The Meaning of Exodus 13:12 Explained

Exodus 13:12

KJV: That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD'S.

YLT: that thou hast caused every one opening a womb to pass over to Jehovah, and every firstling -- the increase of beasts which thou hast: the males are Jehovah's.

Darby: that thou shalt offer unto Jehovah all that breaketh open the womb, and every firstling that cometh of cattle which is thine: the males shall be Jehovah's.

ASV: that thou shalt set apart unto Jehovah all that openeth the womb, and every firstling which thou hast that cometh of a beast; the males shall be Jehovah's.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

That thou shalt set apart  unto the LORD  all that openeth  the matrix,  and every firstling  that cometh  of a beast  which thou hast; the males  [shall be] the LORD'S. 

What does Exodus 13:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 13:1-16 - The First-Born Set Apart Unto Jehovah
Two Hebrew customs dated from the Exodus-first, the dedication of the first-born to God's service, and second, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. See Luke 22:7. The first-born had been especially redeemed and so were especially God's. On them all was branded the one brief word Mine. What a lesson for us all who have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. We are His by right of purchase; we ought to be His by our own choice and indwelt by His Spirit. Whenever we take up this position with regard to God, we may count on His strong hand. In after years the first-born sons, who performed the priestly rites, were replaced by Levites, Numbers 3:11-13; but still they were ransomed by a slain lamb. Every first-born son lived because a lamb died. In this he stood on the same level as the firstling of an ass. What a parable is here! See Romans 3:22; Romans 10:12. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 13

1  The firstborn are sanctified to God
3  The memorial of the Passover is commanded
11  The firstborn of man and beast are set apart
17  The Israelites go out of Egypt, and carry Joseph's bones with them
20  They come to Etham
21  God guides them by a pillar of a cloud, and a pillar of fire

What do the individual words in Exodus 13:12 mean?

That you shall set apart all that open the womb to Yahweh that is every firstborn that comes from an animal which have you the males [shall be] Yahweh
וְהַעֲבַרְתָּ֥ כָל־ פֶּֽטֶר־ רֶ֖חֶם לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה וְכָל־ פֶּ֣טֶר ׀ שֶׁ֣גֶר בְּהֵמָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִהְיֶ֥ה לְךָ֛ הַזְּכָרִ֖ים לַיהוָֽה

וְהַעֲבַרְתָּ֥  That  you  shall  set  apart 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
פֶּֽטֶר־  that  open 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּטֶר 
Sense: firstborn, firstling, that which separates or first opens.
רֶ֖חֶם  the  womb 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֶחֶם  
Sense: womb.
לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה  to  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְכָל־  that  is  every 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
פֶּ֣טֶר ׀  firstborn 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּטֶר 
Sense: firstborn, firstling, that which separates or first opens.
שֶׁ֣גֶר  that  comes  from 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֶׁגֶר  
Sense: offspring, young or offspring of beasts.
בְּהֵמָ֗ה  an  animal 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: בְּהֵמָה  
Sense: beast, cattle, animal.
הַזְּכָרִ֖ים  the  males 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: זָכָר  
Sense: male (of humans and animals) adj.
לַיהוָֽה  [shall  be]  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.