Numbers 15:21 — Word Study
WLCמֵרֵאשִׁית֙ עֲרִסֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם תִּתְּנ֥וּ לַיהוָ֖ה תְּרוּמָ֑ה לְדֹרֹ֖תֵיכֶֽם׃ ס
BSAThroughout your generationsdôwr [to your descendants, in your generations] you are to givenâthan▸ [offer, set apart] the LORDYᵉhôvâh [Yehovah, the supreme God] an offeringtᵉrûwmâh [contribution, heave offering] from the firstrêʼshîyth [beginning, initial part] of your doughʻărîyçâh [coarse meal, mixture of flour and water]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| מֵרֵאשִׁית֙ | some of [the] first of | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct |
| עֲרִסֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם | dough your | Noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
| תִּתְּנ֥וּ | you will give | Verb, Qal, imperfect second person masculine plural |
| לַיהוָ֖ה | to Yahweh | Preposition, noun proper |
| תְּרוּמָ֑ה | a contribution | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| לְדֹרֹ֖תֵיכֶֽם׃ ס | to generations your | Preposition, noun common feminine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Throughout your generations, you are to give the LORD an offering from the first of your dough. |
| KJV | Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the LORD an heave offering in your generations. |
| ASV | Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto Jehovah a heave-offering throughout your generations. |
| YLT | Of the beginning of your dough ye do give to Jehovah a heave-offering — to your generations. |
| WEB | Of the first of your dough, you shall give to Yahweh a wave offering throughout your generations. |
| BBE | From generation to generation you are to give to the Lord a lifted offering from the first of your rough meal. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of תְּרוּמָה — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause is clear, with additional phrases providing context about the offering and its recipients.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Cambridge, Whedon & more — read them ›
clause
verbנָתַן
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Numbers 15:21
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Instructions for Offeringsgenerated
Numbers 15:21 provides a directive for the Israelites to give an offering to the LORD from the first of their dough, emphasizing the importance of dedicating the best of their produce to God. This instruction is part of a broader set of laws concerning offerings and sacrifices, highlighting the relationship between the people and their God, and the need for reverence in their worship.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Numbers 18:26 | “Speak to the Levites and tell them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe that I have given you as your inheritance, you must present part of it as an offering to the LORD—a tithe of the tithe. |
| 2 | Exodus 29:28 | This will belong to Aaron and his sons as a regular portion from the Israelites, for it is the heave offering the Israelites will make to the LORD from their peace offerings. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 2 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מֵרֵאשִׁית, me.re.Shitgenerated
The noun רֵאשִׁית (re'shiyth) means 'beginning' or 'chief', derived from a root that signifies 'first'. It indicates the initial part of something, such as the firstfruits of a harvest, which are considered the best.
In this verse, מֵרֵאשִׁית emphasizes that the offering should come from the best part of the dough, underscoring the principle of giving God the first and foremost of what one has.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the term first for מֵרֵאשִׁית, in agreement with the KJV, ASV, and YLT.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb תִּתְּנ֥וּ (ti.te.Nu), meaning 'you will give', governs the object תְּרוּמָ֑ה (te.ru.Mah), which is the offering to be given to the LORD. The structure is straightforward, with a clear subject-verb-object order.
The prepositional phrases clarify the relationship of the offering to both the dough and the generations, emphasizing that this is a command for all future generations.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates מֵרֵאשִׁית as ἀπαρξὴν (aparchēn), which also conveys the meaning of 'first' or 'beginning'. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew, maintaining the focus on the initial part of the dough.
The translation of תְּרוּמָה as ἀφαίρεμα suggests a contribution that is lifted up or separated for sacred use, reinforcing the idea of dedicating something valuable to God.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Numbers 15:21 instructs the Israelites to give an offering from the first part of their dough to the LORD. This emphasizes the importance of giving God the best of what they produce, a principle that applies to their worship and sacrifices.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means to dedicate the best and first part of what you produce to God, showing reverence and priority in your offerings.
Giving to the LORD is a way to honor Him and acknowledge His provision in our lives.
While the specific practice may differ, the principle of giving God our best and prioritizing Him in our lives remains relevant.
Other offerings included grain offerings, peace offerings, and sin offerings, each with specific instructions and significance.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does giving the first part of something mean in your life today?
- How can you prioritize God in your offerings and contributions?
- In what ways do you see the principle of giving God your best reflected in your daily life?
- What other forms of worship or offering can you practice to honor God?
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Numbers 15:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleOf the first of your dough shall ye give unto the Lord,.... As an acknowledgment of his being the sovereign Lord and possessor of heaven and earth, and of his being the owner and proprietor of the
Read John Gill on Numbers 15 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryOf the first of your dough ye shall give unto the LORD an heave offering in your generations. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Read Robert Jamieson on Numbers 15 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges17–21. The offering of ‘the first of ‘arîsôth.’ The law deals with some species of meal-offering. But the meaning of ‘arîsôth (R.V. ‘dough,’ marg. ‘coarse meal’) is obscure. It occurs elsewhere only in Ezekiel 44:30, Nehemiah 10:37. A similar word ‘arsân in Talmudic writings denotes ‘a porridge or paste made from the meal of barley or wheat,’ which was said to be good for invalids and infants.
