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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God addresses Moses and Aaron, assigning the priestly tribe of Levi their portion and operational duties among the Israelite camp.

The words — The Hebrew peṭer reḥem ("firstborn of a womb") and yakriḇū ("they will bring near") designate the consecration of offspring and livestock presented to Yahweh.

The thread — This command echoes the consecration of firstborn males in Exodus 13:2 and Exodus 13:12, while the redemption procedure aligns with the lamb-for-donkey substitution in Exodus 34:20.

Why it lands — The text requires the Levites to claim the designated firstborns but mandates a monetary redemption for sons and unclean animals rather than their direct sacrifice.

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

כָּל־kol-every פֶּ֣טֶרPe.terfirstborn of רֶ֠חֶםRe.chema womb לְֽכָל־le./kholof/ all בָּשָׂ֞רba.Sarflesh אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-which יַקְרִ֧יבוּyak.Ri.vuthey will bring near לַֽיהוָ֛הla./Yah.wehto/ Yahweh בָּאָדָ֥םba./'a.Damamong <the>/ humankind וּבַבְּהֵמָ֖הu./va./be.he.Mahand/ among <the>/ animal[s]יִֽהְיֶה־yih.yeh-it will belongלָּ֑ךְLa/khto <the>/ youאַ֣ךְ׀'akhonly פָּדֹ֣הpa.Dohcertainly <to redeem>תִפְדֶּ֗הtif.Dehyou will redeem אֵ֚ת'et<obj.>בְּכ֣וֹרbe.Khor[the] firstborn of הָֽאָדָ֔םha./'a.Dam<the>/ humankind וְאֵ֛תve./'Etand/ <obj.>בְּכֽוֹר־be.khor-[the] firstborn of הַבְּהֵמָ֥הha./be.he.Mah<the>/ animal[s]הַטְּמֵאָ֖הha./te.me.'Ah<the>/ unclean תִּפְדֶּֽה׃tif.Dehyou will redeem

King James Version

Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the Lord, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.

Cross-references

Exodus 34:20 You must redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a lamb; but if you do not redeem it, you are to break its neck. You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. No one shall appear before Me empty-handed.
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 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 22:29 You must not hold back offerings from your granaries or vats. You are to give Me the firstborn of your sons.
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.
Numbers 3:13 for all the firstborn are Mine. On the day I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They are Mine; I am the LORD.”
Numbers 3:46 To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites,