Deuteronomy 15:19

The Firstborn Animals

19 Set apart for the LORD your God every firstborn male of your herds and flocks. Do not put the firstborn of your cows to work, and do not shear the firstborn of your sheep.

Deuteronomy 15:19 in Other Translations

KJV
19 All the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock, nor shear the firstling of thy sheep.
ESV
19 "All the firstborn males that are born of your herd and flock you shall dedicate to the LORD your God. You shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.
NLT
19 “You must set aside for the LORD your God all the firstborn males from your flocks and herds. Do not use the firstborn of your herds to work your fields, and do not shear the firstborn of your flocks.
MSG
19 Consecrate to God, your God, all the firstborn males in your herds and flocks. Don't use the firstborn from your herds as work animals; don't shear the firstborn from your flocks.
CSB
19 "You must consecrate to the Lord your God every firstborn male produced by your herd and flock. You are not to put the firstborn of your oxen to work or shear the firstborn of your flock.

Deuteronomy 15:19 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 15:19

All the firstling males that come of thy herd, or of thy
flock, thou shalt sanctify unto the Lord thy God
According to the law in ( Exodus 13:2 Exodus 13:12 Exodus 13:13 ) . (See Gill on Exodus 13:2); (See Gill on Exodus 13:12); (See Gill on Exodus 13:13);

thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock:
as to plough or tread out the corn with it, which were done with other heifers:

nor shear the firstling of thy sheep;
nor was the wool shorn of it to be made use of; one of the Jewish canons runs thus,

``if any man weave an hand's breadth of the wool of a firstling into cloth, the cloth is to be burnt F12.''


FOOTNOTES:

F12 Misn. Orlah, c. 3. sect. 3.

Deuteronomy 15:19 In-Context

17 then take an awl and push it through his earlobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your female servant.
18 Do not consider it a hardship to set your servant free, because their service to you these six years has been worth twice as much as that of a hired hand. And the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do.
19 Set apart for the LORD your God every firstborn male of your herds and flocks. Do not put the firstborn of your cows to work, and do not shear the firstborn of your sheep.
20 Each year you and your family are to eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose.
21 If an animal has a defect, is lame or blind, or has any serious flaw, you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

Cross References 4

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