Exodus 34:20
New International Version
Redeem the firstborn donkey with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem all your firstborn sons. “No one is to appear before me empty-handed.

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. “No one may appear before me without an offering.

English Standard Version
The firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. And none shall appear before me empty-handed.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
But the firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb. And if you will not redeem him, then you shall break his neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. “And none shall appear before Me empty-handed.

New American Standard Bible
You shall redeem with a lamb the firstborn from a donkey; and if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. You shall redeem all the firstborn of your sons. None are to appear before Me empty-handed.

NASB 1995
“You shall redeem with a lamb the first offspring from a donkey; and if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. You shall redeem all the firstborn of your sons. None shall appear before Me empty-handed.

NASB 1977
“And you shall redeem with a lamb the first offspring from a donkey; and if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. You shall redeem all the first-born of your sons. And none shall appear before Me empty-handed.

Legacy Standard Bible
And you shall redeem with a lamb the first offspring from a donkey; and if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. You shall redeem all the firstborn of your sons. None shall appear before Me empty-handed.

Amplified Bible
You shall redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a lamb; but if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. You shall redeem all the firstborn of your sons. None of you are to appear before Me empty-handed.

Christian Standard Bible
You may redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a sheep, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. No one is to appear before me empty-handed.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You must redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a sheep, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. No one is to appear before Me empty-handed.”

American Standard Version
And the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck. All the first-born of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.

Contemporary English Version
You can save the life of a first-born donkey by sacrificing a lamb; if you don't, you must break the donkey's neck. You must save every first-born son. Bring an offering every time you come to worship.

English Revised Version
And the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
It will cost you a sheep or a goat to buy back the firstborn donkey. If you don't buy it back, then you must break the donkey's neck. You must buy back every firstborn of your sons. "No one may come into my presence without an offering.

Good News Translation
but you are to buy back every first-born donkey by offering a lamb in its place. If you do not buy it back, break its neck. Buy back every first-born son. "No one is to appear before me without an offering.

International Standard Version
You are to redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a sheep, and if you don't redeem it, you are to break its neck. You are to redeem every firstborn of your sons, and no one is to appear before me empty-handed.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
Now the firstling of a donkey you may redeem with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, then break its neck. You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. "No one will appear before me empty-handed.

New Heart English Bible
The firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb: and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. No one shall appear before me empty.

Webster's Bible Translation
But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou shalt not redeem him, then shalt thou break his neck. All the first-born of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.

World English Bible
You shall redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a lamb. If you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. You shall redeem all the firstborn of your sons. No one shall appear before me empty.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you ransom the firstling of a donkey with a lamb; and if you do not ransom, then you have beheaded it; you ransom every firstborn of your sons, and they do not appear before Me empty.

Young's Literal Translation
and the firstling of an ass thou dost ransom with a lamb; and if thou dost not ransom, then thou hast beheaded it; every first-born of thy sons thou dost ransom, and they do not appear before Me empty.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the first-born of the ass thou shalt redeem with a sheep: and if thou shalt not ransom, thou shalt break his neck. Every first-born of thy sons thou shalt ransom, and he shall not be seen before me empty.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a sheep: but if thou wilt not give a price for it, it shall be slain. The firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem: neither shalt thou appear before me empty.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The firstborn of a donkey, you shall redeem with a sheep. But if you will not give a price for it, it shall be slain. The firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. You shall not appear empty in my sight.

New American Bible
The firstling of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; if you do not redeem it, you must break its neck. The firstborn among your sons you shall redeem. No one shall appear before me empty-handed.

New Revised Standard Version
The firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. No one shall appear before me empty-handed.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And all the firstlings of the cattle you shall redeem with a lamb; but if you shall not redeem it, then you shall kill it. All the first-born of your sons you shall redeem. And none shall appear before me empty-handed.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Everything opening the womb to me and every firstborn of your cattle of oxen and of sheep.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck. All the first-born of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before Me empty.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the first-born of an ass thou shalt redeem with a sheep, and if thou wilt not redeem it thou shalt pay a price: every first-born of thy sons shalt thou redeem: thou shalt not appear before me empty.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The LORD Renews the Covenant
19The first offspring of every womb belongs to Me, including all the firstborn males among your livestock, whether cattle or sheep. 20You 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. 21Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even in the seasons of plowing and harvesting, you must rest.…

Cross References
Exodus 13:13
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.

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.

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.

Leviticus 27:26
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.

Deuteronomy 12:6
To that place you are to bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and heave offerings, your vow offerings and freewill offerings, as well as the firstborn of your herds and flocks.

Deuteronomy 12:17
Within your gates you must not eat the tithe of your grain or new wine or oil, the firstborn of your herds or flocks, any of the offerings that you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts.

