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.
Parallel translations
- WEB The first fruits of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep, you shall give him.
- BSB You are to give them the firstfruits of your grain, new wine, and oil, and the first wool sheared from your flock.
- NKJV 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.
- NASB You shall give him the first fruits of your grain, your new wine, and your oil, and the first fleece of your sheep.
- NLT You must also give to the priests the first share of the grain, the new wine, the olive oil, and the wool at shearing time.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The firstfruits of grain, wine, oil, and the first wool of the flock belong to the priest. The best and first of the produce was devoted to God's servants.
Overview
Israel honored God by giving the first and finest portions of harvest and flock to support the priesthood. Offering the firstfruits expressed trust that God, who gives the first, would provide the rest. The principle of giving God the first and best of what we have remains an enduring mark of faithful worship.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Neh 12:44–47And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.
- Exod 22:29Thou 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.
- Exod 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.
- Lev 23:17Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.
- Num 18:12–24All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD, them have I given thee.
- Lev 23:10Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
- 2 Chr 31:4–10Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.
- Deut 26:9–10And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey.
- Job 21:20His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 18:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.