New American Standard Bible 1995

Exodus 13

Consecration of the Firstborn

1Then the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068spokeוַיְדַבֵּ֥רvay.da.BerH1696to Mosesמֹשֶׁ֥הmo.ShehH4872,sayingלֵּאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

2“Sanctifyקַדֶּשׁ־ka.desh-H6942to Me everyכָל־khol-H3605firstbornבְּכ֜וֹרbe.KhorH1060,the firstH6363offspringH6363of everyכָּל־kol-H3605wombרֶ֙חֶם֙re.chemH7358among the sonsבִּבְנֵ֣יbiv.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,both of manבָּאָדָ֖םba.'a.DamH120and beastוּבַבְּהֵמָ֑הu.va.be.he.MahH929; it belongs to Me.”

3Mosesמֹשֶׁ֜הmo.ShehH4872saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to the peopleהָעָ֗םha.'AmH5971, “Rememberזָכ֞וֹרza.KhorH2142thisהַזֶּה֙ha.ZehH2088dayהַיּ֤וֹםhai.YomH3117in whichאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834you wentיְצָאתֶ֤םye.tza.TemH3318out from Egyptמִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙mi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714,from the houseמִבֵּ֣יתmi.BeitH1004ofslaveryעֲבָדִ֔ים'a.va.DimH5650; for bya powerfulבְּחֹ֣זֶקbe.Cho.zekH2392handיָ֔דYadH3027the Lordיְהֹוָ֛הYah.wehH3068broughtהוֹצִ֧יאho.Tzi'H3318you out from thisמִזֶּ֑הmi.ZehH2088place.And nothingוְלֹ֥אve.Lo'H3808leavenedחָמֵֽץ׃cha.MetzH2557shall be eatenיֵאָכֵ֖לye.'a.KhelH398.

4On this dayהַיּ֖וֹםhai.YomH3117in themonthבְּחֹ֖דֶשׁbe.Cho.deshH2320of Abibהָאָבִֽיב׃ha.'a.VivH24,you are about to goיֹצְאִ֑יםyo.tze.'ImH3318forthH3318.

5It shall be whenכִֽי־khi-H3588the Lordיְהוָ֡הYah.wehH3068bringsיְבִֽיאֲךָ֣ye.vi.'a.KhaH935you to the landאֶ֣רֶץ'E.retzH776of the Canaaniteהַֽ֠כְּנַעֲנִיHa.ke.na.'a.niH3669,the Hittiteוְהַחִתִּ֨יve.ha.chi.TiH2850,the Amoriteוְהָאֱמֹרִ֜יve.ha.'e.mo.RiH567,the Hiviteוְהַחִוִּ֣יve.ha.chi.ViH2340and the Jebusiteוְהַיְבוּסִ֗יve.hay.vu.SiH2983,whichאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834He sworeנִשְׁבַּ֤עnish.Ba'H7650to your fathersלַאֲבֹתֶ֙יךָ֙la.'a.vo.Tei.khaH1to giveלָ֣תֶתLa.tetH5414you, a landאֶ֛רֶץ'E.retzH776flowingזָבַ֥תza.VatH2100with milkחָלָ֖בcha.LavH2461and honeyוּדְבָ֑שׁu.de.VashH1706, that you shallobserveוְעָבַדְתָּ֛ve.'a.vad.TaH5647thisH2088riteהָעֲבֹדָ֥הha.'a.vo.DahH5656in thisH2088monthבַּחֹ֥דֶשׁba.Cho.deshH2320.

6Forsevenשִׁבְעַ֥תshiv.'AtH7651daysיָמִ֖יםya.MimH3117you shall eatתֹּאכַ֣לto.KhalH398unleavenedמַצֹּ֑תma.TzotH4682breadH4682,and on the seventhהַשְּׁבִיעִ֔יha.she.vi.'IH7637dayוּבַיּוֹם֙u.vai.yOmH3117there shall be a feastחַ֖גchagH2282to the Lordלַיהוָֽה׃la.Yah.wehH3068.

