Exodus 22:30
New International Version
Do the same with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day.

New Living Translation
“You must also give me the firstborn of your cattle, sheep, and goats. But leave the newborn animal with its mother for seven days; then give it to me on the eighth day.

English Standard Version
You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep: seven days it shall be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to me.

Berean Standard Bible
You shall do likewise with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day you are to give them to Me.

Berean Literal Bible
Likewise you shall do with your oxen and with your sheep. Seven days it shall be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.

King James Bible
Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.

New King James Version
Likewise you shall do with your oxen and your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.

New American Standard Bible
You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother for seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.

NASB 1995
“You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.

NASB 1977
“You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.

Legacy Standard Bible
And you shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.

Amplified Bible
You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother for seven days; on the eighth day you shall give it [as an offering] to Me.

Berean Annotated Bible
You shall do likewise with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day you are to give them to Me.

Christian Standard Bible
Do the same with your cattle and your flock. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day you are to give them to me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Do the same with your cattle and your flock. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day you are to give them to Me.”

American Standard Version
Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with its dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.

Contemporary English Version
and the first-born of your cattle and sheep. Let the animals stay with their mothers for seven days, then on the eighth day give them to me, your God.

English Revised Version
Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with its dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You must do the same with your cattle and your sheep. They will stay with their mothers seven days, but on the eighth day you must give them to me.

Good News Translation
Give me the first-born of your cattle and your sheep. Let the first-born male stay with its mother for seven days, and on the eighth day offer it to me.

International Standard Version
You are to do the same with your oxen and your sheep. They shall be with their mother for seven days and then on the eighth day you are to give them to me.

NET Bible
You must also do this for your oxen and for your sheep; seven days they may remain with their mothers, but give them to me on the eighth day.

New Heart English Bible
You shall do likewise with your cattle and with your sheep. Seven days it shall be with its mother, then on the eighth day you shall give it to me.

Webster's Bible Translation
Likewise shalt thou do with thy oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it to me.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
You shall do likewise with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day you are to give them to Me.

World English Bible
You shall do likewise with your cattle and with your sheep. It shall be with its mother seven days, then on the eighth day you shall give it to me.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
so you do to your ox [and] to your sheep; it is with its mother [for] seven days, on the eighth day you give it to Me.

Berean Literal Bible
Likewise you shall do with your oxen and with your sheep. Seven days it shall be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to Me.

Young's Literal Translation
so thou dost to thine ox, to thy sheep; seven days it is with its dam, on the eighth day thou dost give it to Me.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thus shalt thou do to thine ox, to thy sheep: seven days shall it be with its mother; in the eighth day thou shalt give it to me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou shalt do the same with the firstborn of thy oxen also and sheep: seven days let it be with its dam, the eighth day thou shalt give it to me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
You shall do likewise with those of the oxen and the sheep. For seven days, let it be with its mother; on the eighth day you shall repay it to me.

New American Bible
You must do the same with your oxen and your sheep; for seven days the firstling may stay with its mother, but on the eighth day you must give it to me.

New Revised Standard Version
You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep: seven days it shall remain with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to me.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Likewise you shall do with your oxen and with your sheep: seven days it shall be with its dam; on the eighth day you shall give it to me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And thus you shall do to your oxen and to your sheep: seven days he shall be with his mother, and on the eighth day you give him to me.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep; seven days it shall be with its dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it Me.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
So shalt thou do with thy calf and thy sheep and thine ass; seven days shall it be under the mother, and the eighth day thou shalt give it to me.

Additional Translations ...



Context
Laws of Social Responsibility
29You must not hold back offerings from your granaries or vats. You are to give Me the firstborn of your sons. 30You shall do likewise with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but on the eighth day you are to give them to Me. 31You are to be My holy people. You must not eat the meat of a mauled animal found in the field; you are to throw it to the dogs.…

Cross References
You shall do likewise with your cattle and your sheep.

Deuteronomy 15:19
You must set apart to the LORD your God every firstborn male produced by your herds and flocks. You are not to put the firstborn of your oxen to work, nor are you to shear the firstborn of your flock.

Numbers 18:17
But you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox, a sheep, or a goat; they are holy. You are to splatter their blood on the altar and burn their fat as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

Exodus 13:12
you are to present to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD.
Let them stay with their mothers for seven days,

Leviticus 22:27
“When an ox, a sheep, or a goat is born, it must remain with its mother for seven days. From the eighth day on, it will be acceptable as a food offering presented to the LORD.

Leviticus 12:3
And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.

Genesis 17:12
Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner—even those who are not your offspring.
but on the eighth day you are to give them to Me.

Exodus 13:2
“Consecrate to Me every firstborn male. The firstborn from every womb among the Israelites belongs to Me, both of man and beast.”

Leviticus 27:26
But no one may consecrate a firstborn of the livestock, because a firstborn belongs to the LORD. Whether it is an ox or a sheep, it is the LORD’s.

