The Definition of the word Birth

Birth

As soon as a child was born it was washed, and rubbed with salt "(Ezek. 16:4), and then swathed with bandages (Job 38:9; Luke" "2:7, 12). A Hebrew mother remained forty days in seclusion after" "the birth of a son, and after the birth of a daughter double" that number of days. At the close of that period she entered into the tabernacle or temple and offered up a sacrifice of purification (Lev. 12:1-8; Luke 2:22). A son was circumcised on "the eighth day after his birth, being thereby consecrated to God" (Gen. 17:10-12; comp. Rom. 4:11). Seasons of misfortune are "likened to the pains of a woman in travail, and seasons of" prosperity to the joy that succeeds child-birth (Isa. 13:8; Jer. "4:31; John 16:21, 22). The natural birth is referred to as the" "emblem of the new birth (John 3:3-8; Gal. 6:15; Titus 3:5," etc.).