7Unleavenedמַצּוֹת֙ma.tzOtH4682breadH4682shall be eatenיֵֽאָכֵ֔לye.'a.KhelH398throughout the sevenשִׁבְעַ֣תshiv.'AtH7651daysהַיָּמִ֑יםhai.ya.MimH3117; andnothingוְלֹֽא־ve.lo'-H3808leavenedחָמֵ֗ץcha.MetzH2557shall be seenיֵרָאֶ֨הye.ra.'EhH7200among you, norוְלֹֽא־ve.lo'-H3808shall any leavenשְׂאֹ֖רse.'OrH7603be seenיֵרָאֶ֥הye.ra.'EhH7200among you in allבְּכָל־be.kholH3605your bordersגְּבֻלֶֽךָ׃ge.vu.Le.khaH1366.

8You shall tellוְהִגַּדְתָּ֣ve.hi.gad.TaH5046your sonלְבִנְךָ֔le.vin.KhaH1121on that dayבַּיּ֥וֹםbai.YomH3117,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559, ‘It is becauseבַּעֲב֣וּרba.'a.VurH5668of whatזֶ֗הZehH2088the Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068didעָשָׂ֤ה'a.SahH6213for me when I cameבְּצֵאתִ֖יbe.tze.TiH3318out of Egyptמִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃mi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714.’

9And it shallserveH1961as a signלְא֜וֹתle.'otH226to you on your handיָדְךָ֗ya.de.KhaH3027,and as a reminderוּלְזִכָּרוֹן֙u.le.zi.ka.rOnH2146on your foreheadבֵּ֣ין עֵינֶ֔יךָbein 'ei.Nei.khaH996 H5869,that the lawתּוֹרַ֥תto.RatH8451of the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068may be in your mouthבְּפִ֑יךָbe.Fi.khaH6310; for witha powerfulחֲזָקָ֔הcha.za.KahH2389handבְּיָ֣דbe.YadH3027the Lordיְהֹוָ֖הYah.wehH3068broughtהוֹצִֽאֲךָ֥ho.tzi.'a.KhaH3318you out of Egyptמִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃mi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714.

10Therefore, you shallkeepוְשָׁמַרְתָּ֛ve.sha.mar.TaH8104thisH2088ordinanceהַחֻקָּ֥הha.chu.KahH2708at its appointedH4150timeלְמוֹעֲדָ֑הּle.mo.'a.DahH4150fromyearמִיָּמִ֖יםmi.ya.MimH3117to yearיָמִֽימָה׃ סya.Mi.mahH3117.

11“Now whenכִּֽי־ki-H3588the Lordיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068bringsיְבִֽאֲךָ֤ye.vi.'a.KhaH935you to the landאֶ֣רֶץ'E.retzH776of the Canaaniteהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֔יha.ke.na.'a.NiH3669, asHe sworeנִשְׁבַּ֥עnish.Ba'H7650to you and to your fathersוְלַֽאֲבֹתֶ֑יךָve.la.'a.vo.Tei.khaH1,and givesוּנְתָנָ֖הּu.ne.ta.NahH5414it to you,

12you shalldevoteוְהַעֲבַרְתָּ֥ve.ha.'a.var.TaH5674to the Lordלַֽיהֹוָ֑הla.Yah.wehH3068the firstH6363offspringH6363of everyכָל־khol-H3605wombרֶ֖חֶםRe.chemH7358, andthe firstH6363offspringH6363of everyוְכָל־ve.kholH3605beastבְּהֵמָ֗הbe.he.MahH929that you ownיִהְיֶ֥הyih.YehH1961;the malesהַזְּכָרִ֖יםha.ze.kha.RimH2145belong to the Lordלַיהוָֽה׃la.Yah.wehH3068.

