1
וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר
And YHWH spoke to Moses, saying,
The standard priestly speech-formula opens a new legal unit, structurally identical to the openings of the surrounding chapters. It signals nothing about the chapter's content, only that fresh divine legislation follows.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
וַיְדַבֵּ֥רand he spokePiel wayyiqtol 3ms · דִּבֶּר (H1696)Predicate verb (main clause, narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advance introducing direct speechדִּבֶּר (H1696) Piel 'to speak'; with יְהוָה as subject and אֶל מֹשֶׁה, the recurrent formula that frames legal speeches throughout Leviticus. Source id 03Gxb.
יְהוָ֖הYHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Subject of וַיְדַבֵּריְהוָה (H3068), the covenant name of Israel's God; the speaker throughout the priestly legislation. Source id 03xdy.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase marking the addresseeאֶל (H413) 'to, toward'; marks Moses as the recipient of divine speech. Source id 03xcf.
מֹשֶׁ֥הMosesproper noun · מֹשֶׁה (H4872)Object of the preposition אֶלמֹשֶׁה (H4872), the mediator of the Sinai legislation. Source id 03R9X.
לֵּאמֹֽרsayingQal inf constr · אָמַר (H559)Infinitive of manner introducing direct discourse→ Infinitive construct: marks the onset of quoted divine speechאָמַר (H559) 'to say'; the infinitive construct with לְ is the standard quotative frame, untranslated as a separate clause in English but rendered 'saying'. Source id 03gMk.
2
דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אִשָּׁה֙ כִּ֣י תַזְרִ֔יעַ וְיָלְדָ֖ה זָכָ֑ר וְטָֽמְאָה֙ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֔ים כִּימֵ֛י נִדַּ֥ת דְּוֺתָ֖הּ תִּטְמָֽא
Speak to the sons of Israel, saying: When a woman conceives and bears a male, she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of her menstrual infirmity she shall be unclean.
The command to Moses is relayed with a fresh imperative (דַּבֵּר) and addressed corporately to Israel, then the case law proper opens with a temporal-conditional כִּי clause: conception and birth of a male sets the terms for what follows. The equation of the initial impurity with נִדַּת דְּוֺתָהּ ties postpartum uncleanness explicitly to the menstrual-impurity category of ch. 15 rather than treating it as sui generis.
Word-by-word analysis· 17 words
דַּבֵּ֞רspeakPiel impv 2ms · דִּבֶּר (H1696)Predicate verb (imperative, main clause)→ Volitional: a direct command to Moses to relay the following lawדִּבֶּר (H1696) Piel imperative 'speak'; opens the direct quotation of YHWH's instruction to Moses. Source id 03wFk.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase marking the addresseeאֶל (H413) 'to'; introduces the recipients of the speech. Source id 031yV.
בְּנֵ֤יthe sons ofN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct head (genitival chain)בֵּן (H1121) 'son'; in construct with יִשְׂרָאֵל the standard collective 'children/sons of Israel'. Source id 03UKs.
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙Israelproper noun · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Genitive (construct chain, absolute)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478), the covenant people, addressee of the whole priestly law-code. Source id 03mMQ.
לֵאמֹ֔רsayingQal inf constr · אָמַר (H559)Infinitive of manner introducing direct discourse→ Infinitive construct: marks the onset of the quoted case lawאָמַר (H559); the quotative infinitive introducing the casuistic law itself. Source id 03akU.
אִשָּׁה֙a womanN f sg abs · אִשָּׁה (H802)Subject of the protasisאִשָּׁה (H802) 'woman, wife'; unspecified/indefinite, opening the casuistic formula typical of Levitical law. Source id 03FdP.
כִּ֣יwhenconj · כִּי (H3588)Conditional/temporal conjunction introducing the protasisכִּי (H3588) here temporal-conditional 'when, if'; the standard opener of casuistic law in the priestly corpus. Source id 03fBN.
תַזְרִ֔יעַshe conceivesHiphil impf 3fs · זָרַע (H2232)Predicate verb of the protasis→ Yiqtol: general/habitual — the recurring case a law addressesזָרַע (H2232) Hiphil 'to produce seed, conceive'; denominative from זֶרַע 'seed', here of successful conception rather than sowing. Source id 03QgK.
וְיָלְדָ֖הand bearsconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3fs · יָלַד (H3205)Predicate verb continuing the protasis (weqatal sequence)→ Weqatal: continuing the conditional sequence, 'and (then) bears'יָלַד (H3205) Qal 'to bear, give birth'; the chapter's key verb, defining the topic of the whole unit. Source id 03aPN.
