Exodus 13:12

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

10Therefore, you shall keep this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year. 11“Now when the Lord brings you to the land of the Canaanite, as He swore to you and to your fathers, and gives it to you, you shall devote to the Lord the first offspring of every womb, and the first offspring of every beast that you own; the males belong to the Lord. 13But every first offspring of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. 14And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ then you shall say to him, ‘With a powerful hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery.

Exodus 13:12 word by word

וְהַעֲבַרְתָּ֥ כָל־פֶּֽטֶר־רֶ֖חֶם לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה וְכָל־פֶּ֣טֶר׀ שֶׁ֣גֶר בְּהֵמָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִהְיֶ֥ה לְךָ֛ הַזְּכָרִ֖ים לַיהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear

• devoteעָבַר‛âbar · to pass: bringH5674
• to the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• the firstפֶּ֫טֶרpeţer piţrâh · firstbornH6363
• of everyכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• wombרֶ֫חֶםrechem · wombH7358
• beastבְּהֵמָהbehêmâh · animalH929
• that you ownהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• the malesזָכָרzâkâr · maleH2145

Cross-references for Exodus 13:12

• Exodus 13:2“Sanctify to Me every firstborn, the first offspring of every womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and beast; it belongs to Me.”
• Exodus 22:29“You shall not delay the offering from your harvest and your vintage. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to Me.
• Exodus 34:19“The first offspring from every womb belongs to Me, and all your male livestock, the first offspring from cattle and sheep.
• Leviticus 27:26‘However, a firstborn among animals, which as a firstborn belongs to the Lord, no man may consecrate it; whether ox or sheep, it is the Lord’s.
• Numbers 8:17For every firstborn among the sons of Israel is Mine, among the men and among the animals; on the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for Myself.
• Numbers 18:15Every first issue of the womb of all flesh, whether man or animal, which they offer to the Lord, shall be yours; nevertheless the firstborn of man you shall surely redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.
• Deuteronomy 15:19“You shall consecrate to the Lord your God all the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock; you shall not work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.
• Ezekiel 44:30The first of all the first fruits of every kind and every contribution of every kind, from all your contributions, shall be for the priests; you shall also give to the priest the first of your dough to cause a blessing to rest on your house.
• Numbers 3:12“Now, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of every firstborn, the first issue of the womb among the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall be 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

• Firstborn
• Frontlets
• Instruction
• Israel
• Liberality
• Memorial
• Quotations and Allusions

In the dictionaries

• Consecration
• Daub
• Encamp
• Firstborn, Redemption of
• Frontlets
• Mouth
• Murmur
• Passover
• Pillar
• Repent

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