Reeh 15:19 · unit 8

TT #347 · 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 / Zevachim.

Sefaria — Bekhoros / Zevachim

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
בִּבְכֹר שׁוֹרֶךָ – בִּבְכוֹר שׁוֹרֶךָ אִי אַתָּה עוֹבֵד, אֲבָל אַתָּה עוֹבֵד בִּבְכוֹר אָדָם.

English: "With the firstborn of your ox" — with the firstborn of your ox you may not work, but you may work with a human firstborn.

On the daf / in context: The prohibition of labor applies only to animal firstborns, not to a human firstborn (who once performed Temple service before the selection of the kohanim).

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Bekhoros) — human firstborns are not subject to the work prohibition.

What Is Learned

The prohibition against working a firstborn applies only to animals, not to a human firstborn.