זָכָ֑רa maleadj m sg abs · זָכָר (H2145)Direct object of וְיָלְדָהזָכָר (H2145) 'male'; sets up the contrast with נְקֵבָה 'female' in v. 5, on which the chapter's doubled periods turn. Source id 03XHx.
וְטָֽמְאָה֙then she shall be uncleanconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3fs · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb of the apodosis→ Weqatal: apodictic consequence following the conditional protasisטָמֵא (H2930) Qal 'to be/become unclean'; the chapter's governing verb, denoting ritual rather than moral or hygienic impurity. Source id 03xxk.
שִׁבְעַ֣תsevennum f sg constr · שֶׁבַע (H7651)Construct head of the numeral phrase (adverbial accusative of duration)שֶׁבַע (H7651) 'seven'; in construct with יָמִים, giving the first, most-restricted impurity period. Source id 03ShD.
יָמִ֔יםdaysN m pl abs · יוֹם (H3117)Genitive completing the numeral construct (adverbial accusative of duration)יוֹם (H3117) 'day'; the chapter's recurring unit of reckoning for both son (7+33) and daughter (14+66) periods. Source id 03MEx.
כִּימֵ֛יas the days ofprep כְּ + N m pl constr · יוֹם (H3117)Comparative prepositional phrase (construct chain)יוֹם (H3117) with the comparative prefix כְּ 'as, like'; introduces the equation with the menstrual-impurity category. Source id 0386V.
נִדַּ֥תthe infirmity ofN f sg constr · נִדָּה (H5079)Construct head (genitival chain)נִדָּה (H5079) 'impurity, menstrual separation'; the technical term governing ch. 15's rules, here explicitly invoked to define the postpartum period. Source id 034gS.
דְּוֺתָ֖הּher infirmityQal inf constr/noun + suff 3fs · דָּוָה (H1738)Genitive completing the construct chainדָּוָה (H1738) 'sickness, menstrual flow'; with the 3fs suffix, 'her infirmity' — reinforcing נִדָּה as the paradigm for the new mother's initial impurity. Source id 03X5d.
תִּטְמָֽאshe shall be uncleanQal impf 3fs · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb, restating/closing the apodosis→ Yiqtol: modal/deontic — the legal consequence stated as ongoing obligationטָמֵא (H2930), repeating the root that opened the apodosis, framing the verse with the same verb (an inclusio of sorts within v. 2).
3
וּבַיּ֖וֹם הַשְּׁמִינִ֑י יִמּ֖וֹל בְּשַׂ֥ר עָרְלָתֽוֹ
And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
A single terse clause inserts the circumcision command inside the purification timetable, presupposing Gen 17:12 rather than re-legislating it from scratch. Its placement (between the initial seven days and the extended thirty-three) shows that circumcision falls within, not instead of, the mother's ongoing purification period.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
וּבַיּ֖וֹםand on the dayconj וְ + art + prep בְּ + N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Temporal prepositional phrase (fronted setting)יוֹם (H3117) 'day', with the article and prep בְּ; fronted to mark the precise timing of the circumcision. Source id 03fEW.
הַשְּׁמִינִ֑יthe eighthart + ordinal m sg abs · שְׁמִינִי (H8066)Attributive adjective modifying יּוֹםשְׁמִינִי (H8066) 'eighth'; the fixed day for circumcision (Gen 17:12; Lev 12:3), independent of the mother's own longer purification. Source id 03mbg.
יִמּ֖וֹלshall be circumcisedNiphal impf 3ms · מוּל (H4135)Predicate verb (passive, main clause)→ Yiqtol: deontic — a standing legal requirementמוּל (H4135) Niphal 'to be circumcised' (passive); the child, not the mother, is the implicit subject acted upon. Source id 03uda.
בְּשַׂ֥רthe flesh ofN m sg constr · בָּשָׂר (H1320)Construct head (genitival chain, subject of the passive verb)בָּשָׂר (H1320) 'flesh'; in construct with עָרְלָה specifies exactly what is cut. Source id 03fci.
עָרְלָתֽוֹhis foreskinN f sg constr + suff 3ms · עָרְלָה (H6190)Genitive completing the construct chainעָרְלָה (H6190) 'foreskin'; with 3ms suffix, the object of the circumcision rite instituted in Gen 17. Source id 03FqG.
4
וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים יוֹם֙ וּשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֔ים תֵּשֵׁ֖ב בִּדְמֵ֣י טָהֳרָ֑ה בְּכָל קֹ֣דֶשׁ לֹֽא תִגָּ֗ע וְאֶל הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ לֹ֣א תָבֹ֔א עַד מְלֹ֖את יְמֵ֥י טָהֳרָֽהּ
And for thirty-three days she shall remain in the blood of her purification; she shall not touch anything holy, and she shall not enter the sanctuary, until the days of her purification are complete.