Numbers 18:15
The firstborn of every womb, whether man or beast, that is offered to the LORD belongs to you. But you must surely redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals.
Leviticus 7:23-24
“Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘You are not to eat any of the fat of an ox, a sheep, or a goat. / The fat of an animal found dead or mauled by wild beasts may be used for any other purpose, but you must not eat it.

Deuteronomy 14:21
You are not to eat any carcass; you may give it to the foreigner residing within your gates, and he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a holy people belonging to the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.

Leviticus 11:44-45
For I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, because I am holy. You must not defile yourselves by any creature that crawls along the ground. / For I am the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt so that I would be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

Leviticus 19:2
“Speak to the whole congregation of Israel and tell them: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

1 Peter 1:15-16
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, / for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; / you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.


Treasury of Scripture

Likewise shall you do with your oxen, and with your sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day you shall give it me.

likewise

Deuteronomy 15:19
All the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock, nor shear the firstling of thy sheep.

seven days

Leviticus 22:27
When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire unto the LORD.

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Calf Cattle Dam Eighth Likewise Mother Mothers Ox Oxen Seven Sheep Way Young
Exodus 22
1. Of Theft
5. Of damage
7. Of trespasses
14. Of borrowing
16. Of fornication
18. Of witchcraft
19. Of bestiality
20. Of idolatry
21. Of strangers, widows, and fatherless
25. Of usury
26. Of pledges
28. Of reverence to magistrates
29. Of the first fruits
31. Of torn flesh












You shall do likewise with your cattle and your sheep.

Israel was to acknowledge the Lord’s claim upon every firstborn male among its herds and flocks. The command recalled the Passover, when God spared Israel’s firstborn while bringing judgment on Egypt’s firstborn (Exodus 12:12–13). Clean firstborn animals were set apart for sacrifice, declaring that Israel’s life, increase, and prosperity belonged to the God who redeemed them. The offering of the first and best taught that God’s people were to trust Him for continued provision.

Deu 15:19 You must set apart to the LORD your God every firstborn male…
Num 18:17 But you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox…
Exo 13:12 you are to present to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb.…

Let them stay with their mothers for seven days,

The newborn animal remained with its mother through its first week, receiving the care needed for strength and survival. The seven days also formed a complete period before the animal was presented to the Lord. Leviticus likewise required that an animal remain with its mother for seven days before it could be accepted as an offering (Leviticus 22:27). God’s commands joined reverence in worship with wise care for the creatures under Israel’s stewardship.

Lev 22:27 When an ox, a sheep, or a goat is born…
Lev 12:3 And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin……
Gen 17:12 Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised…

but on the eighth day you are to give them to Me.

On the eighth day the firstborn was consecrated to the Lord. The eighth day marked entrance into covenant life for Israelite sons through circumcision (Genesis 17:12; Leviticus 12:3), and here it marked the fitting time for a firstborn animal to be offered or devoted to God. Such gifts testified that redemption required a sacrifice and anticipated the perfect offering of Christ, the firstborn over all creation, who gave Himself to secure the redemption of His people (Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 10:10).

Exo 13:2 “Consecrate to Me every firstborn male. The firstborn”…
Lev 27:26 But no one may consecrate a firstborn of the livestock…
Num 18:15 The firstborn of every womb, whether man or beast…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Israelites
The recipients of the law, God's chosen people, who are being instructed on how to live in covenant relationship with Him.

2. Oxen and Sheep
Livestock that were central to the agrarian lifestyle of the Israelites and significant in their sacrificial system.

3. God
The divine lawgiver who is establishing His covenant and expectations with the Israelites.

4. Eighth Day
A specific time frame that holds significance in biblical law and ritual, often associated with dedication and new beginnings.

5. Sacrificial System
The broader context of the law, where offerings and sacrifices were a means of worship and atonement.
Teaching Points
Principle of Firstfruits
The command to give the firstborn to God reflects the broader biblical principle of offering the first and best to the Lord, acknowledging His sovereignty and provision.

Significance of the Eighth Day
The eighth day symbolizes new beginnings and dedication, reminding believers of the importance of setting apart time and resources for God.

Holistic Worship
The inclusion of livestock in worship practices underscores the idea that all aspects of life, including work and livelihood, are to be consecrated to God.

Trust in God's Provision
By giving the firstborn animals to God, the Israelites were exercising faith in His continued provision, a principle that applies to trusting God with our resources today.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Exodus 22:30?

2. How does Exodus 22:30 emphasize the importance of holiness in daily life?

3. What does "be holy men to Me" reveal about God's expectations for us?

4. How can we apply the principle of holiness from Exodus 22:30 today?

5. Which New Testament passages echo the call to holiness found in Exodus 22:30?

6. How does observing God's commands in Exodus 22:30 strengthen our relationship with Him?

7. What does Exodus 22:30 reveal about God's expectations for holiness and purity among His people?

8. How does Exodus 22:30 reflect the cultural and historical context of ancient Israelite society?

9. Why does Exodus 22:30 emphasize the importance of consecration and dedication to God?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 22?


