What Does Exodus 13:2 Mean in the King James?
Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The first opening is claimed as God’s: the first life is already set apart before it can be treated as possession.
THE MEANING
Here, the firstborn, human or animal, is marked as God’s own at the moment of the womb’s first opening. “It is mine” states this belonging before any later use, achievement, or claim of ownership.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that a beginning belongs to whoever produces or possesses it; the verse names a prior claim.
THE ROOT
פֶּטֶר
peṭer
GROWS FROM
פ־ט־ר
p-t-r
To release or let go; the noun can name an opening or first issue.
“openeth” in this verse is peṭer. The Hebrew phrase names the womb’s first issue with peter, from the same root whose verbal forms can mean release or dismiss. English preserves the birth event; the Hebrew root also carries the sense of what is released into the world.
ALSO GROWS
pāṭar: Release, dismiss, let go.
פָּטַר
This verbal branch shares the seed of release with the womb-opening named here.
peṭer: Opening, first issue.
פֶּטֶר
This is the word used for what first emerges from the womb, marking the beginning to which the claim applies.
בְּכוֹר
bekhor
GROWS FROM
ב־כ־ר
b-k-r
To be first or early; the first yield.
The root family holds firstborn and firstfruits together: both name what comes first as a yield. The verse’s claim therefore reaches beyond birth order to the first emergence itself.
ALSO GROWS
bikkurim: Firstfruits, the first yield.
בִּכּוּרִים
This branch shows that the root also names the first produce, connecting a first child with the first yield of a season.
bekhorah: Birthright, the status of the firstborn.
בְּכֹרָה
This branch shows how being first carries a distinct place and claim within the family.
קַדֶּשׁ
qaddesh
GROWS FROM
ק־ד־ש
q-d-sh
Set apart, dedicate to a distinct belonging.
“sanctify” in this verse is qaddesh. The root joins the act of setting apart with the state of being set apart. What is claimed here is not merely noticed as first; it is marked for God’s own belonging.
ALSO GROWS
qadosh: Set apart.
קָדוֹשׁ
This branch describes the state of the firstborn after being marked as belonging to God.
qodesh: Set-apartness, sacredness.
קֹדֶשׁ
This branch names the distinct status created by the act of setting apart.
THE PATTERN
The first yield is marked as belonging to God before it enters ordinary use.
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.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.(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)THE THREAD
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.Its Hebrew repeats the seeds behind “firstborn” and “sanctify”: ב־כ־ר (b-k-r), first yield, and ק־ד־ש (q-d-sh), setting apart. The parallel makes this belonging visible in the first yield of the herd, which is not put to ordinary use.
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