The verse shifts from the initial, more restrictive impurity (v. 2, equated with menstrual nidah) to a second, lesser category — דְּמֵי טָהֳרָה — marked by two prohibitions (touching sancta, entering the sanctuary) rather than a blanket restriction from ordinary contact. The distinction between the two impurity grades is the chapter's central structural device, repeated for the daughter in v. 5.
Word-by-word analysis· 19 words
וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥יםand thirtyconj וְ + num pl abs · שְׁלֹשִׁים (H7970)Numeral in construct-like apposition with יוֹם (adverbial accusative of duration)שְׁלֹשִׁים (H7970) 'thirty'; combined with שְׁלֹשֶׁת יָמִים below to total thirty-three days. Source id 03LVx.
יוֹם֙day(s)N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Head noun of the numeral phrase (adverbial accusative of duration)יוֹם (H3117) 'day'; singular form used distributively after the round number thirty. Source id 031w8.
וּשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁתand threeconj וְ + num f sg constr · שְׁלֹשָׁה (H7969)Construct numeral continuing the duration phraseשְׁלֹשָׁה (H7969) 'three'; added to the preceding thirty for the total of thirty-three days of blood-purification. Source id 03wEJ.
יָמִ֔יםdaysN m pl abs · יוֹם (H3117)Genitive completing the numeral construct (adverbial accusative of duration)יוֹם (H3117) 'day', plural, completing 'three days' and thus the full thirty-three-day count. Source id 03X5H.
תֵּשֵׁ֖בshe shall remainQal impf 3fs · יָשַׁב (H3427)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Yiqtol: deontic — the ongoing legal state during the extended periodיָשַׁב (H3427) 'to sit, dwell, remain'; here of remaining in a state of lesser impurity, not physical seclusion per se. Source id 03Zhq.
בִּדְמֵ֣יin the blood(s) ofprep בְּ + N m pl constr · דָּם (H1818)Prepositional phrase (locative/state), construct headדָּם (H1818) 'blood', plural construct; the postpartum discharge understood as the physical basis of this stage's lesser impurity. Source id 03b1X.
טָהֳרָ֑הher purificationN f sg abs · טָהֳרָה (H2893)Genitive completing the construct chainטָהֳרָה (H2893) 'purification, cleansing'; דְּמֵי טָהֳרָה, 'the blood(s) of her purifying,' names the lesser-impurity discharge distinct from the initial nidah-equivalent flow. Source id 03w8M.
בְּכָלanyprep בְּ + N m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Prepositional phrase marking the object of prohibition (construct head)כֹּל (H3605) 'all, every'; in construct with קֹדֶשׁ, 'anything holy'. Source id 03tdz.
קֹ֣דֶשׁholy thingN m sg abs · קֹדֶשׁ (H6944)Genitive completing the construct chainקֹדֶשׁ (H6944) 'holiness, holy thing'; what she is barred from touching during the lesser-impurity stage. Source id 03giU.
לֹֽאnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates the following verbלֹא (H3808), the standard negative particle, here forming a permanent prohibition with the yiqtol verb. Source id 03iXF.
תִגָּ֗עshe shall touchQal impf 3fs · נָגַע (H5060)Predicate verb of the first prohibition→ Yiqtol: deontic prohibition — 'she must not touch'נָגַע (H5060) 'to touch, reach'; the verb of contact whose object is anything holy. Source id 03ssa.
וְאֶלand toconj וְ + prep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase marking the second prohibition's objectאֶל (H413) 'to, into'; introduces the sanctuary as the second thing barred to her. Source id 03REu.
הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙the sanctuaryart + N m sg abs · מִקְדָּשׁ (H4720)Object of the preposition אֶל (fronted)מִקְדָּשׁ (H4720) 'sanctuary, holy place'; from קדשׁ, the consecrated space she may not enter during this period. Source id 03Tdr.
לֹ֣אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates the following verbלֹא (H3808), negating the second prohibited action, entering the sanctuary. Source id 03BFg.
תָבֹ֔אshe shall enterQal impf 3fs · בּוֹא (H935)Predicate verb of the second prohibition→ Yiqtol: deontic prohibition — 'she must not enter'בּוֹא (H935) 'to come, enter'; parallel prohibition to תִגָּע, restricting sanctuary access. Source id 03T8E.
עַדuntilprep · עַד (H5704)Temporal preposition introducing the terminus of the prohibitionsעַד (H5704) 'until, as far as'; marks the temporal boundary closing the extended impurity period. Source id 03WQf.
