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Exodus 13:12

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Exodus 13:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “that thou shalt set apart unto Jehovah all that openeth the womb, and every firstling which thou hast that cometh of a beast; the males shall be Jehovah`s.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

that thou shalt set apart unto Jehovah all that openeth the womb, and every firstling which thou hast that cometh of a beast; the males shall be Jehovah`s.
Exodus 13:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Exodus 13

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thy hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the law of Jehovah may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath Jehovah brought thee out of Egypt.
10Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.
11And it shall be, when Jehovah shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,
12that thou shalt set apart unto Jehovah all that openeth the womb, and every firstling which thou hast that cometh of a beast; the males shall be Jehovah`s.
13And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck: and all the first-born of man among thy sons shalt thou redeem.
14And it shall be, when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand Jehovah brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:
15and it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that Jehovah slew all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born of beast: therefore I sacrifice to Jehovah all that openeth the womb, being males; but all the first-born of my sons I redeem.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“That thou shalt set apart unto the Lord all that openeth the matrix, etc.] Or “the womb”, as in (<021302>Exodus 13:2), and this phrase, “set apart”, explains the word “sanctify” there, and shows that it signifies the separating of such to the use and service of God, causing it to “pass”, as the word f393 here used signifies, from a man’s own power and use, to be the Lord’s only: and every firstling that cometh from a beast which thou hast; or “even every firstling” f394, explaining what is meant by what opens the matrix or womb, even every firstborn of a beast; though Jarchi interprets it of an abortion, what comes before its time, that this also should be set apart to the Lord; this must be…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“FIRSTLINGS OF BEASTS. (Exo 13:11-16) 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 (Num 18:15).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“thou shalt: Exo 13:2, Exo 22:29, Exo 34:19; Lev 27:26; Num 8:17, Num 18:15; Deu 15:19; Eze 44:30 set apart: Heb. cause to pass over openeth: Exo 34:19; Num 3:12, Num 18:15 Exodus 13:13”
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Related study paths

Read Exodus 13 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification