Exodus 34 19

Exodus 34:19 kjv

All that openeth the matrix is mine; and every firstling among thy cattle, whether ox or sheep, that is male.

Exodus 34:19 nkjv

"All that open the womb are Mine, and every male firstborn among your livestock, whether ox or sheep.

Exodus 34:19 niv

"The first offspring of every womb belongs to me, including all the firstborn males of your livestock, whether from herd or flock.

Exodus 34:19 esv

All that open the womb are mine, all your male livestock, the firstborn of cow and sheep.

Exodus 34:19 nlt

"The firstborn of every animal belongs to me, including the firstborn males from your herds of cattle and your flocks of sheep and goats.

Exodus 34 verses

Exodus 34 19 Meaning

Exodus 34:19 declares God's exclusive claim of ownership over all firstborn offspring, specifically identifying the male firstlings among cattle like oxen and sheep. This verse emphasizes the divine right over life, stemming from the Passover event and reinforcing the principle that the "first" or "best" belongs to God as a token of dedication and a perpetual reminder of His saving acts and covenant relationship with Israel.

Exodus 34 19 Context

Exodus 34 details the renewal of the covenant between God and Israel after the devastating sin of the golden calf. Moses is on Mount Sinai receiving new tablets and laws from the Lord. Chapters 34:10-26 outline core stipulations of this renewed covenant, focusing on absolute loyalty to Yahweh and rejection of idolatry and Canaanite worship practices. This includes warnings against making treaties with the inhabitants of the land (vv. 12-16), a strict command against making molten gods (v. 17), and specific instructions for key annual festivals. Verse 19, particularly, is part of a series of laws reinforcing the exclusive worship of God, often referred to as the "Covenant Code." It appears alongside commands concerning the Feast of Unleavened Bread (v. 18), firstfruits (v. 26), and other significant rituals. Its placement emphasizes the foundational requirement for Israel to acknowledge God's sovereign ownership over all life as a direct consequence of His redemptive act in Egypt, where only the firstborn of Israel were spared the plague. The command for "every firstling among thy cattle" specifies clean animals, further delineating the practical application of this consecration within the Israelite economy and cult.

Exodus 34 19 Word analysis

• All that openeth the matrix (Hebrew: כָּל־פֶּטֶר רֶחֶם֙ - kol-peter rechem):

  • כָּל־ (kol-): "All" or "every." Denotes universality and completeness, underscoring God's comprehensive claim.
  • פֶּטֶר (peter): "Opening" or "that which breaks forth." Specifically refers to the first offspring that opens the mother's womb, highlighting its primary and unique status.
  • רֶחֶם֙ (rechem): "Womb" or "matrix." Refers to the uterus, emphasizing the biological origin of life under divine purview.
  • Significance: This phrase identifies the unique status of the firstborn as belonging to God because they are the "first" or "head" of the reproductive cycle, implying inherent sanctity and divine claim. It recalls the sanctity of life given by God.

• is mine (Hebrew: לִ֔י - lî):

  • לִ֔י (lî): "To me" or "mine." A direct declaration of possession by God.
  • Significance: This assertive claim signifies divine sovereignty and ownership over all life, particularly that which is "first." It’s a polemic against the polytheistic fertility cults of surrounding nations where firstborn offerings, sometimes human, were made to various deities. Here, Yahweh unequivocally asserts sole ownership. It underscores that God is the giver of all life and sustenance, and the giving of the firstborn acknowledges this truth.

• and every firstling (Hebrew: וְכָל־בְּכוֹר֙ - wəḵāl-bəḵōwr):

  • וְכָל־ (wəḵāl-): "And all" or "and every." Continues the universal scope.
  • בְּכוֹר֙ (bəḵōwr): "Firstborn" or "firstling." Reinforces the concept of primogeniture and the distinct status of the inaugural offspring.
  • Significance: While peter rechem emphasizes the initial emergence, bəḵōwr denotes the unique identity as the "first" in sequence or rank.

• among thy cattle (Hebrew: בְּהֶמְתְּךָ֖ - bəhemtek̲ā):

  • בְּהֶמְתְּךָ֖ (bəhemtek̲ā): "Of your livestock" or "among your cattle." Specifies the context of domesticated animals essential to Israel's economy and sustenance.
  • Significance: This clarifies the practical application of the command to animal life within the community, setting clear boundaries for offerings.

• whether ox or sheep, that is male. (Hebrew: שׁוֹר֙ אוֹ־שֶׂ֣ה הֽוּא׃ - šōwr ʾōw-śeh hûʾ):

  • שׁוֹר֙ (šōwr): "Ox" or "bull."
  • אוֹ־שֶׂ֣ה (ʾōw-śeh): "Or sheep/lamb." These are representative examples of clean, sacrificial animals commonly found in Israelite herds.
  • הֽוּא׃ (hûʾ): "He" or "it," signifying male.
  • Significance: This specific mention of "male" is crucial. Female firstborn animals were not claimed by God for sacrifice in the same manner. This distinction aligns with male-centric sacrificial practices and patriarchal societal norms. It underscores that God designates specific offerings, not merely any firstborn animal. This highlights God's sovereignty even in specifying the details of His requirement.

Exodus 34 19 Bonus section

The command concerning the firstborn is deeply connected to the concept of holiness in the Old Testament, where that which is "first" or "separated" belongs to God. This principle extended beyond physical firstborns to "firstfruits" of agricultural produce (Exod 23:19; Deut 26:1-11), reinforcing the idea that all provision ultimately comes from God. In the New Testament, this motif of the "firstborn" finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is called the "firstborn over all creation" (Col 1:15), signifying His unique preeminence and sovereignty, similar to God's inherent claim in Exod 34:19. Furthermore, He is the "firstborn from the dead" (Col 1:18; Rev 1:5), inaugurating the new creation and assuring resurrection for believers. In Him, God's claim over the firstborn is perfectly realized, as He perfectly dedicated Himself to the Father's will. Believers, by being united with Christ, become part of a spiritual "church of the firstborn" (Heb 12:23) and are seen as a "kind of firstfruits" of God's new creation (Jas 1:18), signifying their consecrated status and participation in Christ's inheritance. This transforms a literal covenant command into a profound spiritual reality in the new covenant.

Exodus 34 19 Commentary

Exodus 34:19 succinctly articulates a fundamental principle of the Israelite covenant: God's absolute ownership over the firstborn, a direct consequence of His saving work during the Passover. This command, delivered amidst the covenant renewal, serves as a perpetual memorial of redemption and a profound expression of devotion. "All that openeth the matrix is mine" points back to the Tenth Plague in Egypt, where God justly claimed the lives of Egypt's firstborn but spared Israel's, thereby asserting His divine authority and providing the basis for Israel's dedication of their own firstborn. The specification of male cattle (ox or sheep) provides practical instruction for applying this theological truth within their daily lives and sacrificial system. Human firstborn males were to be redeemed, typically through a payment or the dedication of the Levites, while clean male animal firstborns were to be offered as sacrifices or eaten in a sacred context. Unclean animals like the donkey were also redeemed. This law prevents the arbitrary dedication of just any animal and underscores that the "first" and "best" belong to the One who gave life. It counters any pagan notion of appeasing fertility gods by asserting that life originates from Yahweh alone, and therefore, the prime of all life is His rightful due, reflecting a deep truth about God's creative power and Israel's covenant responsibility.