מְלֹ֖אתthe completion ofQal inf constr · מָלֵא (H4390)Infinitive construct governing the following genitive (temporal clause)→ Infinitive construct: marks the terminus of the preceding prohibitionsמָלֵא (H4390) 'to be full, fulfilled'; infinitive here functions nominally, 'the fulfilling/completion of'. Source id 03eUm.
יְמֵ֥יthe days ofN m pl constr · יוֹם (H3117)Construct head, object of the infinitive מְלֹאתיוֹם (H3117) 'day', in construct; 'the days of her purification' names the full forty-day period reckoned from birth. Source id 036Tw.
טָהֳרָֽהּher purificationN f sg constr + suff 3fs · טָהֳרָה (H2893)Genitive completing the construct chainטָהֳרָה (H2893) 'purification', with 3fs suffix; closes the verse marking the boundary of the whole forty-day period for a son. Source id 03ywr.
5
וְאִם נְקֵבָ֣ה תֵלֵ֔ד וְטָמְאָ֥ה שְׁבֻעַ֖יִם כְּנִדָּתָ֑הּ וְשִׁשִּׁ֥ים יוֹם֙ וְשֵׁ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֔ים תֵּשֵׁ֖ב עַל דְּמֵ֥י טָהֳרָֽה
But if she bears a female, she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation; and for sixty-six days she shall remain over the blood of her purification.
The conditional וְאִם mirrors the protasis of v. 2 but reverses the outcome: for a female both periods are exactly doubled (14 days replacing 7; 66 days replacing 33), yielding an eighty-day total against the son's forty. No rationale is given anywhere in the chapter; the doubling is simply legislated.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וְאִםbut ifconj וְ + conditional particle · אִם (H518)Conditional conjunction introducing the counterpart caseאִם (H518) 'if'; introduces the alternative case of a female birth, structurally parallel to כִּי in v. 2. Source id 03oym.
נְקֵבָ֣הa femaleN f sg abs · נְקֵבָה (H5347)Direct object of תֵלֵד (fronted for contrast)נְקֵבָה (H5347) 'female'; from נָקַב 'to pierce, bore', contrasted with זָכָר in v. 2. Source id 03Di6.
תֵלֵ֔דshe bearsQal impf 3fs · יָלַד (H3205)Predicate verb of the protasis→ Yiqtol: general/habitual, matching the recurring case-law patternיָלַד (H3205) Qal 'to bear'; same root as v. 2's וְיָלְדָה, here in the conditional yiqtol form. Source id 03AXZ.
וְטָמְאָ֥הthen she shall be uncleanconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3fs · טָמֵא (H2930)Predicate verb of the apodosis→ Weqatal: apodictic consequence following the conditional protasisטָמֵא (H2930), the same verb governing v. 2's apodosis, applied here to the doubled period. Source id 03o2H.
שְׁבֻעַ֖יִםtwo weeksN m dual abs · שָׁבוּעַ (H7620)Adverbial accusative of durationשָׁבוּעַ (H7620) 'week', dual form 'two weeks' = fourteen days, doubling the son's seven. Source id 03MaF.
כְּנִדָּתָ֑הּas in her menstruationprep כְּ + N f sg constr + suff 3fs · נִדָּה (H5079)Comparative prepositional phraseנִדָּה (H5079) with 3fs suffix and comparative כְּ; parallels כִּימֵי נִדַּת דְּוֺתָהּ in v. 2, again anchoring the initial impurity in the menstrual-impurity category of ch. 15. Source id 035PZ.
וְשִׁשִּׁ֥יםand sixtyconj וְ + num pl abs · שִׁשִּׁים (H8346)Numeral in the duration phrase (adverbial accusative)שִׁשִּׁים (H8346) 'sixty'; combined with שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים below for a total of sixty-six days, doubling the son's thirty-three. Source id 03Gcz.
יוֹם֙day(s)N m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Head noun of the numeral phrase (adverbial accusative)יוֹם (H3117) 'day', singular used distributively after 'sixty'. Source id 03kjt.
וְשֵׁ֣שֶׁתand sixconj וְ + num f sg constr · שֵׁשׁ (H8337)Construct numeral continuing the duration phraseשֵׁשׁ (H8337) 'six'; added to sixty for the total sixty-six days of blood-purification. Source id 03nTA.
יָמִ֔יםdaysN m pl abs · יוֹם (H3117)Genitive completing the numeral construct (adverbial accusative)יוֹם (H3117) 'day', plural, completing 'six days' and the full sixty-six-day count. Source id 03Xw7.
