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; they [are] holy: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn their fat [for] an offering made by fire, for a sweet savour unto the LORD.

But the firstling {H1060} of a cow {H7794}, or the firstling {H1060} of a sheep {H3775}, or the firstling {H1060} of a goat {H5795}, thou shalt not redeem {H6299}; they are holy {H6944}: thou shalt sprinkle {H2236} their blood {H1818} upon the altar {H4196}, and shalt burn {H6999} their fat {H2459} for an offering made by fire {H801}, for a sweet {H5207} savour {H7381} unto the LORD {H3068}.

But the firstborn of an ox, sheep or goat you are not to redeem; they are holy - you are to splash their blood against the altar and make their fat go up in smoke as an offering made by fire, as a fragrant aroma for ADONAI.

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

But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savor unto Jehovah.

Commentary

Numbers 18:17 is part of a larger section in the book of Numbers that details the specific duties, responsibilities, and provisions for the Levitical priests and the tribe of Levi. This particular verse focuses on the unique status of certain firstborn animals designated for sacrifice.

Context of Numbers 18:17

Chapter 18 of Numbers primarily outlines the sacred duties and the divine provisions for the priests (descendants of Aaron) and the Levites. God specifies what portions of offerings and tithes belong to them as their inheritance, since they received no territorial inheritance in the land of Canaan. Within this framework, verses 15-18 deal with the consecration of the firstborn. While the firstborn of humans and unclean animals could be redeemed (bought back or substituted), the firstborn of clean animals—specifically a cow, sheep, or goat—were uniquely set apart for the Lord. They were not to be redeemed but were to be sacrificed directly.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Ownership and Consecration: The verse powerfully emphasizes God's claim on the "first" (Hebrew: bekhor) of all things. These firstborn animals were intrinsically holy to the Lord and could not be bought back or substituted. This signifies God's absolute right to what is consecrated to Him.
  • Sacrifice and Atonement: The instruction to "sprinkle their blood upon the altar" and "burn their fat" points to the sacrificial system's core purpose. Blood represented life and was central to atonement, while the burning of fat was considered the best part, offered wholly to God, producing a "sweet savour" (Leviticus 3:16).
  • Priestly Role: These instructions were given directly to Aaron and his sons, underscoring their exclusive role in mediating between God and the people through these prescribed rituals.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "sweet savour" (Hebrew: reah nihoah) indicates an aroma that is pleasing or acceptable to the Lord. It signifies God's acceptance and approval of the offering, implying that the sacrifice was performed according to His will and was effective in its purpose. This concept is beautifully echoed in the New Testament regarding Christ's sacrifice as a sweet-smelling savour to God.

Practical Application

While the Old Testament sacrificial system has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the principles behind Numbers 18:17 remain relevant. It teaches us about:

  • Giving Our Best: Just as the firstborn of clean animals were irreplaceable and wholly devoted to God, we are called to give our "firstfruits" and our best to the Lord, whether it be our time, talents, or resources (Proverbs 3:9).
  • The Sanctity of Consecration: What is set apart for God is holy and should be treated with reverence. This applies to our lives, our worship, and our commitments to Him.
  • The Perfect Sacrifice: Ultimately, these animal sacrifices foreshadowed the perfect, unblemished sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who, as the Lamb of God, offered Himself once for all, not to be redeemed, but to fully atone for our sins.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 15:19

    ¶ All the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock, nor shear the firstling of thy sheep.

  • Deuteronomy 15:22

    Thou shalt eat it within thy gates: the unclean and the clean [person shall eat it] alike, as the roebuck, and as the hart.

  • Exodus 29:16

    And thou shalt slay the ram, and thou shalt take his blood, and sprinkle [it] round about upon the altar.

  • Leviticus 3:2

    And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.

  • Leviticus 3:5

    And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which [is] upon the wood that [is] on the fire: [it is] an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
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