Christian Standard Bible
Numbers 18:15
15The firstborn of every living thing, human or animal, presented to the Lord belongs to you. But you must certainly redeem a human firstborn, and redeem the firstborn of an unclean animal.
Numbers 18:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)The first offspring of every womb, both human and animal, that is offered to the Lord is yours. But you must redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Everything that opens the womb of all flesh, whether man or beast, which they offer to the Lord, shall be yours. Nevertheless, the firstborn of man you shall redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Everything that first opens the womb of all flesh, which they bring to the Lord, whether man or beast, shall be yours; nevertheless the firstborn of man you shall surely redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.
Context of Numbers 18:15
13The firstfruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to the Lord, belong to you. Every clean person in your house may eat them. 14“Everything in Israel that is permanently dedicated to the Lord belongs to you. The firstborn of every living thing, human or animal, presented to the Lord belongs to you. But you must certainly redeem a human firstborn, and redeem the firstborn of an unclean animal. 16You will pay the redemption price for a month-old male according to your assessment: five shekels of silver by the standard sanctuary shekel, which is twenty gerahs. 17“However, you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox, a sheep, or a goat; they are holy. You are to splatter their blood on the altar and burn their fat as a food offering for a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
Read all of Numbers 18Numbers 18:15 word by word
כָּל־פֶּ֣טֶר רֶ֠חֶם לְֽכָל־בָּשָׂ֞ר אֲשֶׁר־יַקְרִ֧יבוּ לַֽיהוָ֛ה בָּאָדָ֥ם וּבַבְּהֵמָ֖ה יִֽהְיֶה־לָּ֑ךְ אַ֣ךְ׀ פָּדֹ֣ה תִפְדֶּ֗ה אֵ֚ת בְּכ֣וֹר הָֽאָדָ֔ם וְאֵ֛ת בְּכֽוֹר־הַבְּהֵמָ֥ה הַטְּמֵאָ֖ה תִּפְדֶּֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Every thing that openethפֶּ֫טֶרpeţer piţrâh · firstbornH6363
- the matrixרֶ֫חֶםrechem · wombH7358
- in all fleshבָּשָׂרbâώâr · fleshH1320
- which they bringקָרַבqârab · to present: bringH7126
- unto the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- of menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- or beastsבְּהֵמָהbehêmâh · animalH929
- shall be thine: nevertheless the firstbornבְּכוֹרbekôr · firstbornH1060
- shalt thou surelyפָּדָהpâdâh · to ransomH6299
- of uncleanטָמֵאţâmê' · uncleanH2931
Cross-references for Numbers 18:15
- Numbers 3:13because every firstborn belongs to me. At the time I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated every firstborn in Israel to myself, both man and animal. They are mine; I am the Lord.”
- Exodus 13:2“Consecrate every firstborn male to me, the firstborn from every womb among the Israelites, both man and domestic animal; it is mine.”
- Exodus 22:29“You must not hold back offerings from your harvest or your vats. Give me the firstborn of your sons.
- Exodus 34:20You may redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a sheep, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. No one is to appear before me empty-handed.
- Leviticus 27:26“But no one can consecrate a firstborn of the livestock, whether an animal from the herd or flock, to the Lord, because a firstborn already belongs to the Lord.
- Exodus 13:13You must redeem every firstborn of a donkey with a flock animal, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. However, you must redeem every firstborn among your sons.
- Leviticus 27:27If it is one of the unclean livestock, it can be ransomed according to your assessment by adding a fifth of its value to it. If it is not redeemed, it can be sold according to your assessment.
Commentaries on Numbers 18:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15The first-born of man - and the firstling of unclean beasts - Thus vain man is ranked with the beasts that perish; and with the worst kinds of them too, those deemed unclean.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Surely redeem redeem - A stronger expression is intentionally used in reference to the redemption of the first-born of man than in reference to that of unclean beasts. For the rule as to the former admitted of no exception: the owner of the latter, if unwilling to redeem, might destroy the beasts. Compare the marginal references.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-19Verses 8-19 All believers are spiritual priests, and God has promised to take care of them. Godliness has the promise of the life that now is. And from the provision here made for the priests, the apostle shows that it is the duty of christian churches to maintain their ministers. Scandalous maintenance makes scandalous ministers. The priests were to be wholly devoted to their ministry, not diverted from it, or disturbed in it, by worldly care or…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-16The Lord supported the Hebrew priests and their families from the offerings set aside for him. The priests received firstborn animal offerings and the redemption fee for Israel’s firstborn sons. People had to redeem both firstborn sons and the offspring of unclean animals with a silver fee, since they could not sacrifice either one (see 3:13, 40–51; Exodus 13:2).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 8-208-13. the Lord spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge of my heave offerings--A recapitulation is made in this passage of certain perquisites specially appropriated to the maintenance of the priests. They were parts of the votive and freewill offerings, including both meat and bread, wine and oil, and the first-fruits, which formed a large and valuable item.Read the comment
Topics related to Numbers 18:15
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Numbers 18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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