תֵּשֵׁ֖בshe shall remainQal impf 3fs · יָשַׁב (H3427)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Yiqtol: deontic — the ongoing legal state during the extended periodיָשַׁב (H3427), the same verb as v. 4, here for the daughter's extended sixty-six-day period. Source id 03X3d.
עַלoverprep · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase (locative/state)עַל (H5921) 'upon, over'; here functionally equivalent to בְּ in v. 4, 'in/over the blood of her purification'. Source id 035Mw.
דְּמֵ֥יthe blood(s) ofN m pl constr · דָּם (H1818)Construct head of the prepositional objectדָּם (H1818) 'blood', plural construct; same phrase as v. 4, 'the blood(s) of her purifying'. Source id 03uvu.
טָהֳרָֽהher purificationN f sg abs · טָהֳרָה (H2893)Genitive completing the construct chainטָהֳרָה (H2893) 'purification'; closes the verse naming the lesser-impurity discharge for the daughter's period. Source id 03z1m.
6
וּבִמְלֹ֣את יְמֵ֣י טָהֳרָ֗הּ לְבֵן֮ א֣וֹ לְבַת֒ תָּבִ֞יא כֶּ֤בֶשׂ בֶּן שְׁנָתוֹ֙ לְעֹלָ֔ה וּבֶן יוֹנָ֥ה אוֹ תֹ֖ר לְחַטָּ֑את אֶל פֶּ֥תַח אֹֽהֶל מוֹעֵ֖ד אֶל הַכֹּהֵֽן
And when the days of her purification are complete, for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a purification offering, to the entrance of the tent of meeting, to the priest.
The temporal infinitive clause (וּבִמְלֹאת יְמֵי טָהֳרָהּ) marks the transition from the waiting periods to the required cultic action, applying identically to both son and daughter cases ('for a son or for a daughter' collapses the two tracks of vv. 2-5 into a single offering law). Two offerings are specified: a burnt offering of a lamb, and a bird for a purification offering — the חַטָּאת here functioning to remove impurity rather than to atone for wrongdoing.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
וּבִמְלֹ֣אתand when are completeconj וְ + prep בְּ + Qal inf constr · מָלֵא (H4390)Temporal infinitival clause (fronted)→ Infinitive construct: marks the temporal condition for what followsמָלֵא (H4390) 'to be full, fulfilled'; the same construction as v. 4's מְלֹאת, now marking the close of either period. Source id 03BYB.
יְמֵ֣יthe days ofN m pl constr · יוֹם (H3117)Construct head, subject of the infinitival clauseיוֹם (H3117) 'day'; 'the days of her purification', referring back to whichever period (son's or daughter's) applies. Source id 03fDj.
טָהֳרָ֗הּher purificationN f sg constr + suff 3fs · טָהֳרָה (H2893)Genitive completing the construct chainטָהֳרָה (H2893) 'purification', with 3fs suffix, completing the temporal clause. Source id 03UXN.
לְבֵן֮for a sonprep לְ + N m sg abs · בֵּן (H1121)Prepositional phrase of respect/referenceבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; with לְ, 'whether for a son'—collapsing the two prior cases into a single offering rule. Source id 03wXa.
א֣וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176) 'or'; joins the son/daughter alternatives as equally subject to the following law. Source id 03CmE.
לְבַת֒for a daughterprep לְ + N f sg abs · בַּת (H1323)Prepositional phrase of respect/referenceבַּת (H1323) 'daughter'; with לְ, the second alternative — the offering law does not itself distinguish by sex of the child. Source id 03bdC.
תָּבִ֞יאshe shall bringHiphil impf 3fs · בּוֹא (H935)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Yiqtol: deontic — the required cultic actבּוֹא (H935) Hiphil 'to bring, cause to come'; the mother herself is the one who brings the offerings. Source id 03gUj.
כֶּ֤בֶשׂa lambN m sg abs · כֶּבֶשׂ (H3532)Direct object of תָּבִיא (head of construct chain)כֶּבֶשׂ (H3532) 'lamb'; the required animal for the burnt offering, in construct with 'son of his year' specifying age. Source id 03kJL.
בֶּןson ofN m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct head, idiom of ageבֵּן (H1121) 'son'; idiomatic construct 'son of his year' = one year old. Source id 03SLq.
שְׁנָתוֹ֙his yearN f sg constr + suff 3ms · שָׁנָה (H8141)Genitive completing the age idiomשָׁנָה (H8141) 'year', with 3ms suffix; בֶּן שְׁנָתוֹ, 'a year old', the required age for the burnt-offering lamb. Source id 03W3H.
