Nehemiah 10:36

And we will bring the firstborn of our sons and our livestock, as it is written in the Law, and will bring the firstborn of our herds and flocks to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The returned exiles and community leaders formally pledge this commitment to God and the assembled congregation after rebuilding Jerusalem's walls.

The words — בְּכֹר֤וֹת (be.kho.Rot) denotes [the] firstborn<s> of, while כַּ/כָּת֖וּב (ka./ka.Tuv) and בַּ/תּוֹרָ֑ה (ba./to.Rah) specify the action is bound by what is written in the law.

The thread — This mandate echoes the consecration commands in Exodus 13:2, Exodus 13:12, and Leviticus 27:26, and sits within Nehemiah's broader covenant list on firstfruits and tithes in Nehemiah 10:35 and 10:37.

Why it lands — The text requires the community to physically deliver designated firstborn sons and livestock to the temple priests as a non-negotiable legal obligation.

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

וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>בְּכֹר֤וֹתbe.kho.Rot[the] firstborn<s> of בָּנֵ֙ינוּ֙ba.Nei./nusons/ our וּבְהֶמְתֵּ֔ינוּu./ve.hem.Tei./nuand/ cattle/ our כַּכָּת֖וּבka./ka.Tuvaccording to <the>/ [what] is written בַּתּוֹרָ֑הba./to.Rahin the/ law וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>בְּכוֹרֵ֨יbe.kho.Rei[the] firstborn<s> of בְקָרֵ֜ינוּve.ka.Rei./nuherds/ our וְצֹאנֵ֗ינוּve./tzo.Nei./nuand/ flocks/ our לְהָבִיא֙le./ha.Vi'to/ bring לְבֵ֣יתle./Veitto/ [the] house of אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ'e.lo.Hei./nuGod/ our לַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔יםla./Ko.ha.Nimto the/ priests הַמְשָׁרְתִ֖יםha/m.sha.re.Timwho/ serve בְּבֵ֥יתbe./Veitin/ [the] house of אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃'e.lo.Hei./nuGod/ our

King James Version

Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God:

Cross-references

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.”
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.
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.
Exodus 34:19 The first offspring of every womb belongs to Me, including all the firstborn males among your livestock, whether cattle or sheep.
Numbers 18:9 A portion of the most holy offerings reserved from the fire will be yours. From all the offerings they render to Me as most holy offerings, whether grain offerings or sin offerings or guilt offerings, that part belongs to you and your sons.
Deuteronomy 12:6 To that place you are to bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and heave offerings, your vow offerings and freewill offerings, as well as the firstborn of your herds and flocks.
1 Corinthians 9:6 Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living?
Galatians 6:6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word must share in all good things with his instructor.