The Meaning of Numbers 18:15 Explained

Numbers 18:15

KJV: Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the LORD, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.

YLT: every one opening a womb of all flesh which they bring near to Jehovah, among man and among beast, is thine; only, thou dost certainly ransom the first-born of man, and the firstling of the unclean beast thou dost ransom.

Darby: Everything that breaketh open the womb of all flesh, which they present to Jehovah, of men or of beasts, shall be thine; nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou in any case ransom, and the firstborn of unclean beasts shalt thou ransom.

ASV: Everything that openeth the womb, of all flesh which they offer unto Jehovah, both of man and beast shall be thine: nevertheless the first-born of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Every thing that openeth  the matrix  in all flesh,  which they bring  unto the LORD,  [whether it be] of men  or beasts,  shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn  of man  shalt thou surely  redeem,  and the firstling  of unclean  beasts  shalt thou redeem. 

What does Numbers 18:15 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Numbers 18

1  The charge of the priests and Levites
8  The priests, portion
21  The Levites,
25  The heave offering to the priests out of the Levites' portion

What do the individual words in Numbers 18:15 mean?

Everything that first opens the womb of all flesh which they bring to Yahweh whether man or beast shall be yours nevertheless surely you shall redeem - the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals unclean you shall redeem
כָּל־ פֶּ֣טֶר רֶ֠חֶם לְֽכָל־ בָּשָׂ֞ר אֲשֶׁר־ יַקְרִ֧יבוּ לַֽיהוָ֛ה בָּאָדָ֥ם וּבַבְּהֵמָ֖ה יִֽהְיֶה־ לָּ֑ךְ אַ֣ךְ ׀ פָּדֹ֣ה תִפְדֶּ֗ה אֵ֚ת בְּכ֣וֹר הָֽאָדָ֔ם וְאֵ֛ת בְּכֽוֹר־ הַבְּהֵמָ֥ה הַטְּמֵאָ֖ה תִּפְדֶּֽה

כָּל־  Everything 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
פֶּ֣טֶר  that  first  opens 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּטֶר 
Sense: firstborn, firstling, that which separates or first opens.
רֶ֠חֶם  the  womb 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֶחֶם  
Sense: womb.
לְֽכָל־  of  all 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
בָּשָׂ֞ר  flesh 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בָּשָׂר  
Sense: flesh.
יַקְרִ֧יבוּ  they  bring 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: קָרַב  
Sense: to come near, approach, enter into, draw near.
לַֽיהוָ֛ה  to  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
בָּאָדָ֥ם  whether  man 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
וּבַבְּהֵמָ֖ה  or  beast 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: בְּהֵמָה  
Sense: beast, cattle, animal.
יִֽהְיֶה־  shall  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לָּ֑ךְ  yours 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
אַ֣ךְ ׀  nevertheless 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַךְ  
Sense: indeed, surely (emphatic).
פָּדֹ֣ה  surely 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: פָּדָה  
Sense: to ransom, redeem, rescue, deliver.
תִפְדֶּ֗ה  you  shall  redeem 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: פָּדָה  
Sense: to ransom, redeem, rescue, deliver.
אֵ֚ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
בְּכ֣וֹר  the  firstborn 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בְּכֹר  
Sense: firstborn, firstling.
הָֽאָדָ֔ם  of  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
בְּכֽוֹר־  the  firstborn 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בְּכֹר  
Sense: firstborn, firstling.
הַבְּהֵמָ֥ה  of  animals 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: בְּהֵמָה  
Sense: beast, cattle, animal.
הַטְּמֵאָ֖ה  unclean 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: טָמֵא  
Sense: unclean, impure.
תִּפְדֶּֽה  you  shall  redeem 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: פָּדָה  
Sense: to ransom, redeem, rescue, deliver.