לְעֹלָ֔הfor a burnt offeringprep לְ + N f sg abs · עֹלָה (H5930)Prepositional phrase of purposeעֹלָה (H5930) 'burnt offering', from עָלָה 'to go up' — wholly consumed on the altar; the offering of consecration and worship, distinct from the purification offering. Source id 03qJ4.
וּבֶןand a youngconj וְ + N m sg constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct head continuing the offering listבֵּן (H1121) 'son (of)'; idiomatic for 'young' when in construct with a bird name (בֶּן יוֹנָה, 'young pigeon'). Source id 03aVp.
יוֹנָ֥הpigeonN f sg abs · יוֹנָה (H3123)Genitive completing the construct idiomיוֹנָה (H3123) 'dove, pigeon'; with בֶּן, a young/fledgling pigeon, the cheaper bird option alongside the turtledove. Source id 03JGF.
אוֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176) 'or'; presents the turtledove as an equally valid alternative. Source id 039aY.
תֹ֖רa turtledoveN c sg abs · תּוֹר (H8449)Second alternative direct object (with the following purpose phrase)תּוֹר (H8449) 'turtledove'; the second bird option, used again in the poverty provision of v. 8. Source id 039pt.
לְחַטָּ֑אתfor a purification offeringprep לְ + N f sg abs · חַטָּאת (H2403)Prepositional phrase of purposeחַטָּאת (H2403), from חָטָא 'to miss, sin'; despite the common gloss 'sin offering' the rite here removes ritual impurity from a natural, blameless process — 'purification offering' is the more accurate label. Source id 0324k.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase of destinationאֶל (H413) 'to'; introduces the location where the offerings are brought. Source id 031M6.
פֶּ֥תַחthe entrance ofN m sg constr · פֶּתַח (H6607)Construct head (genitival chain)פֶּתַח (H6607) 'entrance, opening'; the customary place for offerings to be presented, at the boundary of sacred space. Source id 039Dg.
אֹֽהֶלthe tent ofN m sg constr · אֹהֶל (H168)Construct head continuing the genitival chainאֹהֶל (H168) 'tent'; in construct with מוֹעֵד, the standard designation of the wilderness sanctuary. Source id 03RHw.
מוֹעֵ֖דmeetingN m sg abs · מוֹעֵד (H4150)Genitive completing the construct chainמוֹעֵד (H4150) 'appointed time/place'; אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, 'tent of meeting', the sanctuary where offerings are presented to the priest. Source id 03J9s.
אֶלtoprep · אֶל (H413)Prepositional phrase of destinationאֶל (H413) 'to'; the second half of the pair specifying the intermediary who receives the offering. Source id 03t9t.
הַכֹּהֵֽןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Object of the preposition אֶלכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; the officiant who receives and offers the sacrifices on the mother's behalf. Source id 03ZqP.
7
וְהִקְרִיב֞וֹ לִפְנֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ וְכִפֶּ֣ר עָלֶ֔יהָ וְטָהֲרָ֖ה מִמְּקֹ֣ר דָּמֶ֑יהָ זֹ֤את תּוֹרַת֙ הַיֹּלֶ֔דֶת לַזָּכָ֖ר א֥וֹ לַנְּקֵבָֽה
And he shall offer it before YHWH and make atonement for her, and she shall be clean from the source of her blood. This is the torah for her who bears, for a male or for a female.
Three verbs in sequence (offer, atone, be clean) trace the ritual to its resolution: the priest's action produces the mother's cleansing. The verse then closes with a summarizing 'torah' label (זֹאת תּוֹרַת הַיֹּלֶדֶת) typical of Levitical procedural units, folding both the son and daughter cases (vv. 2-6) under one heading before the poverty proviso of v. 8 is appended.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וְהִקְרִיב֞וֹand he shall offer itconj וְ + Hiphil weqatal 3ms + suff 3ms · קָרַב (H7126)Predicate verb (main clause, priest as subject)→ Weqatal: continuing the sequence of required ritual actsקָרַב (H7126) Hiphil 'to bring near, offer'; the priest, not the mother, performs the actual altar act, with 3ms suffix referring to the offering(s) of v. 6. Source id 038Fu.
לִפְנֵ֤יbeforeprep ל + N m pl constr · פָּנִים (H6440)Prepositional phrase of locationפָּנִים (H6440) 'face'; לִפְנֵי idiomatically 'before, in the presence of', marking the offering's presentation to YHWH. Source id 03JNs.
יְהוָה֙YHWHproper noun · יְהוָה (H3068)Object of the preposition לִפְנֵייְהוָה (H3068); the divine recipient of the offering, before whom the priest presents it. Source id 03xmF.
