Deuteronomy 15:19

firstling Heb. bekôr, firstborn both of men (e.g. Deuteronomy 21:15 f., Exodus 11:5) and of animals; either collectively or of the individual firstling. The root meaning is to break; and bekôris defined (Exodus 13:2; Exodus 34:19) as that which openeth, or cleaveth, the womb. It covers, therefore, not the earliest births of every year in the herd or flock, but the firstborn of every dam. W. R. Smith, Rel. Sem. 443, compares the ambiguous Ar. fara-. Another form, bikku̅ri̅m, is applied to firstfruitsin general; bikkurahis the early fig (Micah 7:1, etc.).

males -At least a preference for male victims is found among the Semites generally, even where the deity is a goddess," W. R. Smith, Rel. Sem. 280 n.; with instances from the Semitic and African races. He connects the distinction on the one hand with the prevalence of kinship through women and on the other with the fact that the cow fosters man with its milk.

thou shalt sanctify unto the Lord So P, Exodus 13:2 (but with a different form of the same vb.); J. Exodus 13:12, thou shalt cause to pass over to Jehovah; Exodus 34:19, all that openeth the womb is mine.