Old Testament

Exodus 13:2
2“Set apart all the firstborn for me, the firstborn of every mother[] among the Israelites, both people and animals. The firstborn belongs to me.”

Footnotes

  • 13:2 Literally the opener of every womb. Jewish tradition, however, focuses more on the firstborn sons of fathers. This verse seems to be a general statement of a principle, for which details are given later. It is not clear how the principle was to be applied to flocks.