Keraia
Exodus 13

Exodus 13:16

The Dedication of the Firstborn · Exodus 13:1–16
Read Exodus 13

Translations

Modern
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.”
Traditional
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.
Literal
And it shall be for a sign on your hand and for frontlets between your eyes, for by strength of hand YHWH brought us out from Egypt.”
Latin
Erit igitur quasi signum in manu tua, et quasi appensum quid, ob recordationem, inter oculos tuos: eo quod in manu forti eduxit nos Dominus de Ægypto.

Original

Hebrew
English
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.”

Notes

Exodus 13:16

Like the yearly Passover celebration, dedicating the firstborn to the Lord was a visible sign of belonging to the LORD (13:9).

Exodus 13:1–16

Like the Passover celebration, the dedication of the firstborn helped the people remember what God did during the Passover. God spared the firstborn sons of Israel. Because of this, those firstborn sons belonged to him and had to be redeemed (bought back with a price).

Each year, the people sacrificed and ate a lamb. This act pointed forward to what God would do by giving his Son, Jesus Christ, as a substitute. All people deserve death because of sin. But God redeems them through a price, the life of his Son.

Events

Parallels

Deuteronomy 15:19–23

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus

Glossary

Aaron Book of Exodus Chronology of the Bible (New Testament) Deuteronomy, Book of Frontlet Phylactery

Topics

Children: Instruction of Frontlets: A Leather Band Worn on the Forehead, Containing Certain Commandments Instruction in Religion Instruction of Children Israel: The Day of Their Deliverance to be a Memorial Law: On Frontlets for the Forehead, and Parchment for the Hand Memorial: Firstborn Set Apart As A Phylactery: A Small Box Containing Slips of Parchment on Which There Were Written Portions of the Law Thankfulness: Enjoined The Eye: The Jews: Wore Their Phylacteries Between Token: Consecration of the Firstborn