Deuteronomy 14:23
And you are to eat a tenth of your grain, new wine, and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks, in the presence of the LORD your God at the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.

Deuteronomy 16:16
Three times a year all your men are to appear before the LORD your God in the place He will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the LORD empty-handed.

Deuteronomy 26:2
you are to take some of the firstfruits of all your produce from the soil of the land that the LORD your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for His Name,

1 Samuel 1:24
Once she had weaned him, Hannah took the boy with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. Though the boy was still young, she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh.

2 Chronicles 31:6
And the Israelites and Judahites who lived in the cities of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things consecrated to the LORD their God, and they laid them in large heaps.

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.

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

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.

Matthew 5:17
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.


Treasury of Scripture

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

firstling

Exodus 13:10
Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.

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.

lamb or kid.

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.

Numbers 3:45-51
Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD…

none

Exodus 23:15
Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)

Deuteronomy 16:16
Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:

1 Samuel 9:7,8
Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we? …

Jump to Previous
Appear Ass Beheaded Break Broken Donkey Empty Empty-Handed First Firstborn First-Born Firstling Lamb Neck Offering Offspring Payment Redeem Wilt
Jump to Next
Appear Ass Beheaded Break Broken Donkey Empty Empty-Handed First Firstborn First-Born Firstling Lamb Neck Offering Offspring Payment Redeem Wilt
Exodus 34
1. The tablets are replaced
5. The name of the Lord proclaimed
8. Moses entreats God to go with them
10. God makes a covenant with them, repeating certain duties
28. Moses after forty days on the mount, comes down with the tablets
29. His face is radiant, and he covers it with a veil














You must redeem
The Hebrew word for "redeem" is "פָּדָה" (padah), which means to ransom or rescue. In the context of ancient Israel, redemption was a crucial concept, symbolizing God's deliverance of His people from bondage. This act of redemption reflects the broader narrative of salvation, where God redeems His people from sin and death. The requirement to redeem signifies the value and sanctity of life, emphasizing that all firstborns belong to God and must be bought back, underscoring the principle of substitutionary atonement.

the firstborn of a donkey
The donkey, being an unclean animal according to Levitical law, could not be offered as a sacrifice. However, it was valuable for its utility in agriculture and transportation. The mention of the donkey highlights the inclusivity of God's laws, extending beyond just the clean animals to all aspects of life. This reflects God's sovereignty over all creation and His desire for His people to acknowledge Him in every aspect of their lives.

with a lamb
The lamb, a clean animal, was often used in sacrifices and symbolizes innocence and purity. The substitution of a lamb for a donkey points to the sacrificial system that foreshadows Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. This substitutionary act is a profound illustration of grace, where the innocent bears the cost for the unclean, prefiguring the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus.

But if you do not redeem it, you must break its neck
This phrase underscores the seriousness of the redemption process. The breaking of the donkey's neck if not redeemed signifies the loss of life and utility, emphasizing the cost of neglecting God's commands. It serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of obedience to God's laws. This act also highlights the principle that what is not redeemed is lost, pointing to the spiritual truth that without redemption, there is spiritual death.

You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons
The redemption of the firstborn sons is a direct reference to the Passover event, where God spared the firstborn of Israel while striking down the firstborn of Egypt. This act of redemption is a perpetual reminder of God's deliverance and the covenant relationship between God and His people. It signifies the sanctity of human life and the special place of the firstborn in the family structure, representing the family's strength and future.

No one shall appear before Me empty-handed
This command emphasizes the importance of approaching God with reverence and gratitude. In ancient Israel, appearing before God with an offering was a tangible expression of worship and acknowledgment of His provision and blessings. It reflects the principle that worship involves giving back to God a portion of what He has given us, symbolizing our dependence on Him and our commitment to His covenant. This phrase encourages believers to approach God with a heart full of gratitude and a willingness to give, recognizing that all we have is from Him.

(20) The firstling of an ass.--See Notes 1-3 on Exodus 13:13.



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

the firstborn
וּפֶ֤טֶר (ū·p̄e·ṭer)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6363: That which separates or first opens

of a donkey
חֲמוֹר֙ (ḥă·mō·wr)
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

but 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

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

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

all
כֹּ֣ל (kōl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

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

of your sons.
בָּנֶ֙יךָ֙ (bā·ne·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

No
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

one shall appear
יֵרָא֥וּ (yê·rā·’ū)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7200: To see

before Me
פָנַ֖י (p̄ā·nay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6440: The face

empty-handed.
רֵיקָֽם׃ (rê·qām)
Adverb
Strong's 7387: Emptily, ineffectually, undeservedly


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OT Law: Exodus 34:20 The firstborn of a donkey you shall (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 34:19
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