^12:2“Tell the Israelites, ‘When a woman produces offspring¹ and bears a male child,² she will be unclean seven days, as she is unclean during the days of her menstruation.³^12:3On⁴ the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin⁵ must be circumcised.

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Footnotes

1 Heb “produces seed” (Hiphil of זָרַע, zara’; used only elsewhere in Gen 1:11–12 for plants “producing” their own “seed”), referring to the process of childbearing as a whole, from conception to the time of birth (H. D. Preuss, 4:144; cf. J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [], ; and J. Milgrom, Leviticus [], 1:). and have Niphal “be impregnated” (see, e.g., Num 5:28); note “If a woman have conceived seed” (cf. , , ; also , “becomes pregnant”).
2 The regulations for the “male child” in vv. 2–4 contrast with those for the “female child” in v. 5 (see the there).
3 Heb “as the days of the menstrual flow [] of her menstruating [q. inf.] she shall be unclean” (R. E. Averbeck, 1:; the verb appears only in this verse in the OT). Cf. “as in the days of her menstruation”; “during her menstrual period”; “during her monthly period.” See Lev 15:19–24 for the standard purity regulations for a woman’s menstrual period.
4 Heb “and in.…”
5 This rendering, “the flesh of his foreskin,” is literal. Based on , one could argue that the Hebrew word for “flesh” here (בָּשָׂר, basar) is euphemistic for the male genitals and therefore translate “the foreskin of his member” (see, e.g., J. Milgrom, Leviticus [], 1:). A number of English versions omit this reference to the foreskin and mention only circumcision, presumably for euphemistic reasons (cf. , , , , ).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

“Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days. As at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

“Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“Tell the Israelites: When a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to a male child, she will be unclean seven days, as she is during the days of her menstrual impurity. The flesh of his foreskin must be circumcised on the eighth day.

NLTNew Living Translation

“Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. If a woman becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son, she will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her menstrual period. On the eighth day the boy’s foreskin must be circumcised.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

“Speak to the Israelites, saying, ‘When a woman becomes pregnant and she gives birth to a male, then she shall be unclean seven days—as in the time of her menstrual bleeding, she shall become unclean. And on the eighth day his foreskin’s flesh shall be circumcised.

KJV 1900King James Version

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

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