What Does Exodus 22:30 Mean
You shall do likewise with your cattle and your sheep

The command extends the principle of verse 29—giving the firstborn sons to the LORD—to livestock as well. God claims ownership of all firstborn:

Exodus 13:2, 12 reminds Israel, “Consecrate to Me every firstborn male.”

Exodus 34:19 repeats, “The first offspring of every womb belongs to Me, including all the firstborn of your livestock.”

Numbers 18:15-17 details how firstborn animals are His, underscoring that every sphere of life is under His lordship.

By treating cattle and sheep “likewise,” Israel acknowledged tangibly that God provides every increase and deserves the very first and best, not leftovers (Proverbs 3:9-10).


Let them stay with their mothers for seven days

The LORD builds mercy and practical care into His law:

Leviticus 22:27 gives the same guideline—an animal must remain with its dam seven days before it may be offered.

• The seven-day period pictures completeness and the created order (Genesis 2:2-3).

• It secures the newborn’s strength and the mother’s well-being before separation.

Why seven days?

– It reflects God’s rhythm of work and rest.

– It allows for proper nurturing, honoring the Creator’s design for animal life.

– It teaches Israel that obedience includes compassion (Deuteronomy 25:4; Proverbs 12:10).


But on the eighth day you are to give them to Me

After the full week, dedication occurs on day eight—a moment of newness and covenant identity:

• Circumcision also happened on the eighth day (Genesis 17:12; Luke 2:21), linking firstborn offerings with covenant faithfulness.

Numbers 18:17 explains that unredeemed firstborn cattle and sheep are “holy” to the LORD and must be sacrificed.

• The eighth day signals a fresh beginning: after completeness (seven), life is handed back to God in worship and trust.

Bullet-point takeaways:

– The delay ensures the gift is sound, not premature (Malachi 1:8).

– It publicly declares that every future generation and all possessions belong to the LORD.

– It trains the heart to release what seems essential, trusting God to keep providing (Psalm 50:10-12).


summary

Exodus 22:30 teaches that Israel must dedicate the firstborn of cattle and sheep to God. They are kept with their mothers for seven days—reflecting compassionate care and the pattern of creation—and then, on the eighth day, they are given to the LORD, acknowledging His absolute ownership and expressing confident faith in His ongoing provision.

(30) Thine oxen.—Rather, thy beeves. The word used is applied to horned cattle of either sex.

Seven days it shall be with his dam.—Compare Leviticus 22:27. The main object of forbidding sacrifice before the eighth day would appear to have beer-regard for the health and comfort of the mother, which needed the relief obtained by suckling its offspring. There may also have underlain the prohibition some reference to birth as an impure process. Compare the circumcision of the male child on the eighth day.

Verse 30. - Seven days it shall be with its dam. See Leviticus 22:27. The main object is that the darn may have during that time the natural relief derivable from suckling its off-spring. On the eighth day thou shalt give it me. Some analogy may be traced between this proviso and the law of circumcision. Birth was viewed as an unclean process, and nothing was fit for presentation to God excepting after an interval.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You shall do
תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה (ta·‘ă·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

likewise
כֵּֽן־ (kên-)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

with your cattle
לְשֹׁרְךָ֖ (lə·šō·rə·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7794: A head of cattle (bullock, ox, etcetera)

and your sheep.
לְצֹאנֶ֑ךָ (lə·ṣō·ne·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock

Let them stay
יִהְיֶ֣ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

with
עִם־ (‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

their mothers
אִמּ֔וֹ (’im·mōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 517: A mother, )

for seven
שִׁבְעַ֤ת (šiḇ·‘aṯ)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7651: Seven, seven times, a week, an indefinite number

days,
יָמִים֙ (yā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

but on the eighth
הַשְּׁמִינִ֖י (haš·šə·mî·nî)
Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular
Strong's 8066: Eighth (an ordinal number)

day
בַּיּ֥וֹם (bay·yō·wm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

you are to give them
תִּתְּנוֹ־ (tit·tə·nōw-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

to Me.
לִֽי׃ (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew


Additonal Resources
Exodus 22:30 Blue Letter Bible
Exodus 22:30 Bible Gateway
Exodus 22:30 Bible.com

Exodus 22:30 NIV
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Exodus 22:30 KJV

Exodus 22:30 Study Bible
Exodus 22:30 Biblia Paralela
Exodus 22:30 Chinese Bible
Exodus 22:30 French Bible
Exodus 22:30 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Exodus 22:30 You shall do likewise with your cattle (Exo. Ex)

Exodus 22:29
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