Back to Exodus 13

Exodus 13:11-16

“It shall be, when Yahweh brings you into the land of the Canaanite, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and will give it you, that you shall set apart to Yahweh all that opens the womb, and every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have. The males shall be Yahweh’s. Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and you shall redeem all the firstborn of man among your sons. It shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall tell him, ‘By strength of hand Yahweh brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, Yahweh killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of livestock. Therefore I sacrifice to Yahweh all that opens the womb, being males; but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ It shall be for a sign on your hand, and for symbols between your eyes; for by strength of hand Yahweh brought us out of Egypt.”

World English Bible · Public Domain

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    “It shall be, when Yahweh brings you into the land of the Canaanite, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and will give it you,

    that you shall set apart to Yahweh all that opens the womb, and every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have. The males shall be Yahweh’s.

    Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and you shall redeem all the firstborn of man among your sons.

    It shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall tell him, ‘By strength of hand Yahweh brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage.

    When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, Yahweh killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of livestock. Therefore I sacrifice to Yahweh all that opens the womb, being males; but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’

    It shall be for a sign on your hand, and for symbols between your eyes; for by strength of hand Yahweh brought us out of Egypt.”

  • KJV King James Version

    And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,

    That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD’s.

    And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.

    And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:

    And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.

    And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, as He swore unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,

    that thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the womb; every firstling that is a male, which thou hast coming of a beast, shall be the LORD'S.

    And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck; and all the first-born of man among thy sons shalt thou redeem.

    And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying: What is this? that thou shalt say unto him: By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage;

    and it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born of beast; therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the womb, being males; but all the first-born of my sons I redeem.

    And it shall be for a sign upon thy hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes; for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.'

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Examined in Scripture Analysis

Commandments (1)

The laws of the Torah, each cited and shown as a primary source.

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Cross-references (35)

  • Exodus 13:9 (vv14, 16) It shall be for a sign to you on your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that Yahweh’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong…
  • Exodus 12:29 (v15) At midnight, Yahweh struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of…
  • Numbers 18:15 (v12) Everything that opens the womb, of all flesh which they offer to Yahweh, both of man and animal, shall be yours. Nevertheless, you shall…
  • Exodus 34:19 (v12) “All that opens the womb is mine; and all your livestock that is male, the firstborn of cow and sheep.
  • Exodus 34:20 (v13) You shall redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a lamb. If you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. You shall redeem all the…
Show all 34 cross-references
  • Leviticus 27:26 (v12) “ ‘However the firstborn among animals, which belongs to Yahweh as a firstborn, no man may dedicate, whether an ox or a sheep. It is…
  • Exodus 13:3 (v14) Moses said to the people, “Remember this day, in which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand Yahweh…
  • Joshua 4:6 (v14) that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in the future, saying, ‘What do you mean by these stones?’
  • Ezekiel 44:30 (v12) The first of all the first fruits of every thing, and every offering of everything, of all your offerings, shall be for the priest. You…
  • Exodus 13:2 (v12) “Sanctify to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of animal. It is mine.”
  • Exodus 13:5 (v11) It shall be, when Yahweh brings you into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite,…
  • Exodus 22:29 (v12) “You shall not delay to offer from your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. “You shall give the firstborn of your sons to me.
  • Deuteronomy 11:18 (v16) Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul. You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall…
  • Deuteronomy 15:19 (v12) You shall dedicate all the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock to Yahweh your God. You shall do no work with the…
  • Psalms 145:4 (v14) One generation will commend your works to another, and will declare your mighty acts.
  • Exodus 12:26-27 (v14) It will happen, when your children ask you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ that you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of Yahweh’s…
  • Exodus 13:14 (v16) It shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall tell him, ‘By strength of hand Yahweh brought…
  • Numbers 3:12 (v12) “Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn who open the womb among the children of…
  • Numbers 8:17 (v12) For all the firstborn among the children of Israel are mine, both man and animal. On the day that I struck all the firstborn in the land of…
  • Numbers 18:15-17 (v13) Everything that opens the womb, of all flesh which they offer to Yahweh, both of man and animal, shall be yours. Nevertheless, you shall…
  • Deuteronomy 6:7-9 (v16) and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and…
  • Deuteronomy 6:20-24 (v14) When your son asks you in time to come, saying, “What do the testimonies, the statutes, and the ordinances, which Yahweh our God has…
  • Genesis 30:33 (v14) So my righteousness will answer for me hereafter, when you come concerning my hire that is before you. Every one that is not speckled and…
  • Exodus 10:2 (v14) and that you may tell in the hearing of your son, and of your son’s son, what things I have done to Egypt, and my signs which I have done…
  • Exodus 12:3 (v13) Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth day of this month, they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to…
  • Exodus 12:13 (v16) The blood shall be to you for a token on the houses where you are. When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will be on you…
  • Exodus 12:21 (v13) Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said to them, “Draw out, and take lambs according to your families, and kill the…
  • Numbers 3:46-51 (v13) For the redemption of the two hundred seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel who exceed the number of the Levites, you…
  • Deuteronomy 26:8 (v16) Yahweh brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, with great terror, with signs, and with wonders;
  • Joshua 4:21-24 (v14) He spoke to the children of Israel, saying, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean?’…
  • Joshua 22:24 (v14) “If we have not out of concern done this, and for a reason, saying, ‘In time to come your children might speak to our children, saying,…
  • Matthew 23:5 (v16) But they do all their works to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments,
  • Luke 2:23 (v12) (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),
  • Revelation 14:4 (v13) These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were…

34 distinct cross-references across this passage (35 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (20 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv13, 14, 16 Hebrew, that first cometh forth.

Hebrew, that first cometh forth.

This is also understood of the horse and other beasts which were not offered in sacrifice.

Read full note →

By offering a clean beast in sacrifice, Lev. 12:6.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.

John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv11–16 Exo 13:11 And it shall be when the LORD…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv11, 12, 13, 14, 16 The land of the Canaanites, under which general name…
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v11 Here we have,
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv11–16 And it shall be when the Lord shall bring…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv13, 16 Thou shalt redeem - The price of the redemption…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv13, 16 Verse 13. Every firstling of an ass thou shalt…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv12, 13, 16 Exo 13:12. Every firstling of a beast shall be…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v13 An ass - The ass could not be offered…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv13–16 Price. No other option is given, as the Levites…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v12 FIRSTLINGS OF BEASTS. (Exo 13:11-16)
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On v11 11-16. Moses here repeats to Israel the law of…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv11–16 11. See on v. 5.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv11, 12, 13, 16 (11) The land of the Canaanites.—Either their superior importance…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv12–16 Set apart. The expression is especially appropriate to the…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv11, 14 All the firstborn.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v13 The redemption of firstlings made a memorial sign to…
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v11 Concerning the First-Born.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv11, 14 when he gives the land to you
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv13, 16 13:13 A firstborn son had to be bought back,…
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