13Buteveryוְכָל־ve.kholH3605firstH6363offspringH6363of a donkeyחֲמֹר֙cha.MorH2543you shall redeemתִּפְדֶּ֣הtif.DehH6299with a lambבְשֶׂ֔הve.SehH7716,but ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518you do not redeemתִפְדֶּ֖הtif.DehH6299it,then you shall breakוַעֲרַפְתּ֑וֹva.'a.raf.ToH6202its neckH6202; andeveryוְכֹ֨לve.KholH3605firstbornבְּכ֥וֹרbe.KhorH1060of manאָדָ֛ם'a.DamH120among your sonsבְּבָנֶ֖יךָbe.va.Nei.khaH1121you shall redeemתִּפְדֶּֽה׃tif.DehH6299.

14And it shall be whenכִּֽי־ki-H3588your sonבִנְךָ֛vin.KhaH1121asksיִשְׁאָלְךָ֥yish.'a.le.KhaH7592you in timeמָחָ֖רma.CharH4279to comeH4279,sayingלֵאמֹ֣רle.MorH559, ‘Whatמַה־mah-H4100is thisH2088?’then you shall sayוְאָמַרְתָּ֣ve.'a.mar.TaH559to him, ‘With apowerfulבְּחֹ֣זֶקbe.Cho.zekH2392handיָ֗דYadH3027the Lordיְהוָ֛הYah.wehH3068broughtהוֹצִיאָ֧נוּho.tzi.'A.nuH3318us out of Egyptמִמִּצְרַ֖יִםmi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714,from the houseמִבֵּ֥יתmi.BeitH1004ofslaveryעֲבָדִֽים׃'a.va.DimH5650.

15It cameוַיְהִ֗יvay.HiH1961about, whenכִּֽי־ki-H3588Pharaohפַרְעֹה֮far.'OhH6547was stubbornהִקְשָׁ֣הhik.ShahH7185about lettingH7971us goלְשַׁלְּחֵנוּ֒le.sha.le.che.NuH7971, that theLordיְהֹוָ֤הYah.wehH3068killedוַיַּהֲרֹ֨גvai.ya.ha.RogH2026everyכָּל־kol-H3605firstbornבְּכוֹר֙be.khOrH1060in the landבְּאֶ֣רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Egyptמִצְרַ֔יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714,bothH4480the firstbornמִבְּכֹ֥רmi.be.KhorH1060of manאָדָ֖ם'a.DamH120and the firstbornבְּכ֣וֹרbe.KhorH1060of beastבְּהֵמָ֑הbe.he.MahH929.Thereforeעַל־ כֵּן֩'al- kenH5921 H3651,I sacrificeזֹבֵ֜חַzo.Ve.achH2076to the Lordלַֽיהוָ֗הla.Yah.wehH3068the malesהַזְּכָרִ֔יםha.ze.kha.RimH2145,the firstH6363offspringH6363of everyכָּל־kol-H3605wombרֶ֙חֶם֙re.chemH7358,but everyוְכָל־ve.kholH3605firstbornבְּכ֥וֹרbe.KhorH1060of my sonsבָּנַ֖יba.NaiH1121I redeemאֶפְדֶּֽה׃'ef.DehH6299.’

16So it shallserveוְהָיָ֤הve.ha.YahH1961as a signלְאוֹת֙le.'OtH226on your handיָ֣דְכָ֔הya.de.KhahH3027and asphylacteriesוּלְטוֹטָפֹ֖תu.le.to.ta.FotH2903on your foreheadבֵּ֣ין עֵינֶ֑יךָbein 'ei.Nei.khaH996 H5869, for with apowerfulבְּחֹ֣זֶקbe.Cho.zekH2392handיָ֔דYadH3027the Lordיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068broughtהוֹצִיאָ֥נוּho.tzi.'A.nuH3318us out of Egyptמִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃ סmi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714.”

