a male or a female .

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Leviticus 12:7

Chapter Contents

Ceremonial purification.

After the laws concerning clean and unclean food, come the laws concerning clean and unclean persons. Man imparts his depraved nature to his offspring, so that, excepting as the atonement of Christ and the sanctification of the Spirit prevent, the original blessing, "Increase and multiply," Genesis 1:28, is become to the fallen race a direful curse, and communicates sin and misery. Let those women who have received mercy from God in child-bearing, with all thankfulness own God's goodness to them; and this shall please the Lord better than sacrifices.