וְכִפֶּ֣רand he shall make atonementconj וְ + Piel weqatal 3ms · כִּפֶּר (H3722)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Weqatal: continuing the ritual sequenceכִּפֶּר (H3722) Piel 'to atone, cover, make expiation'; here removes the mother's ritual impurity rather than any moral guilt. Source id 03vVj.
עָלֶ֔יהָfor herprep עַל + suff 3fs · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase marking the beneficiaryעַל (H5921) 'on behalf of, for'; the standard construction with כִּפֶּר naming the person atoned for. Source id 03pPj.
וְטָהֲרָ֖הand she shall be cleanconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3fs · טָהֵר (H2891)Predicate verb (main clause), resolution of the ritual sequence→ Weqatal: the resulting state after atonementטָהֵר (H2891) Qal 'to be/become clean'; the positive counterpart to טָמֵא, marking the mother's return to ritual purity. Source id 03n48.
מִמְּקֹ֣רfrom the source ofprep מִן + N m sg constr · מָקוֹר (H4726)Prepositional phrase (source), construct headמָקוֹר (H4726) 'source, spring'; here a euphemism-adjacent term for the site/flow of postpartum blood, echoed in the nadah/zavah language of ch. 15. Source id 03LQQ.
דָּמֶ֑יהָher bloodN m pl constr + suff 3fs · דָּם (H1818)Genitive completing the construct chainדָּם (H1818) 'blood', plural with 3fs suffix; the physical basis of the impurity from which she is now cleansed. Source id 03nFs.
זֹ֤אתthisdem pron f sg · זֹאת (H2063)Subject of the verbless summarizing clause (cataphoric)זֹאת (H2063) 'this'; opens the closing torah-formula, as in the headings of ch. 7. Source id 03zKb.
תּוֹרַת֙the torah ofN f sg constr · תּוֹרָה (H8451)Predicate nominative (head of construct chain)תּוֹרָה (H8451) 'instruction'; the summarizing colophon labeling the whole preceding unit as a single procedural torah. Source id 03M2G.
הַיֹּלֶ֔דֶתher who bearsart + Qal ptc fs · יָלַד (H3205)Substantival participle, genitive completing the construct chain→ Participle: a durative/substantive designation, 'the one bearing/who bears'יָלַד (H3205) Qal participle fem., substantivized 'she who gives birth' — the general category this chapter's law addresses. Source id 03p7o.
לַזָּכָ֖רfor the maleprep ל + art + N m sg abs · זָכָר (H2145)Prepositional phrase of referenceזָכָר (H2145) 'male', with article and prep; recalls v. 2's case. Source id 03cvy.
א֥וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176) 'or'; joins the two cases the summarizing torah covers. Source id 03uTh.
לַנְּקֵבָֽהfor the femaleprep ל + art + N f sg abs · נְקֵבָה (H5347)Prepositional phrase of referenceנְקֵבָה (H5347) 'female', with article and prep; recalls v. 5's case, closing the colophon. Source id 0362r.
8
וְאִם לֹ֨א תִמְצָ֣א יָדָהּ֮ דֵּ֣י שֶׂה֒ וְלָקְחָ֣ה שְׁתֵּֽי תֹרִ֗ים א֤וֹ שְׁנֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יוֹנָ֔ה אֶחָ֥ד לְעֹלָ֖ה וְאֶחָ֣ד לְחַטָּ֑את וְכִפֶּ֥ר עָלֶ֛יהָ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן וְטָהֵֽרָה
But if her hand cannot reach the sufficiency of a sheep, she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and one for a purification offering, and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.
A final conditional clause appends an economic accommodation to the offering law of vv. 6-7: if a lamb is beyond her means, two birds substitute, one for each required offering. This graded provision (mirrored in 5:7 and 14:21-22) is the detail Luke 2:24 records Mary and Joseph fulfilling exactly, indicating their modest means.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
וְאִםbut ifconj וְ + conditional particle · אִם (H518)Conditional conjunction introducing the provisoאִם (H518) 'if'; introduces the economic exception clause. Source id 03XAc.
לֹ֨אnotnegative particle · לֹא (H3808)Negates the following verbלֹא (H3808), negating תִמְצָא, 'cannot reach/afford'. Source id 03XMh.
תִמְצָ֣אreachesQal impf 3fs · מָצָא (H4672)Predicate verb of the protasis→ Yiqtol: hypothetical — the condition of insufficient meansמָצָא (H4672) 'to find, reach, be sufficient'; idiomatic with יָד, 'her hand does not find/reach' = she cannot afford. Source id 03Pm6.
