Numbers 18:17

17 But you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox, a sheep, or a goat; they are holy. You are to splatter their blood on the altar and burn their fat as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Numbers 18:17 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 18:17

But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or
the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem
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 ( 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;
as the fat of other sacrifices was, and particularly of the peace offerings, which were wholly eaten otherwise, ( Leviticus 7:31 ) .

Numbers 18:17 In-Context

15 The firstborn of every womb, whether man or beast, that is offered to the LORD belongs to you. But you must surely redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals.

16 You are to pay the redemption price for a month-old male according to your valuation: five shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel, which is twenty gerahs.

17 But you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox, a sheep, or a goat; they are holy. You are to splatter their blood on the altar and burn their fat as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

18 And their meat belongs to you, just as the breast and right thigh of the wave offering belong to you.

19 All the holy offerings that the Israelites present to the LORD I give to you and to your sons and daughters as a permanent statute. It is a permanent covenant of salt before the LORD for you and your offspring.”