King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And [whether it be] cow or ewe, ye shall not kill it and her young both in one day.
Complete Jewish Bible:
However, no animal is to be slaughtered together with its young on the same day, neither cow nor ewe.
Berean Standard Bible:
But you must not slaughter an ox or a sheep on the same day as its young.
American Standard Version:
And whether it be cow or ewe, ye shall not kill it and its young both in one day.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And whether it be cow{H7794} or ewe{H7716}, ye shall not kill{H7819} it and her young{H1121} both in one{H259} day{H3117}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 22:6
- If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, [whether they be] young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young:
Deuteronomy 22:7
- [But] thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and [that] thou mayest prolong [thy] days.
Deuteronomy 14:21
- Ye shall not eat [of] any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that [is] in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.
Exodus 23:19
- The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.
Exodus 34:26
- The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Leviticus 22:28
Leviticus 22:28 is part of the Holiness Code in the Book of Leviticus, which contains regulations primarily for the priests of Israel regarding sacred worship and practices. The verse specifically addresses the treatment of animals, prohibiting the practice of killing a cow or a ewe (a female sheep) and its young on the same day. This commandment is an expression of the ethical and moral principles that permeate the Mosaic Law, emphasizing compassion and stewardship over creation.
In the historical context, the Israelites were a pastoral people for whom livestock was both a source of sustenance and a form of wealth. The law given in Leviticus 22:28 would have served to prevent unnecessary cruelty and to instill a sense of responsibility towards animals, reflecting a broader theme of maintaining the balance and harmony of the created order. It also underscores the value of life, teaching the Israelites to respect the natural processes of life and death.
The theme of this verse aligns with other ancient Near Eastern practices that had prohibitions against harming pregnant animals or their young, though the specificity and the rationale in Leviticus are distinctly Israelite, rooted in their unique covenantal relationship with God. By avoiding the slaughter of both parent and offspring on the same day, the Israelites were to acknowledge the importance of continuity and the sanctity of life as part of their religious observance and daily living. This commandment, therefore, is not only about animal welfare but also about cultivating a disposition of mercy and thoughtfulness among the people, qualities that were to characterize their interactions with all aspects of God's creation.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H7794
There are 69 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׁוֹר
Transliteration: shôwr
Pronunciation: shore
Description: from שׁוּר; a bullock (as a traveller); bull(-ock), cow, ox, wall (by mistake for שׁוּר). - Strong's Number: H7716
There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֶׂה
Transliteration: seh
Pronunciation: seh
Description: or שֵׂי; probably from שָׁאָה through the idea of pushing out to graze; a member of a flock, i.e. a sheep or goat; (lesser, small) cattle, ewe, goat, lamb, sheep. Compare זֶה. - Strong's Number: H7819
There are 70 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁחַט
Transliteration: shâchaṭ
Pronunciation: shaw-khat'
Description: a primitive root; to slaughter (in sacrifice or massacre); kill, offer, shoot out, slay, slaughter. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H259
There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶחָד
Transliteration: ʼechâd
Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together, - Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.