Exodus 13:13

Exodus 13:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But 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 all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.

Context of Exodus 13:13

11When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and gives it to you, 12then you must give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. Every firstling of a beast that you have – the males will be the Lord’s. Every firstling of a donkey you must redeem with a lamb, and if you do not redeem it, then you must break its neck. Every firstborn of your sons you must redeem. 14In the future, when your son asks you ‘What is this?’ you are to tell him, ‘With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the land of slavery. 15When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to release us, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of people to the firstborn of animals. That is why I am sacrificing to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb, but all my firstborn sons I redeem.’

Exodus 13:13 word by word

וְכָל־פֶּ֤טֶר חֲמֹר֙ תִּפְדֶּ֣ה בְשֶׂ֔ה וְאִם־לֹ֥א תִפְדֶּ֖ה וַעֲרַפְתּ֑וֹ וְכֹ֨ל בְּכ֥וֹר אָדָ֛ם בְּבָנֶ֖יךָ תִּפְדֶּֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And every firstlingפֶּ֫טֶרpeţer piţrâh · firstbornH6363
• of an assחֲמוֹרchămôr chămôr · donkeyH2543
• thou shalt redeemפָּדָהpâdâh · to ransomH6299
• with a lambשֶׂהώeh ώêy · sheepH7716
• it, then thou shalt break his neckעָרַף‛âraph · to break the neckH6202
• and all the firstbornבְּכוֹרbekôr · firstbornH1060
• of manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
• among thy childrenבֵּןbên · son: childH1121

Cross-references for Exodus 13:13

• Exodus 34:20Now the firstling of a donkey you may redeem with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, then break its neck. You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. “No one will appear before me empty-handed.
• Numbers 18:15The firstborn of every womb which they present to the Lord, whether human or animal, will be yours. Nevertheless, the firstborn sons you must redeem, and the firstborn males of unclean animals you must redeem.
• Exodus 12:3Tell the whole community of Israel, ‘In the tenth day of this month they each must take a lamb for themselves according to their families – a lamb for each household.
• Numbers 3:46And for the redemption of the 273 firstborn males of the Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites,
• Revelation 14:4These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from humanity as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb,

Commentaries on Exodus 13:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb - Or a kid, as in the margin. In Numbers 18:15, it is said: "The first-born of man shalt thou surely redeem; and the firstling of an unclean beast shalt thou redeem." Hence we may infer that ass is put here for any unclean beast, or for unclean beasts in general. The lamb was to be given to the Lord, that is, to his priest, Numbers 18:8, Numbers 18:15. And then the owner of the ass might use it for…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13An ass - The ass could not be offered in sacrifice, being an unclean animal: possibly the only unclean animal domesticated among the Israelites at the time of the Exodus. This principle was extended to every unclean beast; see Numbers 18:15. Thou shalt redeem - The lamb, or sheep, was given to the priest for the service of the sanctuary. Firstborn of man - The price of redemption was fixed at five shekels of the sanctuary: Numbers 3:47, where see the note.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-16Verses 11-16 The firstlings of beast not used in sacrifice, were to be changed for others so used, or they were to be destroyed. Our souls are forfeited to God's justice, and unless ransomed by the sacrifice of Christ, will certainly perish. These institutions would continually remind them of their duty, to love and serve the Lord. In like manner, baptism and the Lord's supper, if explained and attended to, would remind us, and give us occasion to remind…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13Parents had to redeem their firstborn son. They could not sacrifice him to the Lord, as child sacrifice is condemned throughout Scripture (see Leviticus 18:21; 20:2; Ezekiel 23:37–39).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 11-1612-13. every firstling, &c.--the injunction respecting the consecration of the first-born, as here repeated, with some additional circumstances. The firstlings of clean beasts, such as lambs, kids, and calves, if males, were to be devoted to God and employed in sacrifice. Those unclean beasts, as the ass's colt, being unfit for sacrifice, were to be redeemed (Nu 18:15).Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 13:13

• Ass (Donkey)
• Firstborn
• Frontlets
• Instruction
• Israel
• Memorial

In the dictionaries

• Daub
• Encamp
• Firstborn, Redemption of
• Frontlets
• Mouth
• Murmur
• Passover
• Pillar
• Repent
• Break

Commentaries on Exodus 13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings