Bible Strands
Exodus 13:12
you are to present to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses instructs the Israelites in the wilderness regarding the statutes they must observe once Yahweh delivers them into the land of Canaan.
The words — The Hebrew פֶּטֶר (peṯer) identifies a firstborn offspring, explicitly coupled with רֶחֶם (reḥem, womb) to mark the first male of every mother. The verb הַעֲבַרְתָּ (haʿăḇarṯā) commands the dedication or transfer of these firstborns to Yahweh.
The thread — The text's claim on firstborns echoes Numbers 18:15, which assigns the firstborn of womb and beast to the LORD, and parallels Exodus 34:19's declaration that the first offspring of womb and livestock belongs to God. Leviticus 27:26 further reinforces this by stating that firstborn livestock already belong to Yahweh and cannot be separately consecrated.
Why it lands — The passage commands the Israelites to surrender the first male of every human and animal lineage to Yahweh as a permanent, non-negotiable claim. It establishes a structural boundary where the initial life of each generation is legally assigned to God before any other use or redemption occurs.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
That thou shalt set apart unto the Lord all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the Lord’s.
Cross-references
- Numbers 18:15 The firstborn of every womb, whether man or beast, that is offered to the LORD belongs to you. But you must surely redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals.
- Exodus 34:19 The first offspring of every womb belongs to Me, including all the firstborn males among your livestock, whether cattle or sheep.
- Leviticus 27:26 But no one may consecrate a firstborn of the livestock, because a firstborn belongs to the LORD. Whether it is an ox or a sheep, it is the LORD’s.
- Ezekiel 44:30 The best of all the firstfruits and of every contribution from all your offerings will belong to the priests. You are to give your first batch of dough to the priest, so that a blessing may rest upon your homes.
- Exodus 13:2 “Consecrate to Me every firstborn male. The firstborn from every womb among the Israelites belongs to Me, both of man and beast.”
- Exodus 22:29 You must not hold back offerings from your granaries or vats. You are to give Me the firstborn of your sons.
- Deuteronomy 15:19 You must set apart to the LORD your God every firstborn male produced by your herds and flocks. You are not to put the firstborn of your oxen to work, nor are you to shear the firstborn of your flock.
- Numbers 3:12 “Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel in place of every firstborn Israelite from the womb. The Levites belong to Me,
- Numbers 8:17 For every firstborn male in Israel is Mine, both man and beast. I set them apart for Myself on the day I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt.
- Luke 2:23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”),