Exodus 13:12

12 Thou shalt set apart all that openeth the womb for the Lord, and all that is first brought forth of thy cattle: whatsoever thou shalt have of the male sex, thou shalt consecrate to the Lord.

Exodus 13:12 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 13:12

That thou shalt set apart unto the Lord all that openeth the
matrix
Or "the womb", as in ( 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 ^F4 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" ^F5, 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 understood of the firstlings of clean creatures, fit for food and sacrifice, such as the firstlings of cows, sheep, and goats, ( Numbers 18:17 ) as distinguished from unclean ones in the following verse: the males [shall be] the Lord's;
which explains what sort of firstborn of man and beast were to be set apart for his use, not females, though the first that opened the womb; but males.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (trbehw) "et transire facies", Pagninus, Montanus, Fagius, Vatablus, Drusius, Cartwright; so Ainsworth.
F5 (rjp lkw) "etiam quicunque vel quicquid aperuerit", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Ainsworth.

Exodus 13:12 In-Context

10 Thou shalt keep this observance at the set time from days to days.

11 And when the Lord shall have brought thee into the land of the Chanaanite, as he swore to thee and thy fathers, and shall give it thee:

12 Thou shalt set apart all that openeth the womb for the Lord, and all that is first brought forth of thy cattle: whatsoever thou shalt have of the male sex, thou shalt consecrate to the Lord.

13 The firstborn of an ass thou shalt change for a sheep: and if thou do not redeem it, thou shalt kill it. And every firstborn of men thou shalt redeem with a price.

14 And when thy son shall ask thee to morrow, saying: What is this? thou shalt answer him: With a strong hand did the Lord bring us forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.