Exodus 13:15
13 You must redeem every firstborn donkey with a lamb, and if you do not redeem it, you are to break its neck. And every firstborn of your sons you must redeem.
14 In the future, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you are to tell him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
And when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both of man and beast. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb, but I redeem all the firstborn of my sons.’
16 So it shall serve as a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead, for with a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.”
17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road through the land of the Philistines, though it was shorter. For God said, “If the people face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- And when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both of man and beast. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb, but I redeem all the firstborn of my sons.’
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of livestock. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that opens the womb, being males; but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’
- ASV
- and it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that Jehovah slew all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born of beast: therefore I sacrifice to Jehovah all that openeth the womb, being males; but all the first-born of my sons I redeem.
- DARBY
- And it came to pass, when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, that Jehovah slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of men and the firstborn of cattle: therefore I sacrifice to Jehovah all that breaketh open the womb being males; and every firstborn of my children I ransom.
- BLB
- And it came to pass, when Pharaoh hardened himself to sending us out, that YHWH killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of man and to the firstborn of beast. Upon thus I am sacrificing to YHWH all the males opening a womb; and every firstborn of my sons I redeem.’
- ÅB
- For dengang da Farao satte seg hårdt imot å la oss fare, da slo Herren ihjel alt førstefødt i Egypt, både folk og fe; derfor ofrer jeg Herren alt det som åpner morsliv, det som er av hankjønn, og alle førstefødte blant mine sønner løser jeg.
- OTB
- Da Farao hardnakket nektet å la oss gå, drepte Herren de førstefødte i landet Egypt, både mennesker og dyr. Dette er grunnen til at jeg ofrer til Herren det første hannkjønn av hvert morsliv og løser ut hver av mine førstefødte sønner.’
- B1930
- For dengang da Farao satte sig hårdt imot å la oss fare, da slo Herren ihjel alt førstefødt i Egyptens land, både folk og fe; derfor ofrer jeg Herren alt det som åpner morsliv, det som er av hankjønn, og alle førstefødte blandt mine sønner løser jeg.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Exodus 12:29
Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon, as well as all the firstborn among the livestock.
Read in context