God Leads the People

17Now when Pharaohפַּרְעֹה֮par.'OhH6547had letH7971the peopleהָעָם֒ha.'AmH5971goבְּשַׁלַּ֣חbe.sha.LachH7971,Godאֱלֹהִ֗ים'E.lo.HimH430did not leadנָחָ֣םna.ChamH5148them by the wayדֶּ֚רֶךְDe.rekhH1870of the landאֶ֣רֶץ'E.retzH776of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יםpe.lish.TimH6430,evenכִּ֥יkiH3588thoughכִּ֣י׀kiH3588it was nearקָר֖וֹבka.RovH7138;for Godאֱלֹהִ֗ים'E.lo.HimH430saidאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559, “The peopleהָעָ֛םha.'AmH5971mightפֶּֽן־pen-H6435changeH5162their mindsH5162when they seeבִּרְאֹתָ֥םbir.'o.TamH7200warמִלְחָמָ֖הmil.cha.MahH4421,and returnוְשָׁ֥בוּve.Sha.vuH7725to Egyptמִצְרָֽיְמָה׃mitz.Ra.ye.mahH4714.”

18Hence Godאֱלֹהִ֧ים׀'E.lo.HimH430ledH5437the peopleהָעָ֛םha.'AmH5971aroundH5437by the wayדֶּ֥רֶךְDe.rekhH1870of the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּ֖רha.mid.BarH4057to theRedס֑וּףSufH5488 H3220Seaיַם־yam-H3220;and the sonsבְנֵי־ve.nei-H1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478wentעָל֥וּ'a.LuH5927upin martialH2571arrayוַחֲמֻשִׁ֛יםva.cha.mu.ShimH2571from the landמֵאֶ֥רֶץme.'E.retzH776of Egyptמִצְרָֽיִם׃mitz.Ra.yimH4714.

19Mosesמֹשֶׁ֛הmo.ShehH4872tookוַיִּקַּ֥חvai.yi.KachH3947the bonesעַצְמ֥וֹתatz.MotH6106of Josephיוֹסֵ֖ףyo.SefH3130with him, for he had made the sonsבְּנֵ֤יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478solemnlyהַשְׁבֵּ֨עַhash.Be.a'H7650swearהִשְׁבִּ֜יעַhish.Bi.a'H7650,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, “Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430will surelyH6485takeH6485careH6485of you, and you shall carryוְהַעֲלִיתֶ֧םve.ha.'a.li.TemH5927my bonesעַצְמֹתַ֛י'atz.mo.TaiH6106from hereמִזֶּ֖הmi.ZehH2088with you.”

20Then they setוַיִּסְע֖וּvai.yis.'UH5265out fromSuccothמִסֻּכֹּ֑תmi.su.KotH5523and campedוַיַּחֲנ֣וּvai.ya.cha.NuH2583in Ethamבְאֵתָ֔םve.'e.TamH864on the edgeבִּקְצֵ֖הbik.TzehH7097of the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּֽר׃ha.mid.BarH4057.

21The Lordוַֽיהוָ֡הva.Yah.wehH3068was goingהֹלֵךְ֩ho.leKhH1980beforeלִפְנֵיהֶ֨םlif.nei.HemH6440them in a pillarבְּעַמּ֤וּדbe.'a.MudH5982of cloudעָנָן֙'a.NanH6051by dayיוֹמָ֜םyo.MamH3119to leadלַנְחֹתָ֣םlan.cho.TamH5148them on the wayהַדֶּ֔רֶךְha.De.rekhH1870,and in a pillarבְּעַמּ֥וּדbe.'a.MudH5982of fireאֵ֖שׁ'eshH784by nightוְלַ֛יְלָהve.Lay.lahH3915to giveלְהָאִ֣ירle.ha.'IrH215them lightH215, that they mighttravelלָלֶ֖כֶתla.Le.khetH1980by dayיוֹמָ֥םyo.MamH3119and by nightוָלָֽיְלָה׃va.La.ye.lahH3915.

22Hedid not takeH4185awayH4185the pillarעַמּ֤וּד'a.MudH5982of cloudהֶֽעָנָן֙he.'a.NanH6051by dayיוֹמָ֔םyo.MamH3119,norלֹֽא־lo'-H3808the pillarוְעַמּ֥וּדve.'a.MudH5982of fireהָאֵ֖שׁha.'EshH784by nightלָ֑יְלָהLa.ye.lahH3915,from beforeלִפְנֵ֖יlif.NeiH6440the peopleהָעָֽם׃ פha.'AmH5971.

Consecration of the Firstborn

God Leads the People

Commentaries on Exodus 13