Exodus 13:12

12 thou shalt separate to the Lord all thing (of male kind) that (first) openeth the womb, and that that is first in thy beasts (thou shalt set aside for the Lord all the males who first openeth the womb, and all the males that be first in thy beasts); whatever thing thou hast of male kind, thou shalt hallow it 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 such a worshipping in time ordained, from days into days, that is, from year into year. (Thou shalt keep this rite in the time ordained, that is, from year to year.)

11 And when the Lord hath brought thee into the land of Canaanites, as he swore to thee, and to thy fathers, and hath given it to thee,

12 thou shalt separate to the Lord all thing (of male kind) that (first) openeth the womb, and that that is first in thy beasts (thou shalt set aside for the Lord all the males who first openeth the womb, and all the males that be first in thy beasts); whatever thing thou hast of male kind, thou shalt hallow it to the Lord.

13 Thou shalt (ex)change the first engendered of an ass for a sheep, that if thou again-buyest it not, thou shalt slay it; forsooth thou shalt again-buy with price all the first begotten of a man of thy sons. (Thou shalt exchange the first-born of a donkey for a sheep, and if thou buyest it not back, then thou shalt kill it; but thou must buy back all thy first-born sons.)

14 And when thy son shall ask thee tomorrow, and say, What is this? thou shalt answer to him, In a strong hand the Lord led us out of the land of Egypt, of the house of servage (By a strong hand the Lord led us out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of servitude, or of slavery);