Exodus 13:2

“Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, etc.] That is, of males, as the Targum of Jonathan adds, for those, and not females, were only either sacrificed or redeemed, (see <021312>Exodus 13:12), and this sanctification of them to the Lord signifies the separation or devoting of them to the service of God; if the firstborn of clean creatures they were to be sacrificed, if unclean to be redeemed with a price, and so the firstborn of men, because it was not lawful to sacrifice them; and the money for the redemption of them was given to the priests, the ministers of the Lord, and so to him; who these first, born were is further explained: whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both…”

“Sanctify unto me - The command is addressed to Moses. It was to declare the will of God that all firstborn were to be consecrated to Him, set apart from all other creatures. The command is expressly based upon the Passover. The firstborn exempt from the destruction became in a new and special sense the exclusive property of the Lord: the firstborn of man as His ministers, the firstborn of cattle as victims. In lieu of the firstborn of men the Levites were devoted to the temple services. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Sanctify to me all the first - born - The parents were not to look upon themselves as interested in their first - born, till they had first solemnly presented them to God, and received them back from him again. It is mine - By a special right, being by my singular favour preserved from the common destruction. Exodus 13:5”

“Sanctify: The word kadash is to consecrate, separate, and set apart a person or thing from all common or secular purposes to some religious use; and exactly answers to the Greek αγιαζω, from α, privative, and γη, the earth; because everything offered or consecrated to God was separated from all earthly uses. Exo 13:12-15, Exo 4:22, Exo 22:29, Exo 22:30, Exo 23:19, Exo 34:19, Exo 34:20; Lev 27:26; Num 3:13, Num 8:16, Num 8:17; Num 18:15; Deu 15:19; Luk 2:23; Heb 12:23 Exodus 13:3”