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All the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock you shall sanctify to Yahweh your God: you shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.

Verse Takeaways

1

Recognizing God's Ownership

Commentators explain that to "sanctify" the firstborn didn't mean making a special vow for it, but rather recognizing that it already belonged to God from birth. The commands not to work the animal or shear its wool were the practical ways Israelites acknowledged God's pre-existing ownership over the best of their increase.

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Book Overview

Deuteronomy

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Commentaries

5

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes

On Deuteronomy 15:19–23

18th Century

Theologian

Compare to Exodus 13:11 and following. The directions of the preceding legislation (see Numbers 18:15 and following) are here assumed, with the inj…

Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott

On Deuteronomy 15:19

19th Century

Bishop

All the firstling males... you shall sanctifythat is, recognize them as the property of Jehovah by not using them for ordinary…

John Calvin

John Calvin

On Deuteronomy 15:19

16th Century

Theologian

All the firstborn males. Another caution is added, that they should make no profit from the firstborn; for they might have used the labor …

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John Gill

John Gill

On Deuteronomy 15:19

17th Century

Pastor

All the firstling males that come of your herd, or of your
flock, you shall sanctify unto the Lord your …

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry

On Deuteronomy 15:19–23

17th Century

Minister

Here is instruction on what to do with the firstlings. We are not now limited as the Israelites were; we make no difference between a first calf, o…