אַ֣ךְ בְּֽכֹור־שֹׁ֡ור אֹֽו־בְכֹ֨ור כֶּ֜שֶׂב אֹֽו־בְכֹ֥ור עֵ֛ז לֹ֥א תִפְדֶּ֖ה קֹ֣דֶשׁ הֵ֑ם אֶת־דָּמָ֞ם תִּזְרֹ֤ק עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֨חַ֙ וְאֶת־חֶלְבָּ֣ם תַּקְטִ֔יר אִשֶּׁ֛ה לְרֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹ֖חַ לַֽיהוָֽה׃
However, the firstborn of an ox, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat, you shall not redeem; they are holy. Their blood you shall sprinkle on the altar, and their fat you shall burn as an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to YHWH.
Morphology
- אַ֣ךְ (akh) – Root: אך (ʾ-kh); Form: Conjunction; Translation: “However”; Notes: Used to contrast previous instructions.
- בְּֽכֹור (be-khor) – Root: בכר (b-k-r); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “Firstborn”; Notes: Refers to the firstborn of animals.
- שֹׁ֡ור (shor) – Root: שור (sh-w-r); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “Ox”; Notes: A common domesticated animal used for sacrifice.
- אֹֽו־בְכֹ֨ור (o-v’khor) – Root: בכר (b-k-r); Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “Or the firstborn”; Notes: Indicates alternative animals.
- כֶּ֜שֶׂב (ke-sev) – Root: כשב (k-sh-b); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “Sheep”; Notes: A sacrificial animal.
- עֵ֛ז (ez) – Root: עז (ʿ-z); Form: Noun feminine singular; Translation: “Goat”; Notes: Another animal used in sacrificial offerings.
- לֹ֥א תִפְדֶּ֖ה (lo tifdeh) – Root: פדה (p-d-h); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “You shall not redeem”; Notes: Prohibition against redeeming these firstborn animals.
- קֹ֣דֶשׁ (qodesh) – Root: קדש (q-d-sh); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “Holy”; Notes: Indicates consecration to YHWH.
- הֵ֑ם (hem) – Root: הם (h-m); Form: Pronoun masculine plural; Translation: “They”; Notes: Refers to the firstborn animals.
- אֶת־דָּמָ֞ם (et-damam) – Root: דם (d-m); Form: Direct object marker + noun masculine singular construct + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “Their blood”; Notes: Blood to be sprinkled on the altar.
- תִּזְרֹ֤ק (tizroq) – Root: זרק (z-r-q); Form: Qal imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “You shall sprinkle”; Notes: Instruction for the priest.
- עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֨חַ (ʿal-ha-mizbeach) – Root: מזבח (m-z-b-ḥ); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular with definite article; Translation: “On the altar”; Notes: Specifies the location of the sprinkling.
- וְאֶת־חֶלְבָּ֣ם (ve-et-ḥelbam) – Root: חלב (ḥ-l-b); Form: Conjunction + direct object marker + noun masculine singular construct + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “And their fat”; Notes: The fat is to be burned as part of the offering.
- תַּקְטִ֔יר (taqtir) – Root: קטור (q-t-r); Form: Hifil imperfect 2nd person masculine singular; Translation: “You shall burn”; Notes: Refers to the burning of the fat as incense.
- אִשֶּׁ֛ה (isheh) – Root: אשה (ʾ-sh-h); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “Offering made by fire”; Notes: Indicates the burnt offering.
- לְרֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹ֖חַ (le-rei’ach nichoach) – Root: ריח (r-y-ḥ) + נוח (n-w-ḥ); Form: Preposition + noun masculine singular construct + adjective masculine singular; Translation: “A sweet aroma”; Notes: Describes the pleasing nature of the offering to YHWH.
- לַֽיהוָֽה (la-YHWH) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Preposition + divine name; Translation: “To YHWH”; Notes: Indicates the recipient of the offering.