Read Cambridge on Numbers 15 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the BibleALTAR RITUAL, Numbers 15:1-29.The chief peculiarity of this supplement is, that it is not to be obligatory in the wilderness, but in the land of your habitations, that is, Canaan.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Numbers 15 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Throughout your generations, you are to give the LORD an offering from the first of your dough.
Of the first of your dough, you shall give to Yahweh a wave offering throughout your generations.
Throughout your generations, you are to give the LORD an offering from the first of your dough.
You must give to the Lord some of the first of your finely ground flour as a raised offering in your future generations.
Tyndale line
Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the LORD an heave offering in your generations.
Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto Jehovah a heave-offering throughout your generations.
Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the LORD an heave offering throughout your generations.
Of the first of your dough ye shall give to the LORD a heave-offering in your generations.
Of the first of your dowe ye shall giue vnto the Lord an heaue offring in your generations.
Strictly literal
Of the first of your dough ye shall give to Jehovah a heave-offering throughout your generations.
Of the beginning of your dough ye do give to Jehovah a heave-offering — to your generations.
You give to YHWH from the first of your dough [as] a raised-offering throughout your generations.
Of the first of your doughs shall ye give unto the Lord a heave-offering, in your generations.
You must give to me a raised offering throughout your people's generations from the first of your dough.
From the Latin
So also shall you give firstfruits of your dough to the Lord.
Simplified
For all future generations, you are to give the Lord an offering from the first of your flour.
From generation to generation you are to give to the Lord a lifted offering from the first of your rough meal.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree, with five of the six words matching. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs in one word, using עריסתיכם for 'your dough', but the overall meaning remains consistent across these texts.
מֵרֵאשִׁית֙ עֲרִסֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם תִּתְּנ֥וּ לַיהוָ֖ה תְּרוּמָ֑ה לְדֹרֹ֖תֵיכֶֽם׃ ס
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
מראשׁית עריסתיכם תתנו ליהוה תרומה לדרתיכם
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: עריסתיכם (dough)
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Numbers 15:21
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
רֵאשִׁית (re'shiyth) means 'beginning' or 'chief.' It is derived from a root meaning 'first' and covers concepts like the first in time, order, or rank, including firstfruits. The entries consistently emphasize its meanings related to primacy and importance.
רֵאשִׁית n.f. beginning, chief
beginning
first
first, chief
base
H7225 רֵאשִׁית beginning, chief . . beginning
. first
. first, chief
7225 re'shiyth ray-sheeth'
from the same as 7218; the first, in place, time, order or
rank (specifically, a firstfruit):--beginning, chief(-est),
first(-fruits, part, time), principal thing.
see HEBREW for 07218
רֵאשִׁית (re.shit) — first: beginning.
: beginning
1) first, beginning, best, chief
1a) beginning
1b) first
1c) chief
1d) choice part
Also means: re.shit (רֵאשִׁית ": best" H7225H)
רֵאשִׁית (re.shit) — first: best.
: best
1) first, beginning, best, chief
1a) beginning
1b) first
1c) chief
1d) choice part
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular constructHR/Ncfsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
עֲרִיסָה (ariycah) refers to dough or coarse meal, with its meaning being somewhat uncertain. It is derived from an unused root that implies comminution. The term appears in contexts related to kneading troughs and meal preparation.
[עֲרִיסָה] n.f. meaning dub., usu. coarse meal; 𝔊 AV RV dough
base
H6182 עֲרִיסָה
6182 `ariycah ar-ee-saw'
from an unused root meaning to comminute; meal:--dough.
עֲרִיסָה (a.ri.sah) — dough.
1) dough, meal, coarse meal, kneading trough
1a) meaning uncertain
N-fp | Suff — Noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHNcfpc/Sp2mp
The Hebrew word נָתַן (natan) means 'to give' and encompasses a wide range of applications such as putting, setting, and making. It can also indicate actions like bestowing, delivering, and assigning. The entries describe its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hophal, but do not present any significant disagreements among lexicons.
נָתַן 2007 vb. give, put, set
Qal 1917
give
Put, set
Make, constitute
Niph.
82be given
Be put, set
Hoph.
be given, bestowed
= be given to one for wife
be put upon
base
H5414 נָתַן give, put, set .. give
. Put, set
. Make, constitute
. . be given
. Be put, set
. . . be given, bestowed
. = be given to one for wife
. be put upon
5414 nathan naw-than'
a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of
application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe,
assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth,
hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, +
cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X
without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up),
grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up),
(give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that,
occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X
pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send
(out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander,
strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade,
turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to)
God, yield.
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: give.
: give/deliver/send/produce
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend
1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate
1a3) to make, constitute
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned
1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up
1c2) to be put upon
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: put.
: put/set/apppoint
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine pluralHVqi2mp
(nathan, yahabh, sum; didomi): "Give" is a very common word in the Old Testament. It is most frequently the translation of nathan, "to give" (Ge 1:29; 3:6; Ex 2:9; De 18,20, etc., over 800 instances); nathan is also translated "to give up" (De 23:14; Isa 43:6; Ho 11:8); of yahabh, "to give" (Ge 30:1; 1Ch 16:28 the King James Version). In Ps 55:22 we have the perfect with suffix, "Cast thy burden upon Yahweh," margin "what he hath given thee"; elsewhere it is…
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) is the proper name of the God of Israel, often rendered as Jehovah or the Lord. It signifies the self-existent or eternal nature of God. The name is closely associated with the revelation to Moses in Exodus 3:12-15 and is used in conjunction with other terms to denote sacred places. Some scholars suggest it derives from a root meaning 'to bring into being.'
יהוה c. 6823 i.e. יַהְוֶה n.pr.dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel—(1. MT יְהֹוָה 6518 (Qr אֲדֹנָי), or יֱהֹוִה 305 (Qr אֱלֹהִים) 2. Many recent scholars explain יַהְוֶה as Hiph. of הוה (= היה) the one bringing into being, life-giver)
יהוה is not used by E in Gn, but is given Ex 3:12-15 as the name of the God who revealed Himself to Moses at Horeb
יהוה is used with אלהים and suffixes, especially in D
the phrase † אֲנִי יהוה is noteworthy
יהוה is also used with several predicates, to form sacred names of holy places of Yahweh
base
H3068 יהוה i.e. יַהְוֶה n. pr. dei Yahweh, the proper name of the God of Israel
3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'
from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish
national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord. Compare 3050, 3069.
see HEBREW for 01961
see HEBREW for 03050
see HEBREW for 03069
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — LORD.
Jehovah = "the existing One"
1) the proper name of the one true God
1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of a.do.na (אֲדֹנָי "Lord" H0136)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — The Lord.
Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
יְהֹוָה (ye.ho.vah) — (Jerusalem of) the Lord.
Combined with ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun properHR/Npt
תְּרוּמָה (terumah) refers to a contribution or offering, particularly for sacred purposes. It denotes something that is lifted or separated, often associated with sacrifices or tributes to God. The term appears primarily in later texts, with a notable reference in Deuteronomy 12:11. It encompasses various forms of offerings, including grain and monetary gifts.
תְּרוּמָה n.f. contribution, offering, for sacred uses (not certain before Dt.; chiefly EzP and late) (prop. something lifted off, separated)
base
H8641 תְּרוּמָה contribution, offering, for sacred uses (not certain before Dt.; chiefly EzP and late) (prop. something lifted off, separated)
8641 truwmah ter-oo-maw'
or trumah (Deut. 12:11) {ter-oo-maw'}; from 7311; a present
(as offered up), especially in sacrifice or as tribute:--
gift, heave offering ((shoulder)), oblation, offered(-ing).
see HEBREW for 07311
תְּרוּמָה (te.ru.mah) — contribution.
1) contribution, offering
1a) a heave offering
1b) any offering
1c) an offering to God
1d) an offering (of grain, money, etc)
1e) contribution
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
kon-tri-bu'-shun (koinonia, "communion" or "fellowship," Ro 15:26; 2Co 9:13): The meaning "contribution" is drawn from the context, rather than from the Greek word. The phrase in the passage cited, literally rendered, would be "to exercise" or "put fellowship into activity." The koinonia subsisting among believers because of their inner communion with Christ places them and their gifts and possessions at the service of one another (see COMMUNION). They are enjoined. not to forget to communicate (Heb 13:16). To be "communicative" (koinonikoi) is to be a habit of their lives, the Christian principle being that of the holding of all property as a trust, to be distributed as there is need (
The Hebrew word דּוֹר (dor) encompasses meanings related to a period or generation, often emphasizing the transitory nature of life. It can refer to a specific age, a class of people living at a certain time, or a dwelling place. The entries suggest a focus on both the temporal and spatial aspects of existence.
דּוֹר, דֹּר n.m. period, generation, dwelling
period, age, generation, mostly poet.
of men living at a particular time (period, age), generation, as transitory
generation characterized by quality or condition, class of men
dwelling-place, habitation
base
H1755 דּוֹר, דֹּר period, generation, dwelling . period, age, generation, mostly poet.
. of men living at a particular time (period, age), generation, as transitory
. generation characterized by quality or condition, class of men
. dwelling-place, habitation
1755 dowr dore
or (shortened) dor {dore}; from 1752; properly, a revolution
of time, i.e. an age or generation; also a dwelling:--age, X
evermore, generation, (n-)ever, posterity.
see HEBREW for 01752
דּוֹר (dor) — generation.
1) period, generation, habitation, dwelling
1a) period, age, generation (period of time)
1b) generation (those living during a period)
1c) generation (characterised by quality, condition, class of men)
1d) dwelling-place, habitation
Aramaic equivalent: dar (דָּר "generation" H1859)
Prep | N-mp | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncfpc/Sp2mp