Leviticus 27 · Verse 26

Leviticus 27:26

Only the firstling of the beasts, which should be the Lord’s firstling, no man shall sanctify it; whether it be ox, or sheep: it is the Lord’s.
Leviticus 27:26, King James Version

Leviticus 27:26 in other translations

BSBBut no one may consecrate a firstborn of the livestock, because a firstborn belongs to the LORD. Whether it is an ox or a sheep, it is the LORD’s.
WEB“‘However the firstborn among animals, which belongs to the LORD as a firstborn, no man may dedicate, whether an ox or a sheep. It is the LORD’s.
ASVOnly the firstling among beasts, which is made a firstling to Jehovah, no man shall sanctify it; whether it be ox or sheep, it is Jehovah’s.
YLT‘Only, a firstling which is Jehovah's firstling among beasts--no man doth sanctify it, whether ox or sheep; it is Jehovah's.
DARBYOnly the firstling which is offered as firstling to Jehovah among the cattle, that shall no man hallow, whether it be ox or sheep; it is Jehovah's.
BBEBut a man may not give by oath to the Lord the first-fruits of cattle which are offered to the Lord: if it is an ox or a sheep it is the Lord's.
WebsterOnly the firstling of the beasts, which should be the LORD'S firstling, no man shall sanctify it; whether ox, or sheep: it is the LORD'S.

What does Leviticus 27:26 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Leviticus 27:26-27
26-27. Only the firstling of the beasts--These, in the case of clean beasts, being consecrated to God by a universal and standing law (Ex 13:12; 34:19), could not be devoted; and in that of unclean beasts, were subject to the rule mentioned (Le 27:11, 12).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Leviticus 27:26-33
Things or persons devoted, are distinguished from things or persons that were only sanctified. Devoted things were most holy to the Lord, and could neither be taken back nor applied to other purposes. Whatever productions they had the benefit, God must be honoured with the tenth of, if it could be applied. Thus they acknowledge God to be the Owner of their land, the Giver of its fruits, and themselves to be his tenants, and dependants upon him. Thus they gave him thanks for the plenty they enjoyed, and besought his favour in the continuance of it. We are taught to honour the Lord with our substance.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Leviticus 27:26 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אַךְ\־'akh-neverthelessH389
בְּכ֞וֹרbe.Khora firstbornH1060
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whichH834
יְבֻכַּ֤רye.vu.Karit will be born a firstlingH1069
לַֽיהוָה֙la.Yah.weh[belongs] to YahwehH3068
בִּבְהֵמָ֔הbiv.he.Mahamong livestockH929
לֹֽא\־lo'-notH3808
יַקְדִּ֥ישׁyak.Dishhe will set apart as holyH6942
אִ֖ישׁ'ishanyoneH376
אֹת֑וֹ'o.To<obj.> itH853
אִם\־'im-whetherH518
שׁ֣וֹרShoran oxH7794
אִם\־'im-orH518
שֶׂ֔הSeha sheepH7716
לַֽיהוָ֖הla.Yah.weh[belongs] to YahwehH3068
הֽוּא\׃Hu'itH1931

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Leviticus 27:26

  • Exodus 13:2

    Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Exodus 13:12-13

    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. And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.

  • Exodus 22:30

    Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the firstling. Heb. first born, etc.As these firstlings were the Lord's before, it would have been a solemn mockery to pretend to make them a matter of a singular vow; for they were already appointed, if clean, to be sacrificed.
which.
Ex 13:2,12,13; 22:30; Nu 18:17; De 15:19

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Leviticus 27:25

    And all thy estimations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs shall be the shekel.

  • Leviticus 27:26

    Only the firstling of the beasts, which should be the Lord’s firstling, no man shall sanctify it; whether it be ox, or sheep: it is the Lord’s.

  • Leviticus 27:27

    And if it be of an unclean beast, then he shall redeem it according to thine estimation, and shall add a fifth part of it thereto: or if it be not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to thy estimation.

Read all of Leviticus 27

Leviticus 27:26 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Empero el primogénito de los animales, que por la primogenitura es de Jehová, nadie lo santificará; sea buey ú oveja, de Jehová es.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Seulement, le premier-né d’entre les bêtes, qui est offert comme prémices à l’ Éternel, nul ne pourra le sanctifier: si c’est un bœuf ou un agneau, il est à l’ Éternel.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Nur das Erstgeborene unter dem Vieh, das als Erstgeburt Jehova gehört, das soll kein Mensch heiligen; sei es ein Stück Rind- oder Kleinvieh, es gehört Jehova.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Primogenita, quæ ad Dominum pertinent, nemo sanctificare poterit et vovere: sive bos, sive ovis fuerit, Domini sunt.