Bible Compass
Log inGet started
Back to the chapter

Numbers 18:17

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.

16 You 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.

But you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox, a sheep, or a goat; they are holy. You are to sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat as an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

18 And their meat belongs to you, just as the breast and right thigh of the wave offering belong to you.

19 All the holy offerings that the Israelites present to the LORD I give to you and to your sons and daughters as a permanent statute. It is a permanent covenant of salt before the LORD for you and your offspring.”

Read the whole chapter

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox, a sheep, or a goat; they are holy. You are to sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat as an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.
KJV
But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savour unto the LORD.
WEB
“But you shall not redeem the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat. They are holy. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar, and shall burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma to the LORD.
ASV
But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savor unto Jehovah.
DARBY
But the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat, thou shalt not ransom: they are holy. Thou shalt sprinkle their blood on the altar, and their fat shalt thou burn as an offering by fire for a sweet odour to Jehovah.
BLB
But the firstborn of a cow or the firstborn of a sheep or the firstborn of a goat you shall not redeem; they [are] holy. Their blood you shall sprinkle on the altar, and their fat you shall burn [as] a fire offering, for a pleasing aroma to YHWH.
ÅB
Men det førstefødte av kyr eller av sauer eller av geiter skal ikke løses; de er hellige; deres blod skal du sprenge på alteret, og deres fett skal du brenne som ildoffer til en velbehagelig duft for Herren.
OTB
Men den førstefødte av en ku, et får eller en geit skal du ikke løse ut; de er hellige. Stenk deres blod på alteret og brenn deres fett som et matoffer, en behagelig duft for Herren.
B1930
Men det førstefødte av kyr eller av får eller av gjeter skal ikke løses; de er hellige; deres blod skal du sprenge på alteret, og deres fett skal du brenne som ildoffer til en velbehagelig duft for Herren.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Leviticus 3:2–5

    He is to lay his hand on the head of the offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood on all sides of the altar.

    Read in context

  • Deuteronomy 15:19–22

    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.

    Read in context

  • Exodus 29:16

    You are to slaughter the ram, take its blood, and sprinkle it on all sides of the altar.

    Read in context