Bible/Exodus/13

Exodus 13:2

13:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

KJV

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“Sanctify to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of animal. It is mine.”

Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

Sanctify to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine. ¶

13:3 And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten. bondage: Heb. servants

What does Exodus 13:2 mean?

Exodus 13:2 is a verse in the book of Exodus, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include קָדַשׁ (qâdash), בְּכוֹר (bᵉkôwr), פֶּטֶר (peṭer). It connects to 14 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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Sanctifyקָדַשׁqâdash/kaw-dash'/H6942to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally)
unto
me
all
the
firstborn,בְּכוֹרbᵉkôwr/bek-ore'/H1060firstborn; hence, chief
whatsoever
openethפֶּטֶרpeṭer/peh'-ter/H6363a fissure, i.e. (concretely) firstling (as opening the matrix)
the
wombרֶחֶםrechem/rekh'-em/H7358the womb
among
the
childrenבֵּןbên/bane/H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
of
Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלYisrâʼêl/yis-raw-ale'/H3478Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
both
of
manאָדָםʼâdâm/aw-dawm'/H120ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
and
of
beast:בְּהֵמָהbᵉhêmâh/be-hay-maw'/H929properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)
it
is
mine.

Commentary on Exodus 13:2

HENRY_FULL · Exodus 13:2
="Exod.13" In this chapter we have, I. The commands God gave to Israel, 1. To sanctify all their firstborn to him, ver. 1, 2 . 2. To be sure to remember their deliverance out of Egypt ( v. 3, 4 ), and, in remembrance of it, to keep the feast of unleavened bread, ver. 5-7 . 3. To transmit the knowledge of it with all possible care to their children, ver. 8-10 . 4. To set apart unto God the firstlings of their cattle, ( ver. 11-13 ), and to explain that also to their children, ver. 14-16 . II. The care God took of Israel, when he had brought them out of Egypt. 1. Choosing their way for them, ver. 17, 18 . 2. Guiding them in the way, ver. 20-22 . And III. Their care of Joseph's bones, ver. 19 .

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Exodus 4:22

And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

Exodus 13:12

That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD'S. set: Heb. cause to pass over

Exodus 22:29

Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. the first: Heb. thy fulness liquors: Heb. tear

Exodus 22:30

Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.

Exodus 23:19

The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.

Exodus 34:19

All that openeth the matrix is mine; and every firstling among thy cattle, whether ox or sheep, that is male. sheep: or, kid

Exodus 34:20

But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty. lamb: or, kid

Numbers 3:13

Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.

Numbers 8:16

For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me.

Numbers 8:17

For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.

Numbers 18:15

Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the LORD, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.

Deuteronomy 15:19

All the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock, nor shear the firstling of thy sheep.

Luke 2:23

(As it is written in the law of the Lord Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

Hebrews 12:23

To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, written: or, enrolled

Topics

Quotations and AllusionsSanctification

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Exodus 13:2.

Exodus 13:15

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.

Exodus 13:12

That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD'S. set: Heb. cause to pass over

Numbers 3:12

And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;

Daniel 10:16

And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.

Exodus 11:5

And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.

Exodus 12:12

For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. gods: or, princes

Exodus 12:29

And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. dungeon: Heb. house of the pit

Exodus 13:13

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. lamb: or, kid

Frequently asked questions

What does Exodus 13:2 say?

Exodus 13:2 (King James Version) reads: "Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine."

Is Exodus 13:2 in the Old or New Testament?

Exodus 13:2 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Exodus.

Reflect

As you read Exodus 13:2, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Exodus 13:2
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