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First Fruits
Excerpt from the Lexham Bible Dictionary, the most advanced Bible dictionary.
The first and best part of the harvest of crops or processed produce, animals, and firstborn sons. “Firstfruits” also refers to ceremonies in relation to the initial portion of the harvest. It is also used figuratively in reference to: Israel as a nation, the believing remnant within Israel, the 144,000 in Rev 14, Christians in general, certain individual Christians, Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
Lexham Bible Dictionary
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The Lexham Bible Dictionary
Firstfruits
Firstfruits (בִּכּוּרִים‎, bikkurim; ἀπαρχή, aparchē). The first and best part of the harvest of crops or processed produce, animals, and firstborn sons. “Firstfruits” also refers to ceremonies in relation to the initial portion of the harvest. It is also used figuratively in reference to: Israel as a
The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary
First Fruits
FIRST FRUITS [Heb bikkûrı̂m (בִּכּוּרִים‎), rēʾšı̂t (רֵאשִׁית); Gk aparche (ἀπαρχε)]. In the OT, “first fruits” most often is used to refer to a literal portion of the agricultural harvest. Two Hebrew words are rendered “first fruits.” The first is bikkûrîm, which specifically refers to first-ripe
Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible
First Fruits
First Fruits. Firstborn child or animal or first parts of any crop which, in Hebrew thought, were considered as holy and belonging to the Lord. The first fruits, as a foretaste of more to come, were offered to God in thanksgiving for his goodness in providing them.First-fruit offerings could include
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised
First Fruits
First Fruits [Heb. bikkûrîm, rēʾšîṯ; Gk. aparché̄]. In acknowledgment of the fact that the land and all its products were the gift of Yahweh to Israel, and in thankfulness for His bounty, all the first fruits were offered to Him. These were offered in their natural state (e.g., cereals, tree
Tyndale Bible Dictionary
Firstfruits
FIRSTFRUITS Firstborn child or animal or first parts of any crop that, in Hebrew thought, were considered as holy and therefore belonged to the Lord. The firstfruits, as a foretaste of more to come, were offered to God in thanksgiving for his goodness in providing them.Firstfruit offerings could include
The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary (Revised and Updated)
First Fruits
first fruits, the seasonal initial produce of agriculture (Exod. 23:19; Lev. 23:10; Num. 15:20–21; Deut. 26:1–11) and food products (Num. 18:12–13; Deut. 18:4; Ezek. 44:30). The first fruits of agriculture are given to God in religious ritual in acknowledgment of God’s ownership of the earth (Ps. 24:1),
The Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia
Firstfruits
FIRSTFRUITS1. Individual offering of firstfruits. The Mosaic law required the Israelites to bring to the house of the Lord “the first of the firstfruits of thy land” (Ex 23:19; 34:26). This was to include grain, wine, and oil, and was to be used for the support of the priests (Num 18:12; Deut 18:4).
Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible
Firstfruits
FirstfruitsThe first of the seasonal produce from the soil (Heb. bikkûrɩ̂m, “first ripe”; rēʾšɩ̂ṯ, “first processed”). It was considered to be intrinsically holy, the possession of God. In acknowledgement that Yahweh owns the land as well as the crops produced on it, and also that he brought Israel
Eerdmans Bible Dictionary
Firstfruits
Firstfruits (Heb. bikkûrîm, rē˒šîṯ; Gk. aparchḗ). The first crop which the soil yields in each growing season.To acknowledge that all which they received had come from the Lord, its creator and thus master or owner (cf. Exod. 13:2; see Firstborn), and to guarantee further productivity
Dictionary of Paul and His Letters
First Fruits
First fruits, down paymentPaul found metaphors both in the Temple and the marketplace to express how God had pledged himself to believers, not only in giving his Son, Jesus Christ, but also the Spirit. Paul describes the Holy Spirit as a “first fruit” (Rom 8:23) and as a “down payment” (2 Cor 1:22).
Catholic Bible Dictionary
First Fruits
FIRST FRUITS The first fruits were considered the rightful and sacred property of God, including produce, grain, wine, oil, wool, and honey (Deut 18:4; 2 Chr 31:5; Exod 23:19, 34:26) in recognition of God’s dominion over all creation, and in a manner perhaps analogous to the place of the firstborn son.
The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church
annates
annates (Lat. annata, from annus, ‘year’). The first year’s revenue of an ecclesiastical benefice, paid to the Papal curia. These payments, later known as ‘first-fruits’, became general through the increase of direct Papal nomination to livings in the 13th cent. The actual term annata was at first