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.

◄ Numbers 18:15 ►

New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
“The firstborn of every mother, whether human or animal, that is offered to the LORD will be yours. But you must always redeem your firstborn sons and the firstborn of ceremonially unclean animals.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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 King James Version
“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.

New American Standard Bible
Every firstborn of the womb of all flesh, whether human or animal, which they offer to the LORD, shall be yours; however you must redeem the human firstborn, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.

NASB 1995
“Every 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.

NASB 1977
“Every first issue of the womb of all flesh, whether man or animal, which they offer to the LORD, shall be yours; nevertheless the first-born of man you shall surely redeem, and the first-born of unclean animals you shall redeem.

Legacy Standard Bible
Every first issue of the womb of all flesh, whether man or animal, which they bring near to Yahweh, shall be yours; nevertheless the firstborn of man you shall surely redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.

Amplified Bible
Every firstborn of the womb of all flesh, whether it is man or animal, which they bring to the LORD, shall be yours; nevertheless, the firstborn of man you shall most certainly redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.

Christian Standard Bible
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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The firstborn of every living thing, man or animal, presented to the LORD belongs to you. But you must certainly redeem the firstborn of man, and redeem the firstborn of an unclean animal.

American Standard Version
Everything that openeth the womb, of all flesh which they offer unto Jehovah, both of man and beast shall be thine: nevertheless the first-born of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.

Contemporary English Version
The first-born son in every Israelite family, as well as the first-born males of their flocks and herds, belong to me. But every first-born son and first-born donkey must be bought back from me.

English Revised Version
Every thing that openeth the womb, of all flesh which they offer unto the LORD, both of man and beast, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
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.

Good News Translation
"Every first-born child or animal that the Israelites present to me belongs to you. But you must accept payment to buy back every first-born child, and must also accept payment for every first-born animal that is ritually unclean.

International Standard Version
Everything that opens the womb, any living thing that they bring to the LORD—whether from human beings or animals—are for you. Just be sure that you redeem the firstborn of people and the firstborn of unclean animals.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
The firstborn of every womb which they present to the LORD, whether human or animal, will be yours. Nevertheless, the firstborn sons you must redeem, and the firstborn males of unclean animals you must redeem.

New Heart English Bible
Everything that opens the womb, of all flesh which they offer to the LORD, both of man and animal shall be yours: nevertheless you shall surely redeem the firstborn of man, and you shall redeem the firstborn of unclean animals.

Webster's Bible Translation
Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring to the LORD, whether of men or beast, shall be thine: nevertheless, the first born of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.

World English Bible
Everything that opens the womb, of all flesh which they offer to Yahweh, both of man and animal, shall be yours. Nevertheless, you shall surely redeem the firstborn of man, and you shall redeem the firstborn of unclean animals.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
everyone opening a womb of all flesh which they bring near to YHWH, among man and among beast, is yours; only, you certainly ransom the firstborn of man, and you ransom the firstling of the unclean beast.

Young's Literal Translation
every one opening a womb of all flesh which they bring near to Jehovah, among man and among beast, is thine; only, thou dost certainly ransom the first-born of man, and the firstling of the unclean beast thou dost ransom.

Smith's Literal Translation
Every thing cleaving the womb for all flesh, which they shall bring to Jehovah, in man or in cattle, shall be to thee: but redeeming, thou shalt redeem the first-born of man, and the firstborn of unclean cattle thou shalt redeem.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Whatsoever is firstborn of all flesh, which they offer to the Lord, whether it be of men, or of beasts, shall belong to thee: only for the firstborn of man thou shalt take a price, and every beast that is unclean thou shalt cause to be redeemed,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Whatever goes out first from the womb, of all flesh, which they offer to the Lord, whether from men or from cattle, shall be your right; yet only in so far as, for the firstborn of man, you shall accept a price. And every animal that is unclean you shall cause to be redeemed.

New American Bible
Every living thing that opens the womb, human being and beast alike, such as are to be offered to the LORD, shall be yours; but you must redeem the firstborn of human beings, as well as redeem the firstborn of unclean animals.

