Exodus 13:13
New International Version
Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons.

New Living Translation
A firstborn donkey may be bought back from the LORD by presenting a lamb or young goat in its place. But if you do not buy it back, you must break its neck. However, you must buy back every firstborn son.

English Standard Version
Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.

New American Standard Bible
But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and every firstborn among your sons you shall redeem.

NASB 1995
“But every first offspring of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.

NASB 1977
“But every first offspring of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and every first-born of man among your sons you shall redeem.

Legacy Standard Bible
But every first offspring of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.

Amplified Bible
Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem by [substituting] a lamb [as a sacrifice for it], but if you do not [wish to] redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and every firstborn among your sons you shall redeem [that is, ‘buy back’ from God with a suitable sacrifice].

Christian Standard Bible
You must redeem every firstborn of a donkey with a flock animal, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. However, you must redeem every firstborn among your sons.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You must redeem every firstborn of a donkey with a flock animal, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. However, you must redeem every firstborn among your sons.”

American Standard Version
And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck: and all the first-born of man among thy sons shalt thou redeem.

Contemporary English Version
You can spare the life of a first-born donkey by sacrificing a lamb; if you don't, you must break the donkey's neck. You must spare every first-born son.

English Revised Version
And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy sons shalt thou redeem.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
It will cost you a sheep or a goat to buy any firstborn donkey back from the LORD. If you don't buy it back, then you must break the donkey's neck. You must also buy every firstborn son back from the LORD.

Good News Translation
but you must buy back from him every first-born male donkey by offering a lamb in its place. If you do not want to buy back the donkey, break its neck. You must buy back every first-born male child of yours.

International Standard Version
You are to redeem every firstborn donkey with a lamb, and if you don't redeem it, you are to break its neck. You are to redeem every firstborn among your sons.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
Every firstling of a donkey you must redeem with a lamb, and if you do not redeem it, then you must break its neck. Every firstborn of your sons you must redeem.

New Heart English Bible
Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and you shall redeem all the firstborn of man among your sons.

Webster's Bible Translation
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 first-born of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.

World English Bible
Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and you shall redeem all the firstborn of man among your sons.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And every firstling of a donkey you ransom with a lamb, and if you do not ransom [it], then you have beheaded it; and you ransom every firstborn of man among your sons.

Young's Literal Translation
And every firstling of an ass thou dost ransom with a lamb, and if thou dost not ransom it, then thou hast beheaded it: and every first-born of man among thy sons thou dost ransom.

Smith's Literal Translation
And every first-born of the ass, thou shalt redeem with a sheep; and if thou shalt not redeem, thou shalt break his neck: and every first-born of man among thy sons thou shalt redeem.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The firstborn of an ass thou shalt change for a sheep: and if thou do not redeem it, thou shalt kill it. And every firstborn of men thou shalt redeem with a price.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The firstborn of a donkey you will exchange for a sheep. And if you will not redeem it, you shall put it to death. But every firstborn of man among your sons, you shall redeem with a price.

New American Bible
Every firstborn of a donkey you will ransom with a sheep. If you do not ransom it, you will break its neck. Every human firstborn of your sons you must ransom.

New Revised Standard Version
But every firstborn donkey you shall redeem with a sheep; if you do not redeem it, you must break its neck. Every firstborn male among your children you shall redeem.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And every firstling male of the cattle you shall redeem with a lamb; but if you do not wish to redeem it, then you must kill it: and every first-born of men among your sons you shall redeem.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And every firstborn male that opens the womb of cattle you shall redeem by a lamb, and if you do not redeem it, you will kill it, and you will redeem every firstborn of a son of man of your children.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck; and all the first-born of man among thy sons shalt thou redeem.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Every offspring opening the womb of the ass thou shalt change for a sheep; and if thou wilt not change it, thou shalt redeem it: every first-born of man of thy sons shalt thou redeem.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Dedication of the Firstborn
12you are to present to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD. 13You 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. 14In 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.…

Cross References
Numbers 18:15
The firstborn of every womb, whether man or beast, that is offered to the LORD belongs to you. But you must surely redeem every firstborn son and every firstborn male of unclean animals.

