You shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse emphasizes the personal nature of God's actions. It's not just about what God did for "Israel," but what He did "for me," connecting the parent's experience directly to their child's instruction. This highlights that faith is passed down through personal testimony and lived experience, not just abstract facts.
You shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of the instructions God gives Moses regarding the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a commemoration of Israel's swift departure from Egypt. Following the command to eat unleavened bread for seven days, this verse instructs parents to explain the significance of the observance to their children. This teaching is meant to ensure the memory of God's mighty deliverance from slavery is passed down through generations.
Why is it so important for parents to tell their children about God's past actions? This verse highlights a profound reason.
Exodus 13:8 commands parents to explain the Passover meal to their children: 'It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.' This wasn't just a historical lesson; it was about instilling a living memory.
A Personal Testimony
The phrasing, 'what the LORD did for me,' emphasizes the personal impact of God's deliverance. Each generation was meant to internalize this rescue as if it happened directly to them. It’s not about recounting facts, but sharing a life-changing encounter with God's power and love.
Fueling Gratitude and Faith
By sharing these stories, parents aimed to cultivate deep gratitude in their children for God's faithfulness. This act of remembrance serves as a bridge, connecting the past miracle to the present and future, fostering a faith that trusts God not only for what He has done but for what He will do.
Festivals and rituals can sometimes feel like empty traditions. This verse reminds us of their vital purpose.
Exodus 13:8 connects a specific day and a command ('You shall tell your son...') to a profound reason: the memory of God's powerful act of bringing Israel out of Egypt.
Ritual with Purpose
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The unleavened bread and the Passover meal were not just religious observances; they were tangible reminders of a specific historical event and God's intervention. The command to explain it to children ensures that the 'why' is never lost.
Perpetuating Faith
This instruction is crucial for the perpetuation of faith. By passing down the story, each generation understands the foundation of their identity as God's people and the basis for their covenant relationship with Him. It transforms a ritual from a mere act into a living testimony.
This verse commands parents to pass down the story of the Exodus, emphasizing that the rituals of Passover and unleavened bread are direct, tangible reminders of God's powerful intervention for them. It's about making ancient history a living testimony for the next generation.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Israel's Exodus from Egypt
The LORD miraculously delivers the Israelites from over 400 years of slavery in Egypt under Moses' leadership. This event marks the birth of Israel as a nation.
c. 1446 BC
Institution of the Passover
Following the Exodus, God institutes the Passover feast to be celebrated annually, commemorating the final plague and Israel's redemption. It serves as a perpetual reminder of their deliverance.
c. 1446 BC
The Feast of Unleavened Bread Begins
Immediately after Passover, the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread commences. The haste of their departure from Egypt, not allowing dough to rise, is symbolized by this observance.
c. 1446 BC
Consecration of Firstborn Males
God claims all firstborn males, both human and animal, as His own, signifying His unique claim on the nation born out of this redemptive act. The firstborn sons are to be redeemed.
c. 1446 BC
Israel's Journey into the Wilderness
After leaving Egypt, Israel embarks on their journey toward the Promised Land. This period in the wilderness would test their faith and obedience.
This passage echoes the instruction to explain the significance of God's commands to future generations, reinforcing the idea of passing down faith through storytelling.
Psalm 78:4This psalm directly states the purpose of recounting God's deeds: to tell the praises of the Lord, His strength, and His wondrous works to the generations to come, mirroring the intent of Exodus 13:8.
1 Corinthians 11:24In the context of the Lord's Supper, Paul instructs believers to 'do this in remembrance of me,' drawing a parallel to the perpetual remembrance of God's deliverance commanded in Exodus.
Joshua 4:6When the Israelites crossed the Jordan, they set up memorial stones to prompt questions from their children about God's mighty acts, showing a consistent pattern of remembrance and instruction.
gillExodus 13:8: "And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt."
And thou shall show thy son in that day,.... On the first of the days of the feast of unleavened bread, the reason of eating it; and this is to be shown not to a son or single child only, but by parents to all their children, sons and daughters, and even unasked, as Maimonides (b) interprets it; and so Jarchi's note is, to a son that knows not h…
cambridgeExodus 13:8: "And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt."
8 . The children to be instructed (cf. on Exodus 12:26 ) on the meaning of the festival: it is to remind Israel in perpetuity of the duties which it owes to Jehovah, in gratitude for its deliverance out of Egypt.
This verse emphasizes the personal nature of God's actions. It's not just about what God did for "Israel," but what He did "for me," connecting the parent's experience directly to their child's instruction. This highlights that faith is passed down through personal testimony and lived experience, not just abstract facts.
This passage is part of the instructions God gives Moses regarding the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a commemoration of Israel's swift departure from Egypt. Following the command to eat unleavened bread for seven days, this verse instructs parents to explain the significance of the observance to their children. This teaching is meant to ensure the memory of God's mighty deliverance from slavery is passed down through generations.
This passage is part of the instructions God gives Moses regarding the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a commemoration of Israel's swift departure from Egypt. Following the command to eat unleavened bread for seven days, this verse instructs parents to explain the significance of the observance to their children. This teaching is meant to ensure the memory of God's mighty deliverance from slavery is passed down through generations.
"You shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’" — This verse emphasizes the personal nature of God's actions. It's not just about what God did for "Israel," but what He did "for me," connecting the parent's experience directly to their child's ins…
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Last reviewed October 2026