New Revised Standard Version
The first issue of the womb of all creatures, human and animal, which is offered to the LORD, shall be yours; but the firstborn of human beings you shall redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Everything that opens the womb of all flesh which they offer to the LORD, whether it be of man or beasts, shall be yours; nevertheless the first-born of man shall you surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shall you redeem.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And everything opening a womb of all flesh that they bring to LORD JEHOVAH, of man and of beast, it shall be yours; however you shall certainly redeem the firstborn of man and you shall redeem the firstborn of unclean beasts.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Every thing that openeth the womb, of all flesh which they offer unto the LORD, both of man and beast, shall be thine; howbeit the first-born of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And every thing that opens the womb of all flesh, whatsoever they bring to the Lord, whether man or beast, shall be thine: only the first-born of men shall be surely redeemed, and thou shalt redeem the first-born of unclean cattle.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Offerings for Priests and Levites
…14Every devoted thing in Israel belongs to you. 15The 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. 16You are to pay the redemption price for a month-old male according to your valuation: five shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel, which is twenty gerahs.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

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 13:12-13
you are to present to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD. / You must redeem every firstborn donkey with a lamb, and if you do not redeem it, you are to break its neck. And every firstborn of your sons you must redeem.

Leviticus 27:26-27
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. / But if it is among the unclean animals, then he may redeem it according to your valuation and add a fifth of its value. If it is not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to your valuation.

Deuteronomy 15:19
You must set apart to the LORD your God every firstborn male produced by your herds and flocks. You are not to put the firstborn of your oxen to work, nor are you to shear the firstborn of your flock.

Deuteronomy 12:6
To that place you are to bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and heave offerings, your vow offerings and freewill offerings, as well as the firstborn of your herds and flocks.

Deuteronomy 12:17
Within your gates you must not eat the tithe of your grain or new wine or oil, the firstborn of your herds or flocks, any of the offerings that you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts.

Deuteronomy 14:23
And you are to eat a tenth of your grain, new wine, and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks, in the presence of the LORD your God at the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.

Deuteronomy 14:28-29
At the end of every three years, bring a tenth of all your produce for that year and lay it up within your gates. / Then the Levite (because he has no portion or inheritance among you), the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow within your gates may come and eat and be satisfied. And the LORD your God will bless you in all the work of your hands.

1 Samuel 1:24-28
Once she had weaned him, Hannah took the boy with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. Though the boy was still young, she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. / And when they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli. / “Please, my lord,” said Hannah, “as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. ...

2 Chronicles 31:6
And the Israelites and Judahites who lived in the cities of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things consecrated to the LORD their God, and they laid them in large heaps.

Nehemiah 10:36
And we will bring the firstborn of our sons and our livestock, as it is written in the Law, and will bring the firstborn of our herds and flocks to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God.

Luke 2:22-24
And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord / (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”), / and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

Matthew 1:25
But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a Son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.

Luke 2:7
And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Romans 8:29
For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

Treasury of Scripture

Every thing that opens the matrix in all flesh, which they bring to the LORD, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be yours: nevertheless the firstborn of man shall you surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shall you redeem.

openeth

Numbers 3:13
Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.

Exodus 13:2,12
Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine…

Exodus 22:29
Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.

the firstborn

Exodus 13:13
And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.

Exodus 34:20
But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.

Leviticus 27:27
And if it be of an unclean beast, then he shall redeem it according to thine estimation, and shall add a fifth part of it thereto: or if it be not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to thy estimation.

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Numbers 18

1. The charge of the priests and Levites
8. The priests, portion
21. The Levites,
25. The heave offering to the priests out of the Levites' portion

Berean Study Bible

The first offspring of every womb
This phrase refers to the principle of the firstborn, which holds significant importance in biblical tradition. In Hebrew culture, the firstborn male was often seen as the primary heir and held a special place in the family. The Hebrew word for "firstborn" is "bekor," which signifies primacy and preeminence. This concept is deeply rooted in the history of Israel, as seen in the Passover event where the firstborn of Egypt were struck down, but the firstborn of Israel were spared. This act of divine deliverance established the firstborn as belonging to God, a theme that is reiterated in this verse.

