The Meaning of Deuteronomy 18:4 Explained

Deuteronomy 18:4

KJV: The firstfruit also of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him.

YLT: the first of thy corn, of thy new wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy flock, thou dost give to him;

Darby: The firstfruits also of thy corn, of thy new wine, and of thine oil, and the firstfruits of the shearing of thy sheep, shalt thou give him;

ASV: The first-fruits of thy grain, of thy new wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The firstfruit  [also] of thy corn,  of thy wine,  and of thine oil,  and the first  of the fleece  of thy sheep,  shalt thou give  him. 

What does Deuteronomy 18:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 18:1-22 - The Prophet Who Was To Come
Those that serve the altar may live by the altar. Let us not forget the needs of those who serve us in holy things. It is a blessed thing when an individual desires "the place that the Lord chooses." Let us be true to the inner prompting, at whatever cost. We shall be fully repaid. When Peter loaned his boat Jesus returned it, filled with fish!
We are to be "perfect with the Lord"-i.e., we are not knowingly to permit things that hurt or grieve His Holy Spirit. If the question should arise, how we are to know God's way, we must take our question to the true Prophet. See Acts 3:22; Acts 7:37. He can answer our hard question; but we are strictly forbidden to go to crystal-gazers, palmists, fortune-tellers, and those who profess to read the future. How serious is their fault who refuse Him! Compare Deuteronomy 18:19 with Hebrews 10:28-29. Let thy Urim and Thummim be with the Holy One! 1 Samuel 23:11-12; 1 Samuel 30:7-8. [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 18

1  The LORD is the priests and Levites' inheritance
3  The priests' due
6  The Levites' portion
9  The abominations of the nations are to be avoided
15  Christ the Prophet is to be heard
20  The presumptuous prophet is to die

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 18:4 mean?

The firstfruits of your grain and your new wine and your oil and the first of the fleece of your sheep you shall give him
רֵאשִׁ֨ית דְּגָֽנְךָ֜ תִּֽירֹשְׁךָ֣ וְיִצְהָרֶ֗ךָ וְרֵאשִׁ֛ית גֵּ֥ז צֹאנְךָ֖ תִּתֶּן־ לּֽוֹ

רֵאשִׁ֨ית  The  firstfruits 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: רֵאשִׁית  
Sense: first, beginning, best, chief.
דְּגָֽנְךָ֜  of  your  grain 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּגָן  
Sense: wheat, cereal, grain, corn.
תִּֽירֹשְׁךָ֣  and  your  new  wine 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יָרַשׁ 
Sense: wine, fresh or new wine, must, freshly pressed wine.
וְיִצְהָרֶ֗ךָ  and  your  oil 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יִצְהָר  
Sense: fresh oil, shining (pure) oil.
וְרֵאשִׁ֛ית  and  the  first 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: רֵאשִׁית  
Sense: first, beginning, best, chief.
גֵּ֥ז  of  the  fleece 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: גֵּז  
Sense: a shearing, mowing.
צֹאנְךָ֖  of  your  sheep 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: צֹאן  
Sense: small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks.
תִּתֶּן־  you  shall  give 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.