Exodus 22:29

29 “Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats.[a]“You must give me the firstborn of your sons.

Exodus 22:29 in Other Translations

KJV
29 Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.
ESV
29 "You shall not delay to offer from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me.
NLT
29 “You must not hold anything back when you give me offerings from your crops and your wine. “You must give me your firstborn sons.
MSG
29 "Don't be stingy as your wine vats fill up.
CSB
29 "You must not hold back [offerings from] your harvest or your vats. Give Me the firstborn of your sons.

Exodus 22:29 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 22:29

Thou shall not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits,
&c.] Which, according to Maimonides F11, were of seven kinds only; for he says,

``they do not bring the firstfruits, but of the seven kinds, said in the praise of the land, (the land of Canaan), ( Deuteronomy 8:8 ) and they are wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates;''

and how much of these were to be offered is not fixed by the law, but were left to the generosity of the people: the above mentioned writer asks F12,

``what measure do the wise men set? a good eye (or a bountiful man) brings one of forty (or the fortieth part of his fruits); a middling one (one that is neither liberal nor niggardly) brings one of fifty (or the fiftieth part); and an evil one (a covetous man) one of sixty (or the sixtieth part), but never less than that.''

Now this was not to be delayed, but to be brought as soon and as early as could be: the Jewish writers seem to understand this of postponing things, or inverting the order of them, bringing that first which should be last, and that last which should be first; so Jarchi interprets it,

``thou shall not change the order of their separation, to postpone that which should be first, and to put before that which should be last; for the first oblation should not be brought before the firstfruits, and the tithes before the first oblation.''

And thus runs one of their canons or traditions F13,

``if anyone brings the first oblation before the firstfruits, the first tithe before the first oblation, the second tithe before the first, it is as if he transgressed a negative precept: "thou shalt not delay or postpone" ( Exodus 22:29 ) ''

And of thy liquors:
and these, according to Maimonides F14, were only the firstfruits of liquors of olives and grapes:

the firstborn of thy sons thou shall give unto me;
which is a repetition of the law. (See Gill on Exodus 13:2).


FOOTNOTES:

F11 Hilchot Biccurim, c. 2. sect. 2.
F12 Hilchot Trumot, c. 3. sect. 2.
F13 Misn. Trumot, c. 3. sect. 6.
F14 Biccurim, ut supra. (F11)

Exodus 22:29 In-Context

27 because that cloak is the only covering your neighbor has. What else can they sleep in? When they cry out to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
28 “Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
29 “Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats.“You must give me the firstborn of your sons.
30 Do the same with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day.
31 “You are to be my holy people. So do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts; throw it to the dogs.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Ex 23:15,16,19; Exodus 34:20,26; Leviticus 19:24; Leviticus 23:10; Numbers 18:13; Numbers 28:26; Deuteronomy 18:4; Deuteronomy 26:2,10; 1 Samuel 6:3; Nehemiah 10:35; Proverbs 3:9; Malachi 3:10
  • 2. S Exodus 13:2; Numbers 8:16-17; Luke 2:23

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
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