Luke 2:23-24

2:23 (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male ¹  will be set apart to the Lord” ² ), 2:24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves ³  or two young pigeons. ⁴ 

[2:23]  ¹ tn Grk “every male that opens the womb” (an idiom for the firstborn male).

[2:23]  ² sn An allusion to Exod 13:2, 12, 15.

[2:24]  ³ sn The offering of a pair of doves or two young pigeons, instead of a lamb, speaks of the humble roots of Jesus’ family – they apparently could not afford the expense of a lamb.

[2:24]  ⁴ sn A quotation from Lev 12:8; 5:11 (LXX).