Exodus 13:14
And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The instruction here isn't just about reciting facts, but about revealing the power behind the deliverance. When your son asks, the answer centers not on a historical date, but on God’s mighty hand, emphasizing His active, strong intervention that broke the chains of slavery. This highlights that the core of the story is God's awesome strength, not just an event remembered.
This passage comes right after God's commands for Israel to set apart every firstborn male and animal, explaining how to redeem those that aren't fit for sacrifice. It's part of the instructions for observing the Passover and a memorial of their miraculous deliverance from slavery in Egypt, emphasizing the need to teach future generations about God's mighty acts. The verse itself directly instructs parents on how to explain these traditions when their children inquire about their meaning.
Generations before us experienced God's mighty acts. How do we make sure those stories don't just become ancient history?
This verse isn't just about a future event; it's a command for ongoing instruction. The 'time to come' points to a continuous cycle of teaching.
The 'Ask' and the 'Answer'
This is the core of passing on faith – answering the 'why' behind our practices and beliefs with the story of God's deliverance.
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Egypt was a place of oppression, a 'house of slavery.' What does God's 'strong hand' mean in that context?
The phrase 'by a strong hand' isn't just a poetic description; it's a powerful reminder of God's active and decisive intervention.
More Than Just Force
Understand the original words
yad chazaqah · Hebrew Noun phrase
A metaphor for God's sovereign, irresistible, and sovereign power in history, especially regarding the deliverance of His people from oppression.
ebed · Hebrew Noun
A state of forced labor and lack of autonomy; in biblical theology, it serves as a powerful type of humanity's bondage to sin and Satan before God's redemptive work.
The instruction for parents to explain the Passover to their children is given at the very moment of departure from Egypt, a time of intense emotion and miraculous deliverance. This immediate context underscores the importance of remembering and recounting God's powerful intervention for future generations.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Israelites Depart Egypt
Following the ten plagues and the final devastating plague on Egypt's firstborn, the Israelites are commanded to leave Egypt after 430 years of slavery. This marks the beginning of their exodus.
c. 1446 BC
Red Sea Crossing
After leaving Egypt, the Israelites are pursued by Pharaoh's army. God miraculously parts the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground, and then drowns the pursuing Egyptian forces.
c. 1446 BC
Wilderness Wanderings Begin
After crossing the Red Sea, the Israelites enter the Sinai wilderness. They begin a 40-year period of wandering due to their disobedience and lack of faith.
c. 1406 BC
Israel Enters Canaan
After 40 years of wandering, the generation that left Egypt (except for Joshua and Caleb) has died. The new generation, under Joshua's leadership, finally crosses the Jordan River and enters the Promised Land.
This passage echoes the instruction in Exodus 13:14, emphasizing that parents should be prepared to explain God's works and commands to their children when asked, thereby passing down the faith through generations.
Psalm 78:4The Psalmist here reflects on the importance of recounting God's mighty deeds and praises, mirroring the command in Exodus 13:14 to teach future generations about their deliverance from slavery.
Joshua 4:6Similar to the 'what is this?' question in Exodus 13:14, this passage describes a memorial stone set up to prompt children to ask about its meaning, leading to an explanation of God's powerful intervention in leading Israel.
Romans 12:1While Exodus 13:14 focuses on remembering a historical deliverance, Romans 12:1 calls believers to present themselves as living sacrifices in response to God's mercies, highlighting the ongoing theme of dedication that stems from recognizing God's saving acts.
cambridgeExodus 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:"
14 . in time to come ] Heb. to-morrow : so Genesis 30:33 , Deuteronomy 6:20 , Joshua 4:6 ; Joshua 4:21 ; Joshua 22:24 ; Joshua 22:27-28 †. By strength of hand , &c.] See on v. 3. 14–15 . The children to be instructed (as in v. 8) on the meaning of the observance: it is a memorial of the de…
gillExodus 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:"
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…
The instruction here isn't just about reciting facts, but about revealing the power behind the deliverance. When your son asks, the answer centers not on a historical date, but on God’s mighty hand, emphasizing His active, strong intervention that broke the chains of slavery. This highlights that the core of the story is God's awesome strength, not just an event remembered.
This passage comes right after God's commands for Israel to set apart every firstborn male and animal, explaining how to redeem those that aren't fit for sacrifice. It's part of the instructions for observing the Passover and a memorial of their miraculous deliverance from slavery in Egypt, emphasizing the need to teach future generations about God's mighty acts. The verse itself directly instructs parents on how to explain these traditions when their children inquire about their meaning.
This passage comes right after God's commands for Israel to set apart every firstborn male and animal, explaining how to redeem those that aren't fit for sacrifice. It's part of the instructions for observing the Passover and a memorial of their miraculous deliverance from slavery in Egypt, emphasizing the need to teach future generations about God's mighty acts. The verse itself directly instructs parents on how to explain these traditions when their children inquire about their meaning.
"And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery." — The instruction here isn't just about reciting facts, but about revealing the power behind the deliverance. When your son asks, the answer centers not on a historical date, but on God’s mighty hand…
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