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.”
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Exodus 13:14-16 sits inside this longer paragraph.
“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.”
Parallel Translations
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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.”
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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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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.'
Cross-references (18)
- 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…
- 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?’
- 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…
Show all 17 cross-references
- 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…
- 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 12:13 (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…
- 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,
17 distinct cross-references across this passage (18 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (14 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
Saved on this device only — never synced or sent anywhere.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv14, 16 Or, hereafterwards.
Or, hereafterwards.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv14–16 Exo 13:14 And it shall be when thy son…
Exo 13:14 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:
Ver. 14. That thou shalt say unto him.] Plantas tenellas frequentius adaguare proderit, young plants must be often watered. {a}
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{a} Primas. Greg. Mag.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv14, 16 Which is added to teach parents in all succeeding…
Which is added to teach parents in all succeeding ages, that it is their duty to instruct their children in the word and works of God, and in the nature and reasons of every particular kind or part of God’s worship and service. See Deu 15:5; Psa 66:4; Hos 2:14.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv14–16 And it shall be when thy son asketh thee…
And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come,.... Or "on the morrow" (h), the day following such a separation of the firstborn of clean creatures, or such a redemption of the firstborn of unclean ones, and of man, or in any later time:
saying, what is this? what is the meaning of this? for what reason are such things done?
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that thou shall say unto him, by strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt from the house of bondage: by laying his mighty hand upon the firstborn of Egypt, and destroying them, which made the king of Egypt, and his people, willing to let Israel go; See Gill on Exo 13:3.
(h) "eras", Pagninus, Montanus, Tiguriue version.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v16 For frontlets between thine eyes - As conspicuous as…
For frontlets between thine eyes - As conspicuous as any thing fixt to thy forehead, or between thine eyes.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On v16 Verse 16. It shall be for a token, &c.]…
Verse 16. It shall be for a token, &c.] See Clarke on Ex 13:9.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v16 Exo 13:16. For frontlets between thine eyes — As…
Exo 13:16. For frontlets between thine eyes — As conspicuous as any thing fixed to thy forehead, or between thine eyes. That is, they were constantly to retain such a sense of their deliverance as if they had it before their eyes.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv14–16 To-morrow. At any future period, Matthew vi. 2. (Menochius)
To-morrow. At any future period, Matthew vi. 2. (Menochius)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv14–16 14. in time to come] Heb. to-morrow: so Gen_30:33,…
14. in time to come] Heb. to-morrow: so Gen_30:33, Deu_6:20, Jos_4:6; Jos_4:21; Jos_22:24; Jos_22:27-28 †.
By strength of hand, &c.] See on v. 3.
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14–15. The children to be instructed (as in v. 8) on the meaning of the observance: it is a memorial of the deliverance from Egypt, and of Jehovah’s slaughter of the firstborn of the Egyptians at the time.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On v16 (16) It shall be for a token.—See the comment…
(16) It shall be for a token.—See the comment on Exo_13:9. The “frontlets” (totaphôth) of this passage, and of Deu_6:8, were called tephillin in Chaldee, both words signifying properly “bands” or “circlets.” The injunctions on the subject which are here given might undoubtedly be explained as metaphorical; but those in Deu_6:6-9 seem to have been intended, and were certainly understood, literally.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv14–16 When thy son asketh thee. Compare Exo_12:26, and the…
When thy son asketh thee. Compare Exo_12:26, and the comment ad loc.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v14 When thy son asketh thee.
Exo_13:14-16
When thy son asketh thee.
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The Book of Exodus introduces that new epoch in the scriptural history of sacrifices when they began to be regulated by fixed laws, to be part of a national economy.
I. The offering of the firstborn was the deification and consecration of the whole Jewish nation. The firstborn represented its strength, its vitality, its endurance. This act signified that its strength lay only in its dependence on Gods strength, that its vitality came from the life which is in Him, that it would endure from generation to generation, because He is the same and His years fail not. The calling of the Israelites was the calling to confess a Redeemer of Israel, a righteous Being who had brought out their fathers from the house of bondage.
II. Moses taught the people that by looking upon themselves as beings surrendered and sacrificed to the God of truth, the Deliverer of men, by feeling that they held all the powers of their minds and bodies as instruments for the great work in which He is engaged, thus they might be a nation indeed, one which would be a pattern to the nations, one which, in due time, would break the chains which bound them to visible and invisible oppressors.
III. When once we understand that we are witnesses for God, and do His work, self-sacrifice can never be an ambitious thing--a fine way to get the reputation of saints or the rewards of another world. It will be regarded as the true ground of all action; that on which all the blessed relations of life stand; that which is at the same time the only impulse to and security for the hard and rough work of the world. (F. D. Maurice, M. A.)
Meaning of ordinances to be explained
1. Ancient ordinances may be justly questioned in succeeding ages to know the meaning of them.
2. Reason is to be given of our religion to such as reasonably demand it.
3. Children may ask of parents and they must inform them of the ordinances of God.
4. Redemption-mercies are to be recorded and reported as just ground of Gods ordinance (verse 14).
5. Opposition against redemptions are justly declared to make the work glorious, and Gods people obedient.
6. Vengeance upon the enemies of the Churchs redemption is fit to be known to quicken them to duty.
7. The Churchs reason for its religion to God is rightly taken from its redemption (verse 15).
8. Gods redeeming mercies ought to work in the Church eternal memorials of Him (verse 16). (G. Hughes, B. D.)
Lessons
1. After redemption of His Church God provideth for guiding them in the way to rest.
2. Nearest ways to rest with men are not always approved by God for His people.
3. Gods foreknowledge of dangerous ways to His Church doth prevent them.
4. God will not put His people upon war or hard trials until He have fitted them for it.
5. Gods special care of His Church is to keep them from a retreat to bondage after redemption (verse 17). (G. Hughes, B. D.)
Imparting knowledge
Knowledge cannot be stolen by or from you. It cannot be sold or bought. You may be poor, and be troubled by the sheriff on the journey of life. He may break into your house and sell your furniture at auction; drive away your cow; take away your ewe lamb, and leave you homeless and penniless; but he cannot lay the laws hand upon the jewellery of your mind. This cannot be taken for debt; neither can you give it away, though you give enough of it to fill a million minds. In getting rich in the things which perish with the using, men have often obeyed to the letter that first commandment of selfishness: Keep what you can get, and get what you can. In filling your minds with the wealth of knowledge, you must reverse this rule, and obey this law: Keep what you give, and give what you can. The fountain of knowledge is filled by its outlets, not by its inlets. You can learn nothing which you do not teach; you can acquire nothing of intellectual wealth except by giving. (Elihu Burritt.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v14 When your son asks you later, 'What does this…
When your son asks you later, 'What does this mean?' then you are to tell him
The first quotation can be stated as an indirect quotation. AT: "When your son asks you later what this means, then you are to tell him" (See: Direct and Indirect Quotations)
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strong hand
The word "hand" here represents God's actions or works. See how you translated this in Exodus 6:1. AT: "the power I show in my works" (See: Metonymy)
the house of slavery
Moses speaks of Egypt as if it were a house where people keep slaves. See how you translated this in Exodus 13:3. AT: "the place where you were slaves" (See: Metaphor)
become a reminder on your hands, and a reminder on your forehead
This expresses two ways to remember the importance of the passover event. See how you translated a similar phrase in Exodus 13:8-10. (See: Parallelism)
translationWords
house
servant
Pharaoh
stiff-necked
firstborn
sacrifice
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v16 13:16 Like the annual Passover celebration (13:9), dedicating the…
13:16 Like the annual Passover celebration (13:9), dedicating the firstborn to the Lord was like a mark, a visible way to identify oneself as the Lord’s possession.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.