God’s Word Translation
Exodus 13:12
12sacrifice every firstborn male offspring to the Lord. The firstborn male offspring of each of your animals belongs to the Lord.
Exodus 13:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)you are to give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord.
- English Standard Version (ESV)you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the Lord's.
- New King James Version (NKJV)that you shall set apart to the Lord all that open the womb, that is, every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have; the males shall be the Lord’s.
Context of Exodus 13:12
10you must follow these rules every year at this time. 11“When the Lord brings you to the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he swore to you and your ancestors, sacrifice every firstborn male offspring to the Lord. The firstborn male offspring of each of your animals belongs to the Lord. 13It will cost you a sheep or a goat to buy any firstborn donkey back from the Lord. If you don’t buy it back, then you must break the donkey’s neck. You must also buy every firstborn son back from the Lord. 14“In the future when your children ask you what this means, tell them, ‘The Lord used his mighty hand to bring us out of slavery in Egypt.
Read all of Exodus 13Exodus 13:12 word by word
וְהַעֲבַרְתָּ֥ כָל־פֶּֽטֶר־רֶ֖חֶם לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה וְכָל־פֶּ֣טֶר׀ שֶׁ֣גֶר בְּהֵמָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִהְיֶ֥ה לְךָ֛ הַזְּכָרִ֖ים לַיהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- That thou shalt set apartעָבַר‛âbar · to pass: bringH5674
- unto the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- all that openethפֶּ֫טֶרpeţer piţrâh · firstbornH6363
- the matrixרֶ֫חֶםrechem · wombH7358
- that comethשֶׁ֫גֶרsheger · offspringH7698
- of a beastבְּהֵמָהbehêmâh · animalH929
- which thou hast; the malesזָכָרzâkâr · maleH2145
Cross-references for Exodus 13:12
- Exodus 13:2“Set apart every firstborn male for me. Every firstborn male offspring among the Israelites is mine, whether human or animal.”
- Exodus 22:29“Never withhold your best wine from me. “You must give me your firstborn son.
- Exodus 34:19“Every first male offspring is mine, even the firstborn males of all your livestock, whether cattle, sheep, or goats.
- Leviticus 27:26“A firstborn animal already belongs to the Lord because it was born first. Therefore, it cannot be set apart as holy. Whether it is a bull or a sheep, it belongs to the Lord.
- Numbers 8:17Every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal, is mine. The day I killed every firstborn male in Egypt, I set them apart as holy to me.
- Numbers 18:15Every firstborn male, human or animal, that is brought to the Lord is yours. But you must buy back every firstborn son and the firstborn male of any unclean animal.
- Deuteronomy 15:19You must dedicate every firstborn male from your herds and flocks to the Lord your God. Never use a firstborn ox for work, and never shear a firstborn sheep.
- Ezekiel 44:30The priests should have the best of all the first ripened fruits. The best of every gift from all your contributions must go to the priests. The best of your dough must go to the priests. This will cause a blessing to rest on your home.
- Numbers 3:12“Out of all the Israelites, I have taken the Levites to be substitutes for every firstborn male offspring among them. The Levites are mine,
Commentaries on Exodus 13:12
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-16Verses 11-16 The firstlings of beast not used in sacrifice, were to be changed for others so used, or they were to be destroyed. Our souls are forfeited to God's justice, and unless ransomed by the sacrifice of Christ, will certainly perish. These institutions would continually remind them of their duty, to love and serve the Lord. In like manner, baptism and the Lord's supper, if explained and attended to, would remind us, and give us occasion to remind…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-16Like the Passover celebration, the dedication of the firstborn helped the people remember what God did during the Passover. God spared the firstborn sons of Israel. Because of this, those firstborn sons belonged to him and had to be redeemed (bought back with a price). Each year, the people sacrificed and ate a lamb. This act pointed forward to what God would do by giving his Son, Jesus Christ, as a substitute. All people deserve death because of sin. But…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 11-1612-13. every firstling, &c.--the injunction respecting the consecration of the first-born, as here repeated, with some additional circumstances. The firstlings of clean beasts, such as lambs, kids, and calves, if males, were to be devoted to God and employed in sacrifice. Those unclean beasts, as the ass's colt, being unfit for sacrifice, were to be redeemed (Nu 18:15).Read the comment
Topics related to Exodus 13:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Exodus 13
- 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries