Leviticus 27:26

WEB

"'Only the firstborn among animals, which is made a firstborn to the Lord, no man may dedicate it; whether an ox or sheep, it is the Lord's.

KJV

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.

Commentary

Only the firstlings of the beasts,.... These are excepted from being sanctified, or set apart for sacred uses, for a very good reason, suggested in the next clause: whi ch should be the Lord's firstling, no man shall sanctify it; it being what he has a claim upon, and ordered to be sanctified to him by a law previous to this, Exo 13:2 ; wherefore to sanctify such a creature, would be to sanctify what was his before; not merely in a general sense, in which all creatures are his, but in a special sense, having in a peculiar manner required it as his; and therefore to sanctify, or vow to him, what was his before, must be trifling with him, and mocking of him: whether it be ox, or sheep; the firstlings of either of them: it is the Lord's; which he has claimed as his own special and peculiar property, antecedent to any vow of its owner.