Exodus 34:20
You must redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a lamb; but if you do not redeem it, you are to break its neck. You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. No one shall appear before Me empty-handed.

Leviticus 27:26-27
But no one may consecrate a firstborn of the livestock, because a firstborn belongs to the LORD. Whether it is an ox or a sheep, it is the LORD’s. / But if it is among the unclean animals, then he may redeem it according to your valuation and add a fifth of its value. If it is not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to your valuation.

Deuteronomy 15:19
You must set apart to the LORD your God every firstborn male produced by your herds and flocks. You are not to put the firstborn of your oxen to work, nor are you to shear the firstborn of your flock.

Luke 2:23
(as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”),

Numbers 3:46-47
To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites, / you are to collect five shekels for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel of twenty gerahs.

Numbers 3:12-13
“Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel in place of every firstborn Israelite from the womb. The Levites belong to Me, / for all the firstborn are Mine. On the day I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They are Mine; I am the LORD.”

1 Samuel 1:11
And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

Nehemiah 10:36
And we will bring the firstborn of our sons and our livestock, as it is written in the Law, and will bring the firstborn of our herds and flocks to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God.

Matthew 21:2-3
saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to Me. / If anyone questions you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

Romans 8:29
For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

Hebrews 11:28
By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.

1 Corinthians 6:20
you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

1 Peter 1:18-19
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, / but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.

Colossians 1:13-14
He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, / in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.


Treasury of Scripture

And every firstling of an ass you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among your children shall you redeem.

of an ass

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.

Numbers 18:15-17
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…

lamb, or kid

Exodus 12:3,21
Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: …

shalt thou

Numbers 3:46-51
And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites; …

Numbers 18:15,16
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…

Revelation 14:4
These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

Jump to Previous
Ass Beheaded Break Broken Children Donkey First Firstborn First-Born Firstling Lamb Neck Offspring Payment Ransom Redeem Wilt Young
Jump to Next
Ass Beheaded Break Broken Children Donkey First Firstborn First-Born Firstling Lamb Neck Offspring Payment Ransom Redeem Wilt Young
Exodus 13
1. The firstborn are sanctified to God
3. The memorial of the Passover is commanded
11. The firstborn of man and beast are set apart
17. The Israelites go out of Egypt, and carry Joseph's bones with them.
20. They come to Etham
21. God guides them by a pillar of a cloud, and a pillar of fire














But every firstborn donkey
The term "firstborn" in Hebrew is "bekor," which signifies the first offspring of a womb. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the firstborn held special significance, often associated with inheritance and leadership. The donkey, a valuable beast of burden in agrarian societies, represents unclean animals in the Levitical law. This highlights the principle that even what is considered unclean or common is under God's dominion and requires redemption.

you must redeem with a lamb
The Hebrew word for "redeem" is "padah," meaning to ransom or rescue. The act of redemption with a lamb underscores the sacrificial system pointing to substitutionary atonement. The lamb, a clean animal, serves as a substitute, prefiguring Christ, the Lamb of God, who redeems humanity. This reflects the theological theme of grace, where something of value is given to restore what is lost or unclean.

and if you do not redeem it, you are to break its neck
This phrase presents a stark choice, emphasizing the seriousness of redemption. The breaking of the neck signifies the forfeiture of life, illustrating the cost of neglecting redemption. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and the necessity of atonement. The act is not merely punitive but serves to reinforce the sacredness of God's commands and the value He places on redemption.

