Reeh 15:19 · unit 9

TT #348 · 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
בְּכוֹר צֹאנֶךָ – בְּכוֹר צֹאנֶךָ אִי אַתָּה גּוֹזֵז, אֲבָל אַתָּה גּוֹזֵז פֶּטֶר חֲמוֹר.

English: "The firstborn of your flock" — the firstborn of your flock you may not shear, but you may shear a firstborn donkey.

On the daf / in context: The prohibition of shearing is limited to the species explicitly mentioned; a firstborn donkey is not included.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Bekhoros) — a firstborn donkey may be sheared.

What Is Learned

One may shear a firstborn donkey; the prohibition of shearing applies only to the firstborn of the flock.