The Greek noun neossos (ฮฝฮตฮฟฯฯฯฯ) means a young bird, a nestling, a chick still in the nest. It appears in the NT only in Luke 2:24, where Joseph and Mary bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons (neossous) as the offering for Mary's purification and Jesus' presentation at the Temple โ the offering prescribed for those who cannot afford a lamb (Leviticus 12:8).
Luke 2:24 is a Christological and socio-economic moment of great weight: the family offering neossous โ the poor family's offering โ reveals that the Son of God entered the world in poverty. This is the theology of Philippians 2:7-8 in practice: He who is rich "became poor" (2 Corinthians 8:9), identifying completely with those at the economic margins of His society.
The neossos offering also echoes Psalm 84:3: "Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest (neossia) for herself... near your altar, LORD Almighty, my King and my God.\” The baby birds nesting near God's altar become a type of the humble worshipers who find their home in God's presence. Jesus presented with a nestling offering is Himself the one who will say: "How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings" (Matthew 23:37).