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Numbers 18:17

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 18:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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.
Numbers 18:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 18

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14Everything devoted in Israel shall be thine.
15Everything that openeth the womb, of all flesh which they offer unto Jehovah, both of man and beast shall be thine: nevertheless the first-born of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.
16And those that are to be redeemed of them from a month old shalt thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary (the same is twenty gerahs).
17But 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.
18And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave-breast and as the right thigh, it shall be thine.
19All the heave-offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto Jehovah, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, as a portion for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before Jehovah unto thee and to thy seed with thee.
20And Jehovah said unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any portion among them: I am thy portion and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.
← Numbers 18:16Numbers 18:18 →
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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
“But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem, etc.] That is, shalt not take the redemption price for them, but the creatures themselves; which they, the priests, were to take for their own use: they [are] holy; separated to the Lord, and therefore not to be used in common by men, but were sacred to the Lord, or became the property of his priests; (see <051519>Deuteronomy 15:19); how they were to be made use of follows: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar; for they were to be sacrificed, and their blood used as in other sacrifices: and shalt burn their fat [for] an offering made by fire; for a sweet savour unto the Lord;…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Holy - Namely, in a peculiar manner, consecrated to an holy use, even to be sacrificed to God. Deu 15:19. Numbers 18:18”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the firstling: Deu 15:19-22 thou shalt: Exo 29:16; Lev 3:2-5 Numbers 18:18”
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Related study paths

Read Numbers 18 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification