Reeh 15:19 · unit 4

TT #343 · Parashas Reeh · Sixth Aliyah · Passuk 15:19

The Complete Passuk

כׇּל־הַבְּכ֡וֹר אֲשֶׁר֩ יִוָּלֵ֨ד בִּבְקָרְךָ֤ וּבְצֹֽאנְךָ֙ הַזָּכָ֔ר תַּקְדִּ֖ישׁ לַיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ לֹ֤א תַעֲבֹד֙ בִּבְכֹ֣ר שׁוֹרֶ֔ךָ וְלֹ֥א תָגֹ֖ז בְּכ֥וֹר צֹאנֶֽךָ׃

Every firstborn that is born in your herd and in your flock, the male, you shall consecrate to Hashem your God; you shall not work with the firstborn of your ox, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.

Chabad.org — 15:19

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Bekhoros.

Sefaria — Bekhoros

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
הַזָּכָר – יָכוֹל אֲפִלּוּ יָצְתָה נְקֵבָה לְפָנָיו, תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר פֶּטֶר כׇּל רֶחֶם.

English: "The male" — One might have thought even if a female emerged before it; therefore the verse states "that opens every womb."

On the daf / in context: Only a male that is the first to open the womb is sanctified as a firstborn.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Bekhoros) — a preceding female prevents sanctity.

What Is Learned

If a female emerges from the womb before a male, the subsequent male is not sanctified as a firstborn.