Exodus 23:19

With the Hebrew beneath

Exodus 23:19, word by word

The bestרֵאשִׁיתreshit

best

The best of something, what is set apart for its quality.

Where else “reshit” appears

of the firstfruitsבִּכּוּרֵיbikure

firstfruits

Firstfruits: the first of the harvest to ripen, which was offered to God.

Where else “bikure” appears

of your groundאַדְמָתְadmat

soil

Farmland, or dust.

Where else “admat” appears

you shall bringתָּבִיאtavi

bring

To bring something or someone.

Where else “tavi” appears

into the houseבֵּיתbet

temple

The temple: "the house of YHWH".

Where else “bet” appears

of YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears

your Elohimאֱלֹהֶיelohe

Elohim

The one true God, the Creator; the word is plural but means one.

Where else “elohe” appears

You shall not boilתְבַשֵּׁלtevashel

boil

To prepare food over the fire in a pot with water.

Where else “tevashel” appears

a young goatגְּדִיgedi

young goat

Young goat, kid.

Where else “gedi” appears

in the milkחֲלֵבchalev

milk

Milk.

Where else “chalev” appears

of its motherאִמּim

mother

The woman who gives birth to and raises her children, and who is owed honor.

Where else “im” appears

Translation note

The law does not explain the reason for this prohibition about the young goat; it is repeated in Exodus 34:26 and Deuteronomy 14:21.

The context