יָדָהּ֮her handN f sg constr + suff 3fs · יָד (H3027)Subject of תִמְצָא (idiom for means/resources)יָד (H3027) 'hand'; the idiom 'her hand does not reach' denotes insufficient economic means, common in Levitical graded provisions. Source id 03Exh.
דֵּ֣יthe sufficiency ofN m sg constr · דַּי (H1767)Construct head, object of תִמְצָאדַּי (H1767) 'sufficiency, enough'; in construct with שֶׂה, 'enough for a sheep/lamb' — the threshold she cannot meet. Source id 03Mhm.
שֶׂה֒a sheepN c sg abs · שֶׂה (H7716)Genitive completing the construct chainשֶׂה (H7716) 'sheep, lamb'; the animal required in v. 6, now the standard she may fail to meet. Source id 03k8r.
וְלָקְחָ֣הthen she shall takeconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3fs · לָקַח (H3947)Predicate verb of the apodosis→ Weqatal: apodictic consequence, the substitute action requiredלָקַח (H3947) 'to take'; the mother herself procures the substitute birds. Source id 03U2q.
שְׁתֵּֽיtwonum f dual constr · שְׁתַּיִם (H8147)Construct numeral (object of וְלָקְחָה)שְׁתַּיִם (H8147) 'two', fem. construct; specifies the paired-bird substitute. Source id 03f9x.
תֹרִ֗יםturtledovesN c pl abs · תּוֹר (H8449)Genitive completing the numeral constructתּוֹר (H8449) 'turtledove', plural; the first bird option, as in v. 6. Source id 03F3B.
א֤וֹorconj · אוֹ (H176)Disjunctive conjunctionאוֹ (H176) 'or'; joins the two bird alternatives. Source id 03u6M.
שְׁנֵי֙twonum m dual constr · שְׁנַיִם (H8147)Construct numeral, head of the second alternativeשְׁנַיִם (H8147) 'two', masc. construct; introduces the second bird pairing. Source id 03ttW.
בְּנֵ֣יyoungN m pl constr · בֵּן (H1121)Construct head continuing the idiomבֵּן (H1121) 'son(s) of'; idiomatic 'young pigeons' as in v. 6. Source id 03Not.
יוֹנָ֔הpigeonN f sg abs · יוֹנָה (H3123)Genitive completing the construct idiomיוֹנָה (H3123) 'pigeon, dove'; the second bird option, paired with תֹרִים. Source id 03QoS.
אֶחָ֥דonenum m sg abs · אֶחָד (H259)Apposition specifying the first bird's useאֶחָד (H259) 'one'; distributes the pair between the two required offerings. Source id 03MfC.
לְעֹלָ֖הfor a burnt offeringprep לְ + N f sg abs · עֹלָה (H5930)Prepositional phrase of purposeעֹלָה (H5930) 'burnt offering'; one bird now substitutes for the lamb of v. 6. Source id 03KoV.
וְאֶחָ֣דand oneconj וְ + num m sg abs · אֶחָד (H259)Apposition specifying the second bird's useאֶחָד (H259) 'one'; the second bird, for the purification offering. Source id 03592.
לְחַטָּ֑אתfor a purification offeringprep לְ + N f sg abs · חַטָּאת (H2403)Prepositional phrase of purposeחַטָּאת (H2403) 'purification offering'; identical function to v. 6, unaffected by the substitution of species. Source id 03Vfx.
וְכִפֶּ֥רand he shall make atonementconj וְ + Piel weqatal 3ms · כִּפֶּר (H3722)Predicate verb (main clause)→ Weqatal: continuing the ritual sequence to its resolutionכִּפֶּר (H3722) Piel 'to atone'; repeats v. 7's verb, confirming the substitute offering achieves the identical ritual effect. Source id 03QkU.
עָלֶ֛יהָfor herprep עַל + suff 3fs · עַל (H5921)Prepositional phrase marking the beneficiaryעַל (H5921) 'on behalf of'; as in v. 7, naming the mother as beneficiary of the atoning rite. Source id 036L9.
הַכֹּהֵ֖ןthe priestart + N m sg abs · כֹּהֵן (H3548)Subject of וְכִפֶּרכֹּהֵן (H3548) 'priest'; explicitly named as subject here (unlike v. 7's suffixed verb), closing the chapter's ritual instructions. Source id 03cpC.
וְטָהֵֽרָהand she shall be cleanconj וְ + Qal weqatal 3fs · טָהֵר (H2891)Predicate verb (main clause), final resolution→ Weqatal: the resulting state after atonement, closing the chapterטָהֵר (H2891) Qal 'to be clean'; repeats v. 7's verb, the chapter's final word confirming the mother's restored purity regardless of her economic means. Source id 032Ki.