And every firstborn of man among your sons you must redeem
Here, the focus shifts to human firstborns, underscoring the sanctity of human life. The redemption of the firstborn sons is a perpetual reminder of the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt, where the firstborn of Egypt were struck down. This act of redemption is a covenantal obligation, symbolizing God's claim over His people and foreshadowing the ultimate redemption through Christ. The phrase encapsulates the theme of divine ownership and the call to live in accordance with God's redemptive purposes.

(13) Every firstling of an ass.--It is observable that nothing is said of the Israelites possessing horses. Horses were well known in Egypt at the time, but were kept only by the kings and the great men. The Hebrews had not been in a position ever to have possessed any. Asses, on the contrary, were exceedingly common, and formed the ordinary beasts of burden in the country. In default of camels, which they seem not to have owned, the Israelites must have carried their tents and other baggage on asses.

Thou shalt redeem.--Since the ass was unclean. In Egypt he is said to have been "Typhonian;" and Set, the Evil Principle, is represented with long ears, which may be those of an ass, cropped towards the upper extremity. The redeeming of an ass with a lamb (or kid) was favourable to the owner, since the ass colt must have been of considerably more value.

If thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck.--There will always be in every nation those who grudge to make any offering to God, and who will seek to evade every requisition for a gift. To check such stinginess, the present law was made. It would be effectual without requiring to be put in force.

All the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.--This was declared in anticipation of the arrangement afterwards to be made, whereby the tribe of Levi was taken in lieu of the firstborn for the service Of the sanctuary (Numbers 3:40-45), and an obligation was imposed on Israelites of other tribes to "redeem" their sons by a payment of five shekels for each to the priests (Numbers 18:15-16).

Verse 13. - Every firstling of an ass. The ass was the sole beast of burthen taken by the Israelites out of Egypt. (See Exodus 20:17.) Neither the horse nor the camel was among their possessions in the wilderness. This is agreeable to the Egyptian monuments, by which the camel appears to have been rare in Egypt at this time, and the horse as yet mainly used for war and by the nobles in their chariots. With a lamb. A lamb or a kid. The word used is the generic one. (See the comment on Exodus 12:3.) If thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck. This enactment was evidently made to prevent a refusal to redeem. It would not require to be put in force, since by refusing under such a penalty a man would suffer pecuniary loss. All the first-born of men among thy children. Rather "among thy sons." Shalt thou redeem. Later on, the amount of the redemption money was fixed at five shekels of the sanctuary for each. (Numbers 3:47.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You must redeem
תִּפְדֶּ֣ה (tip̄·deh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6299: To sever, ransom, gener, to release, preserve

every
וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

firstborn
פֶּ֤טֶר (pe·ṭer)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6363: That which separates or first opens

donkey
חֲמֹר֙ (ḥă·mōr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2543: A male ass

with a lamb,
בְשֶׂ֔ה (ḇə·śeh)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7716: A member of a, flock, a sheep, goat

and if
וְאִם־ (wə·’im-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

you do not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

redeem it,
תִפְדֶּ֖ה (ṯip̄·deh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6299: To sever, ransom, gener, to release, preserve

you are to break its neck.
וַעֲרַפְתּ֑וֹ (wa·‘ă·rap̄·tōw)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6202: To break the neck, to destroy

And every
וְכֹ֨ל (wə·ḵōl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

firstborn
בְּכ֥וֹר (bə·ḵō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief

of your sons
בְּבָנֶ֖יךָ (bə·ḇā·ne·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

you must redeem.
תִּפְדֶּֽה׃ (tip̄·deh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6299: To sever, ransom, gener, to release, preserve


Links
Exodus 13:13 NIV
Exodus 13:13 NLT
Exodus 13:13 ESV
Exodus 13:13 NASB
Exodus 13:13 KJV

Exodus 13:13 BibleApps.com
Exodus 13:13 Biblia Paralela
Exodus 13:13 Chinese Bible
Exodus 13:13 French Bible
Exodus 13:13 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Exodus 13:13 Every firstborn of a donkey you shall (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 13:12
Top of Page
Top of Page