Hebrew bikkurim, "first ripe fruits." The first yield of the harvest offered to God before the rest was gathered or used (Exodus 23:19, Leviticus 23:10-14, Deuteronomy 26:1-11). At the Feast of Firstfruits (the day after the Sabbath of Passover), the first sheaf of barley was waved before the LORD; fifty days later at Shavuot, two loaves of wheat flour were offered. The principle: the first of everything belongs to God as acknowledgment that He owns and gives the whole harvest. Extended to livestock (first male opened the womb, Exodus 13:2), produce, and (for Israel) the Levites as the "firstfruits" of the nation's population.
Firstfruits operate on two levels in Scripture. (1) Ritual practice. Deuteronomy 26 prescribed a short liturgy the worshipper spoke when bringing his firstfruits: a recital of Israel's redemption history from Abraham through Egypt to the promised land, climaxing in "and now, behold, I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O LORD, have given me" (26:10). Giving firstfruits was declaring, "I am a covenant member of a redeemed people; this harvest is a gift; I give back first and best." (2) Eschatological category. The NT transfers "firstfruits" language to guarantee future resurrection harvest: Christ the firstfruits. "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20). Christ's resurrection is the first of a larger resurrection yet to come — the rest of the harvest follows inevitably. Romans 8:23 calls the Spirit Himself "the firstfruits" — the present taste of eschatological glory. James 1:18 applies the term to the Church: "we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures" — pointing forward to the cosmic harvest. Three practical takeaways. (1) Give God the first, not the leftover — of income, time, energy, affection. (2) Remember that firstfruits are a pledge: the whole harvest is guaranteed. (3) As the Church, live as a preview of the new creation; unbelievers should see in us a sample of the world's future.