King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
[And] whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they shall bring unto the LORD, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thine house shall eat [of] it.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The first produce to turn ripe of all that is in their land, which they bring to ADONAI, is to be yours; every clean person in your family may eat it.
Berean Standard Bible:
The firstfruits of everything in their land that they bring to the LORD will belong to you. Every ceremonially clean person in your household may eat them.
American Standard Version:
The first-ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring unto Jehovah, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thy house shall eat thereof.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And whatsoever is first ripe{H1061} in the land{H776}, which they shall bring{H935} unto the LORD{H3068}, shall be thine; every one that is clean{H2889} in thine house{H1004} shall eat{H398} of it.
Cross-References (KJV):
Exodus 22:29
- 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.
Micah 7:1
- ¶ Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: [there is] no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit.
Hosea 9:10
- I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: [but] they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto [that] shame; and [their] abominations were according as they loved.
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.
Jeremiah 24:2
- One basket [had] very good figs, [even] like the figs [that are] first ripe: and the other basket [had] very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Numbers 18:13
**Themes:**
- **Priestly Entitlement:** The verse emphasizes the special status and provisions for the priests (Levites) in Israelite society. They are entitled to the first fruits of the harvest as a form of divine sustenance for their service.
- **Sacred Offerings:** It reflects the practice of offering the first and best of the produce to God as an act of worship and gratitude, reinforcing the idea of God's primacy in all aspects of life.
- **Ritual Purity:** The requirement that only those who are clean can partake of the offerings underscores the importance of ritual purity in the religious life of the Israelites.
- **Divine Provision:** The verse illustrates God's provision for the priests, who were not given an inheritance of land like the other tribes, through the offerings of the people.
**Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** The book of Numbers covers the time of the Israelites' wanderings in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt, as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.
- **Priestly Code:** Numbers 18 is part of the Priestly Code, a section of the Torah that outlines laws and regulations concerning priestly duties and rights.
- **Levitical Priesthood:** At this time, the Levites were set apart as the priestly class, responsible for religious duties and sacrifices. They received no tribal land, so their livelihood depended on the offerings and tithes of the other tribes.
- **First Fruits:** The commandment to give the first ripe produce to the Lord, and hence to the priests, was a practical expression of the Israelites' covenant relationship with God, acknowledging His sovereignty and their dependence on His provision.
In summary, Numbers 18:13 is a directive that establishes the Levites' right to the first fruits of the harvest as a form of divine support, emphasizing the sanctity of agricultural offerings and the necessity of ritual purity for those who consume consecrated food. This commandment is set within the broader context of the Israelites' journey towards the Promised Land and the establishment of their religious and social structures under God's guidance.
*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: H1061
There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בִּכּוּר
Transliteration: bikkûwr
Pronunciation: bik-koor'
Description: from בָּכַר; the first-fruits of the crop; first fruit (-ripe (figuratively)), hasty fruit. - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H2889
There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: טָהוֹר
Transliteration: ṭâhôwr
Pronunciation: taw-hore'
Description: or טָהֹר; from טָהֵר; pure (in a physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense); clean, fair, pure(-ness). - Strong's Number: H1004
There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּיִת
Transliteration: bayith
Pronunciation: bah'-yith
Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). - Strong's Number: H398
There are 825 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָכַל
Transliteration: ʼâkal
Pronunciation: aw-kal'
Description: a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite.