God’s Word Translation
Numbers 18:15
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.
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 first of all produce harvested in their land that they bring to the Lord is yours. Anyone in your household who is clean may eat it. 14“Anything in Israel that is claimed by the Lord is yours. Every 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. 16When they are one month old, you must buy them back at the fixed price of two ounces of silver, using the standard weight of the holy place. 17“But you must never buy back a firstborn ox, sheep, or goat. They are holy. Throw the blood from these animals against the altar, and burn the fat as an offering by fire, a soothing 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 is mine. The day I killed every firstborn male in Egypt, I set apart as holy every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They will be mine. I am the Lord.”
- 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 34:20It will cost you a sheep or a goat to buy back the firstborn donkey. If you don’t buy it back, then you must break the donkey’s neck. You must buy back every firstborn of your sons. “No one may come into my presence without an offering.
- 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.
- Exodus 13:13It 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.
- Leviticus 27:27But if it is an unclean animal, it must be bought back. The payment will be its full value plus one-fifth more. If it is not bought back, it must be sold at the value given it.
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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