Lexicon :: Strong's H7225 - rē'šîṯ

In the beginning God ([fn]Elohim) [fn]created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth.

“Reuben, you are my [fn]firstborn;

My might, the beginning of my strength and vigor,

Preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power [that should have been your birthright].

“You shall bring the choice first fruits of your ground into the house of the LORD your God.

“You shall not [fn]boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.

“You shall bring the very first of the first fruits of your ground to the house of the LORD your God.

“You shall not [fn]boil a young goat in his mother’s milk [as some pagans do].”

Balaam looked at Amalek and took up his [fifth] discourse (oracle) and said:

“Amalek was the first of the [neighboring] nations [to oppose the Israelites after they left Egypt],

But his end shall be [fn]destruction.”

“He selected the best [land] for himself,

For there the leader’s portion was reserved;

Yet he came with the leaders of the people;

He carried out the justice (righteous will) of the LORD,

And His ordinances (judgments) with Israel.”

On that day men were appointed over the chambers for the stores, the contributions, the first fruits, and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions required by the law for the priests and the Levites; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who served.

“Though your beginning was insignificant,

Yet your end will greatly increase.

“He is the first [in magnitude and power] of the works of God;

[Only] He who made him can bring near His sword [to master him].

He killed all the firstborn in Egypt,

The first and best of their strength in the tents [of the land of the sons] of Ham.

He also struck down all the firstborn in their land,

The first fruits and chief substance of all their strength.

The [reverent] fear of the LORD is the beginning (the prerequisite, the absolute essential, the alphabet) of wisdom;

A good understanding and a teachable heart are possessed by all those who do the will of the LORD;

His praise endures forever.

The [reverent] fear of the LORD [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence];

But arrogant [fn]fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline.

Honor the LORD with your wealth

And with the first fruits of all your crops (income);

“The beginning of wisdom is: Get [skillful and godly] wisdom [it is preeminent]!

And with all your acquiring, get understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation].

“The LORD created and possessed me at the beginning of His way,

Before His works of old [were accomplished].

The beginning of strife is like letting out water [as from a small break in a dam; first it trickles and then it gushes];

Therefore [fn]abandon the quarrel before it breaks out and tempers explode.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning;

Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit (pride).

Declaring the end and the result from the beginning,

And from ancient times the things which have not [yet] been done,

Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,

And I will do all that pleases Me and fulfills My purpose,’

“[fn]Israel was holy [something set apart from ordinary purposes, consecrated] to the LORD,

The first fruits of His harvest [in which no outsider was allowed to share].

All who ate of it [injuring Israel] became guilty;

Evil came on them,” says the LORD.’”

In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD, saying,

In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD:

In the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year and the fifth month, the [false] prophet Hananiah the son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon [one of the priests’ cities], spoke [without godly authority] to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and all the people, saying:

The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning [fn]Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying:

I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness [an unexpected and refreshing delight];

I saw your fathers (ancestors) as the first ripe fruit on the fig tree in its first season,

But they came to Baal-peor and consecrated themselves to shamefulness [the worship of Baal],

And [because of their spiritual and physical adultery] they became as detestable and loathsome as the thing they loved.

Woe (judgment is coming) to those who are at ease and carefree in Zion (Judah)

And to those on the mountain of Samaria who feel secure,

The distinguished men of the foremost of nations,

To whom the house of Israel comes.

Who drink wine from sacrificial bowls

And anoint themselves with the finest oils [reflecting their unrestrained celebration];

Yet they are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph (Israel).

Harness the chariot to the team of horses [to escape the invasion],

O inhabitant of Lachish—

She was the beginning of sin

To the Daughter of Zion (Jerusalem)—

Because in you were found

The rebellious acts of Israel.