The Church Fathers on this verse
THEOSIS
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Exodus 34:26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The first of the fruits of thy ground thou shalt offer in the house of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not boil a kid in the milk of his dam.

Douay-Rheims

רֵאשִׁ֗ית בִּכּוּרֵי֙ אַדְמָ֣תְךָ֔ תָּבִ֕יא בֵּ֖ית יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ לֹא־תְבַשֵּׁ֥ל גְּדִ֖י בַּחֲלֵ֥ב אִמּֽוֹ׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

5 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 6 commentaries

Cyrill of Alexandria

5th centuryChurch Father

What lacks Christ is unsuitable for sacrifice and flawed, while what is pleasing and profoundly sacred through Him is evident from the law stated in Exodus, “Thou shalt not boil a kid in its mother's milk,” and in Leviticus: “And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying, When a calf, or a lamb, or a goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother; and from the eighth day onward it shall be acceptable for an offering unto the Lord: but thou shalt not slaughter either cow or sheep in one day” (Lev. 22:26-28). The newborn lamb, which is still nursing, cannot be sacrificed, illustrating that what is imperfect and seemingly fragile in intellect and strength has not yet attained holiness, and thus is unwelcome before God.

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Some individuals, lacking wisdom and discernment, are the recipients of Paul's divine message: “For judging from the time, you ought to be teachers; but you must be taught again the first principles of the word of God, and you need milk, and not solid food. Anyone who feeds on milk is ignorant of the word of truth, because he is a babe; but solid food is peculiar to the perfect” (Heb. 5:12-14). Therefore, still dependent on milk and the nurture of others, I refer to spiritual understanding and maturity.

Ephraem the Syrian

4th centuryChurch Father

This signifies that if someone renounces idolatry or any other falsehood in favor of the knowledge of truth, one should not criticize them for their past conduct, mistakes, or the traditions of their ancestors. Such an individual is likened to a goat originating from a land of sin, coming from Shuya, with their previous beliefs and old identity being referenced as their mother. In another interpretation, the goat "for seven days shall be with his mother, but on the last day he shall be given ... to me" (Ex. 22:22). "Me" (Ex. 22:30).

Ambrose of Milan

4th centuryChurch Father

The divine law is sacred, and it is essential to differentiate between conventional rules and the profound commandments that God imparts to His people. Therefore, it is understandable when He instructs: Do not boil a lamb in its mother's milk.

They are troubled by the thought of the toll required to attain the goal, reflecting on the myriad of sorrows and anxieties that the righteous endure, the formidable opposition they face, the difficulties of their prolonged labor, and the bitterness inherent in the more arduous path. Concerns arise even among the strongest, fearing that someone may falter under such trials or due to their grief. There will indeed be significant and bitter struggles; within the Church and amidst the presence of the Almighty King, there will be distress similar to a woman's labor pains (Psalm 47:7; Jeremiah 22:23), until Christ is formed in us (Galatians 4:19).

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Paul experienced great distress upon witnessing the slow acceptance of his teachings by the unwise Galatians, which led him to express, “My children, for whom I am again in the throes of childbirth, until Christ is formed in you (Galatians 4:19).” The Lord speaks in the Gospel of the intense pains associated with childbirth: “A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the anguish for joy, because a man has been born into the world (John 16:21).” It requires immense effort to embrace Christ for ourselves, lest we drift through this present age like a rudderless ship. The apostles were filled with sorrow when Christ informed them of His return to the Father, fearing they would be left leaderless. Christ embodies joy; He is the child born through the Spirit of salvation in the hearts of believers. The one who has already birthed and nurtured Him rejoices, yet the one still in the process of giving birth is burdened with uncertainty and remorse. It is commendable to bear Him and nurture Him. Avoid boiling a young goat in its mother’s milk (Exodus 23:19), lest you hear the lament, “Woe to those who are pregnant and nursing (Matthew 24:19)!” Christ was born of Mary so that you may come to know Him deeply, akin to how an ox knows its master (Isaiah 1:3), recognizing Him as Creator and Lord of your forebears. Do not treat Him as an infant, but honor Him as the true and perfect God from the true and perfect God. The Magi honored Him rightly, not by offering the milk of a boiled lamb, but as the eternal God. They sought Him in heaven and did not look for Him on earth, following the star that shone in the sky. Mary did not endure labor pains in the traditional sense but gave birth to Him, understanding that she must bring forth her Lord and Savior, as evidenced by her own declaration: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior (Luke 1:46-47).” Thus, the suffering is akin to that of a woman in childbirth; the anguish lies in birthing Him and nurturing Him! From the very start, you must recognize His perfection.

Roshdestwenski W.G.

Teacher of the Church

In Exodus 23:19 and Deuteronomy 14:21, Moses reiterates the laws concerning the rituals of the Israelites, specifically stating that a lamb is not to be boiled in its mother's milk. Additionally, in Exodus 22:30, God instructs that the firstborn of both a heifer and a sheep should be presented to the Lord on the eighth day after its birth. For seven days, the young animal must remain with its mother, but on the eighth day, it is to be offered to Him. The Scriptures also recount how Samuel brought a nursing lamb as a sacrifice to God, as seen in 1 Samuel 7:9, where it states that he took a lamb nursing milk and offered it as a burnt offering to the Lord in the presence of all the people.

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These seemingly conflicting verses provide grounds for a deeper exploration, suggesting that this law more appropriately pertains to the Paschal Lamb. The nature of the subsequent chapters, Exodus 23 and Exodus 34, reveals that the command is not limited to the observance of the Passover alone; rather, it also emphasizes the meaning of the term used in this law, which pertains to the cooking methods of a lamb, symbolically aligned with the Paschal Lamb mentioned in Deuteronomy 16:7. This verse indicates that the lamb is to be boiled, or in Hebrew, baked, and consumed in the location chosen by the Lord your God. Understanding the Paschal lamb or goat within the framework of sacramental law clarifies any indecision regarding this matter. This lamb must be at least one year old (Exodus 12:5), weaned, and set apart from the flock for a few days; hence, it cannot be boiled or cooked while still suckling from its mother’s milk.

Wlastow G.K.

19th centuryCommentator

The body that was brought low, subjected to humiliation, embodies the law of death. Yet the event of the Resurrection stands as a profound testament to Christ's victory over suffering. This divine revelation reflects both the depth of Christ’s trials and the ultimate triumph that follows, serving as a beacon of hope for believers.

See Exodus 12:13, Leviticus 16:30, and additional passages for further understanding.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.