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.
Original Language Analysis
מְלֵאָֽתְךָ֥
to offer the first of thy ripe fruits
H4395
מְלֵאָֽתְךָ֥
to offer the first of thy ripe fruits
Strong's:
H4395
Word #:
1 of 8
something fulfilled, i.e., abundance (of produce)
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
3 of 8
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תְאַחֵ֑ר
Thou shalt not delay
H309
תְאַחֵ֑ר
Thou shalt not delay
Strong's:
H309
Word #:
4 of 8
to loiter (i.e., be behind); by implication to procrastinate
בָּנֶ֖יךָ
of thy sons
H1121
בָּנֶ֖יךָ
of thy sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
6 of 8
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
Cross References
Exodus 23:16And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.Exodus 13:2Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.Exodus 23:19The 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 13:12That 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.Matthew 6:33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.James 1:18Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.Romans 8:23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.Micah 7:1Woe 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.
Historical Context
Firstfruits offering predates Sinai (Cain and Abel). Unlike pagan child sacrifice, Israel redeemed firstborn sons (Exodus 13:13, 34:20) with money or substitutionary animals. The law sanctified the principle while rejecting pagan practice.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God require firstfruits rather than allowing us to give from leftovers?
- How does giving first (before seeing the rest) demonstrate faith in God's provision?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
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.
'First of ripe fruits' (מְלֵאָתְךָ וְדִמְעֲךָ, mele'atekha vedim'akha) means 'fullness and flow'—grain harvest and wine/oil. 'Not delay' (לֹא תְאַחֵר, lo te'achar)—prompt offering shows trust in God's provision. 'Firstborn of thy sons' (בְּכוֹר בָּנֶיךָ, bekhor banekha) will be 'given' (redeemed, not sacrificed)—Israel never practiced child sacrifice (Leviticus 18:21 bans it). The principle: God gets first and best, not leftovers. This tests trust—will you give from the first without knowing if more will come? The New Testament applies this: 'seek first the kingdom' (Matthew 6:33), give 'firstfruits' (1 Corinthians 15:20, Christ; James 1:18, believers).