Numbers 18 15

Numbers 18:15 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.

Numbers 18:15 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.

Numbers 18:15 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.

Numbers 18:15 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.

Numbers 18:15 nlt

"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.

Numbers 18 verses

Numbers 18 15 Meaning

Numbers 18:15 establishes God's universal claim over all firstborn, whether human or animal, consecrating them to the Lord. These consecrated firstborn, specifically clean animals, are then assigned as a sacred provision for the priests. However, the firstborn of humans and those of unclean animals are distinctly exempted from literal dedication and must instead be "surely redeemed" or ransomed by a payment, underscoring God's ultimate ownership while simultaneously valuing and preserving life, especially human life.

Numbers 18 15 Context

Numbers chapter 18 comprehensively details the roles, responsibilities, and provisions for the Aaronic priesthood and the Levites. Following the divine judgment against Korah's rebellion, which challenged the unique authority of Aaron's lineage, this chapter reaffirms God's choice and safeguards the sanctuary service by establishing distinct boundaries and privileges. Verse 15 is specifically part of the section outlining the consecrated gifts and offerings designated by the Lord for the sustenance of the priests and Levites. It reinforces the ancient Mosaic law concerning the firstborn, a foundational element of Israel's covenant relationship, which served as a perpetual reminder of God's deliverance during the Passover and His supreme claim over all life in Israel.

Numbers 18 15 Word analysis

• Everything that opens the womb (כֹּל פֶּטֶר רֶחֶם - kol peter rechem): This precise Hebrew phrase refers to the first male offspring of any living creature. It signifies God's proprietorial claim over the "first and best" of creation, symbolizing life and fruitfulness. It underscores the concept of divine ownership over all initial fertility.

• All flesh (כָּל בָּשָׂר - kol basar): This denotes the universal scope of the law, applying to humans and all kinds of animals. It highlights God's sovereignty over the entirety of the created order, encompassing every living thing possessed by the Israelites.

• Whether man or beast (בָּאָדָם וּבַבְּהֵמָה - ba'adam u'ba'bhemah): Explicitly delineates the two primary categories subject to this law. This distinction is crucial for understanding the subsequent differential treatment in terms of redemption or literal offering.

• Which they offer to the Lord (אֲשֶׁר יַקְרִיבוּ לַיהוָה - asher yakrivu l'Yahweh): This highlights the human act of presenting or bringing near. It underscores that while God claims these as His, Israel's obedience involves an intentional act of consecration and dedication in acknowledgment of that divine claim.

• Shall be yours (לְךָ יִהְיֶה - lekhah yihyeh): This directs the disposition of the firstborn clean animals. It signifies God’s direct provision for Aaron and his descendants, establishing their divinely appointed portion and highlighting their dependence on God's gifts channeled through the community's offerings.

• Nevertheless (אַךְ - akh): A strong adversative particle, translated as "but" or "only." It introduces a critical limitation or exception to the general rule stated before it, serving as a significant turning point in the verse's stipulations.

• The firstborn of man (בְּכוֹר הָאָדָם - bekhor ha'adam): Specifies humanity's firstborn male. Their special status as beings made in God's image prevents literal sacrifice, emphasizing the sanctity of human life above all else.

• You shall surely redeem (פָּדֹה תִּפְדֶּה - padoh tifdeh): This emphatic Hebrew construction, formed by the infinitive absolute followed by the finite verb, stresses the absolute imperative and certainty of redemption. It's a non-negotiable command, not an option, highlighting the binding nature of the transaction.

• Firstborn of unclean animals (וּבְכוֹר בְּהֵמָה הַטְּמֵאָה - u'b'khor behemah ha'teme'ah): This designates a second category requiring redemption. Unclean animals could not be sacrificed or eaten according to the Law, hence their firstborn could not be offered on the altar. They also needed to be redeemed, by paying their monetary value or by a suitable clean animal replacement.

• "Everything that opens the womb... shall be yours": This phrase encompasses God’s comprehensive right to the "firstfruits" of fertility, reflecting an ancient covenant principle. This right is fulfilled through the community's presentation of these items to the priesthood, ensuring divine provision for those who serve at the tabernacle and upholding the established divine order.

• "The firstborn of man you shall surely redeem": This command profoundly differentiates Israelite worship from pagan practices that sometimes involved child sacrifice. By demanding redemption rather than actual offering of a human life, the Law underscores the sanctity and intrinsic value of human life in God’s eyes. This emphasizes a principle of substitution and monetary exchange for life.

• "And the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem": This specific instruction reinforces the critical cultic distinction between clean and unclean creatures. As unclean animals were ritually unfit for sacrifice or priestly consumption, their firstborn could not be dedicated directly. Therefore, they too required monetary redemption, preserving the purity of the sacred offerings and contributing to the priestly livelihood.

Numbers 18 15 Bonus section

The institution of redeeming the firstborn served as a vital, tangible pedagogical tool for the Israelites. It ingrained in every family the constant remembrance of the Passover narrative, ensuring that God's gracious act of sparing Israel's firstborn would be perpetuated through generations. Every redemption fee paid at the sanctuary connected them directly to their national salvation history. Furthermore, the very concept of "redemption" in the Old Testament, exemplified by the price paid for a human firstborn, set the stage for understanding the ultimate divine redemption. It foreshadowed the infinitely precious price of Jesus Christ, God's true "Firstborn" (Rom 8:29; Col 1:15), who offered His own life as the perfect, sufficient ransom (1 Pet 1:18-19) to redeem not just an earthly life but eternal souls from sin and death, thereby fulfilling the ultimate spiritual truth pointed to by this Old Testament shadow.

Numbers 18 15 Commentary

Numbers 18:15 clarifies God's overarching claim on the firstborn of all living beings, both human and animal. This directive echoes and reiterates earlier foundational laws given at the Exodus, particularly concerning the Passover, where God preserved Israel's firstborn from death. The purpose of these laws was twofold: to establish a remembrance of God's powerful deliverance and to underscore His ultimate ownership of all life. While the firstborn of clean, sacrificially acceptable animals were directly given to the priests for sustenance, human firstborn and the firstborn of ceremonially unclean animals were expressly mandated for "sure redemption" through payment. This vital distinction demonstrated God's abhorrence for child sacrifice, common in surrounding pagan cultures, and upheld the sacredness of human life. It simultaneously provided a regulated system of provision for the Levites and priests, enabling them to fulfill their sanctuary duties without having an inheritance of land. The act of redemption, therefore, symbolizes not only God’s sovereign right and provision but also His covenantal mercy that accepts a substitutionary payment in place of a direct sacrifice for certain precious or unsuitable things.