Lexical Summary
sheger: Offspring, young, increase
Original Word:שֶׁגֶר
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:sheger
Pronunciation:SHEH-ger
Phonetic Spelling:(sheh'-ger)
KJV: that cometh of, increase
NASB:increase
Word Origin:[from an unused root probably meaning to eject]
1. the fetus (as finally expelled)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
eject
From an unused root probably meaning to eject; the fetus (as finally expelled) -- that cometh of, increase.
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom an unused word
Definitionoffspring, young (of beasts)
NASB Translationincrease (4).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[ Albr
ZAW xvi (1896), 70] of beasts (
id. Ecclus 40:19; compare We
Skizzen iii. 170); — construct ; —
Exodus 13:12 (J; precedes); also
Deuteronomy 7:13;
Deuteronomy 28:4,18,51 (all "" ).
, II.breast, see .
Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Range of Usageשֶׁגֶר (sheger) denotes the new life that emerges from an animal womb—typically calves and lambs, but by extension any first issue of domesticated herds. Across its five occurrences the word always appears in covenant contexts, carrying an emphasis on both ownership (belonging to the LORD) and fertility (as evidence of divine favor).
Cultic and Sacrificial Context (Exodus 13:12)
Israel’s exodus ritual of consecrating the firstborn rests on the conviction that God owns every initial opening of the womb, human or animal. “You are to present to the LORD the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD” (Exodus 13:12). In practice, שֶׁגֶר framed the dedication of animals that sustained Israel’s daily life, reminding the nation that deliverance from Egypt obligated every subsequent generation to honor God with the first and best. The word thus intersects with the theology of redemption: a firstborn donkey had to be redeemed by a lamb or its neck broken (Exodus 13:13), pointing ahead to substitutionary sacrifice fulfilled in Christ, “the firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:29).
Covenantal Blessings (Deuteronomy 7:13; 28:4)
Within Moses’ exposition of covenant blessings, שֶׁגֶר appears as a tangible marker of divine prosperity: “He will bless … the young of your herds and the lambs of your flocks” (Deuteronomy 7:13). Likewise, “Blessed shall be … the offspring of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks” (Deuteronomy 28:4). The productivity of the barnyard mirrored the fruitfulness of the people; flourishing herds verified Yahweh’s ongoing presence and faithfulness to His promises to Abraham.
Covenantal Curses (Deuteronomy 28:18; 28:51)
Conversely, refusal to heed the LORD would invert the blessing: “The fruit of your womb will be cursed, as well as … the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks” (Deuteronomy 28:18). Foreign invaders would “eat the offspring of your livestock … until you are destroyed” (Deuteronomy 28:51). Loss of שֶׁגֶר signified both economic collapse and spiritual estrangement. The same divine hand that could fill the stalls could also empty them, highlighting the moral dimension of agricultural abundance.
Historical Setting
For an agrarian society, herd fertility was wealth. Calves and lambs multiplied draught power, wool, meat, and sacrificial animals. Ancient Near Eastern texts often invoked fertility gods to secure such increase, yet Israel’s law roots it exclusively in obedience to the covenant Lord. The term’s placement in Exodus and Deuteronomy underscores its relevance at the two pivotal moments of national identity: deliverance and impending entrance to the land.
Theological Themes
1. Divine Ownership: Everything that opens the womb is His by right of creation and redemption (Psalm 24:1).
2. Memorial of Redemption: Regular presentation of the first issue recalls the night of Passover when Israel’s firstborn were spared.
3. Blessing and Curse Dialectic: שֶׁגֶר functions as a barometer of covenant fidelity; increase follows obedience, decrease follows rebellion.
4. Christological Foreshadowing: The principle of consecrated firstborn animals finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ, “the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15), whose sacrificial death purchases a redeemed people.
Ministry Implications
• Stewardship: Believers are called to honor God with “firstfruits,” recognizing His prior claim on all resources (Proverbs 3:9).
• Gratitude and Dependence: Agricultural or vocational success is not ultimate security; it is contingent on the Giver.
• Teaching the Next Generation: As Israel rehearsed redemption through consecrated livestock, families today can use tangible practices—tithes, offerings, acts of service—to instill the same truths.
• Hope in Judgment: Even when covenant curses fell, prophetic promise looked to restoration, when “the threshing floors will be filled with grain” (Joel 2:24). The rhythm of שֶׁגֶר—loss and restoration—anticipates the new creation where want disappears.
Summary
שֶׁגֶר encapsulates God’s claim over the first and best of Israel’s herds, serving as a continual reminder of redemption, a gauge of covenant loyalty, and a pointer to the ultimate Firstborn who secures every blessing for His people.
Forms and Transliterations
שְׁגַ֥ר שְׁגַר־ שֶׁ֣גֶר שגר שגר־ šə·ḡar šə·ḡar- še·ḡer šəḡar šəḡar- šeḡer shegar Sheger
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