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.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
Firstborn clean animals were brought to the sanctuary throughout the year as they were born. Exodus 13:13 and Deuteronomy 15:19-23 provide additional regulations. Unlike other sacrifices which worshippers could eat portions of, firstborn animal sacrifices gave meat to priests (verse 18), making them part of priestly support. This practice continued throughout temple periods. The prohibition against redeeming these animals (unlike unclean animals' firstborn) emphasized their complete consecration. Archaeological evidence of ancient Israelite animal husbandry confirms that cattle, sheep, and goats dominated livestock holdings, making these firstborns a substantial contribution to priestly support.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the blood and fat of firstborn animals point forward to Christ's sacrifice of His life (blood) and best (fat) for our redemption?
- What does God's 'sweet savour' pleasure in these sacrifices teach about how He receives Christ's sacrifice on our behalf?
- How should the principle of giving God firstborn clean animals—the natural increase of your flocks—inform your stewardship of income and investment returns?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
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. Unlike human firstborn (verse 15), firstborn clean animals were qodesh (קֹדֶשׁ, "holy")—consecrated for sacrifice, not redemption. The three species—cattle (shor, שׁוֹר), sheep (keseh, כֶּשֶׂב), and goats (ez, עֵז)—comprised primary sacrificial animals, representing Israel's pastoral economy.
"Thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar" followed standard sacrificial procedure—blood representing life poured out in death, applied to the altar as atonement. "Burn their fat" (helbo taqtir, חֶלְבּוֹ תַּקְטִיר) meant offering the choicest portions—internal fat, kidneys, and other organs—as smoke (isheh, אִשֶּׁה) ascending to God. "Sweet savour" (reach nichoach, רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ, literally "aroma of satisfaction") is anthropomorphic language indicating divine acceptance and pleasure in the offering.
The distinction—human firstborns redeemed, animal firstborns sacrificed—taught that acceptable substitution requires appropriate categories. Animals could substitute for humans in death because God accepted them; but only God incarnate could ultimately satisfy justice for human sin. Christ, the Lamb of God, became our firstborn sacrifice (Colossians 1:15, 18), both God and man, the only sufficient substitute.