What women must do after giving birth

1The LORD told Moses 2to say to the community of Israel:

If a woman gives birth to a son, she is unclean for seven days, just as she is during her monthly period. 3Her son must be circumcised on the eighth day,12.3: Gn 17.12; Lk 2.21. 4but her loss of blood keeps her from being completely clean for another thirty-three days. During this time she must not touch anything holy or go to the place of worship. 5Any woman who gives birth to a daughter is unclean for two weeks, just as she is during her period. And she won't be completely clean for another sixty-six days.

6When the mother has completed her time of cleansing, she must come to the front of the sacred tent and bring to the priest a year-old lamb as a sacrifice to please me12.6 sacrifice to please me: See the note at 1.1-3. and a dove or a pigeon as a sacrifice for sin. 7After the priest offers the sacrifices to me, the mother will become completely clean from her loss of blood, whether her child is a boy or a girl. 8If she cannot afford a lamb, she can offer two doves or two pigeons, one as a sacrifice to please me and the other as a sacrifice for sin.12.8: Lk 2.24.