whether man or beast
This phrase emphasizes the inclusivity of the command, extending the principle of the firstborn to both humans and animals. In ancient Israel, livestock was a crucial part of the economy and daily life, and the firstborn of the animals were considered sacred to the Lord. The Hebrew word for "beast" is "behemah," which generally refers to domesticated animals. This inclusion underscores the comprehensive nature of God's claim over all creation, reflecting His sovereignty and the people's dependence on Him for sustenance and prosperity.

presented to the LORD
The act of presenting the firstborn to the Lord is an acknowledgment of His ultimate ownership and authority. The Hebrew verb "qarab," meaning "to bring near" or "to present," is used here, indicating an offering or dedication to God. This presentation is an act of worship and obedience, recognizing God's provision and blessing. It also serves as a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and His people, where the Israelites are called to live in faithfulness and gratitude.

belongs to you
In this context, "you" refers to the priests, specifically the descendants of Aaron, who were given the responsibility of serving in the tabernacle and later the temple. The Hebrew word "lak" is a possessive pronoun, indicating that the firstborn offerings are designated for the priests. This provision underscores the support system established by God for the Levitical priesthood, ensuring that those who minister before Him are sustained by the offerings of the people. It highlights the interdependence within the community of faith, where the spiritual leaders are cared for by the contributions of the congregation.

But you must redeem
The concept of redemption is central to this phrase, with the Hebrew word "padah" meaning "to ransom" or "to buy back." In the case of the firstborn sons and unclean animals, a redemption price was to be paid instead of offering them directly. This practice points to the value and sanctity of human life and the recognition of certain animals as unfit for sacrifice. Redemption serves as a powerful symbol of God's grace and mercy, foreshadowing the ultimate redemption through Jesus Christ, who paid the price for humanity's sins.

every firstborn son
The specific mention of "firstborn son" highlights the importance of human life and the special status of the firstborn male in Israelite society. The redemption of the firstborn son is a reminder of the deliverance from Egypt, where God spared the firstborn of Israel. This act of redemption is a tangible expression of gratitude and acknowledgment of God's saving power. It also serves as a continual reminder of the covenant relationship and the responsibilities that come with being God's chosen people.

and every firstborn of unclean animals
Unclean animals, according to Levitical law, were not suitable for sacrifice. The Hebrew term "tame" refers to that which is ritually impure. The redemption of these animals, rather than their sacrifice, underscores the importance of maintaining purity in worship and the sacrificial system. It also reflects God's provision for His people, allowing them to retain valuable resources while still honoring their obligations to Him. This practice reinforces the principle of holiness and the need for discernment in offering what is acceptable to the Lord.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(15) Every thing that openeth the matrix . . . --(See Leviticus 27:6; Leviticus 27:26-27.) Five shekels was the redemption-price paid for each of the firstborn who were not redeemed by the Levites (Numbers 3:47).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

The firstborn
פֶּ֣טֶר (pe·ṭer)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6363: That which separates or first opens

of every
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

womb,
בָּשָׂ֞ר (bā·śār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man

whether
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

man
בָּאָדָ֥ם (bā·’ā·ḏām)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

or beast,
וּבַבְּהֵמָ֖ה (ū·ḇab·bə·hê·māh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 929: A dumb beast, any large quadruped, animal

that is offered
יַקְרִ֧יבוּ (yaq·rî·ḇū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7126: To come near, approach

to the LORD
לַֽיהוָ֛ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

belongs to you.
יִֽהְיֶה־ (yih·yeh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

But
אַ֣ךְ ׀ (’aḵ)
Adverb
Strong's 389: A particle of affirmation, surely

you must surely redeem
פָּדֹ֣ה (pā·ḏōh)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 6299: To sever, ransom, gener, to release, preserve

every firstborn
בְּכ֣וֹר (bə·ḵō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief

son
הָֽאָדָ֔ם (hā·’ā·ḏām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

[and]
תִּפְדֶּֽה׃ (tip̄·deh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6299: To sever, ransom, gener, to release, preserve

every firstborn male
בְּכֽוֹר־ (bə·ḵō·wr-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief

of unclean
הַטְּמֵאָ֖ה (haṭ·ṭə·mê·’āh)
Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 2931: Unclean

animals.
הַבְּהֵמָ֥ה (hab·bə·hê·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 929: A dumb beast, any large quadruped, animal

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OT Law: Numbers 18:15 Everything that opens the womb of all (Nu Num.)