Exodus 13 · Verse 15

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 13:15, King James Version

Exodus 13:15 in other translations

BSBAnd when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both of man and beast. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the firstborn male of every womb, but I redeem all the firstborn of my sons.’
WEBWhen Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of livestock. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that opens the womb, being males; but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’
ASVand it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that Jehovah slew all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born of beast: therefore I sacrifice to Jehovah all that openeth the womb, being males; but all the first-born of my sons I redeem.
YLTyea, it cometh to pass, when Pharaoh hath been pained to send us away, that Jehovah doth slay every first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of man even unto the first-born of beast; therefore I am sacrificing to Jehovah all opening a womb who are males, and every first-born of my sons I ransom;
DARBYAnd it came to pass, when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, that Jehovah slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of men and the firstborn of cattle: therefore I sacrifice to Jehovah all that breaketh open the womb — being males; and every firstborn of my children I ransom.
BBEAnd when Pharaoh made his heart hard and would not let us go, the Lord sent death on all the first sons in Egypt, of man and of beast: and so every first male who comes to birth is offered to the Lord; but for all the first of my sons I give a price.
WebsterAnd it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born of beasts: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the first-born of my children I redeem.

What does Exodus 13:15 mean?

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Exodus 13:11-16

The firstlings of beast not used in sacrifice, were to be changed for others so used, or they were to be destroyed. Our souls are forfeited to God's justice, and unless ransomed by the sacrifice of Christ, will certainly perish. These institutions would continually remind them of their duty, to love and serve the Lord. In like manner, baptism and the Lord's supper, if explained and attended to, would remind us, and…

Read the full comment on Exodus 13:11-16 →

Exodus 13:15 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיְהִ֗יvay.Hiand it wasH1961
כִּֽי\־ki-thatH3588
הִקְשָׁ֣הhik.Shahhe made stubbornH7185
פַרְעֹה֮far.'OhPharaohH6547
לְשַׁלְּחֵנוּ֒le.sha.le.che.Nuto let go usH7971
וַיַּהֲרֹ֨גvai.ya.ha.Rogand he killedH2026
יְהֹוָ֤הYah.wehYahwehH3068
כָּל\־kol-everyH3605
בְּכוֹר֙be.khOrfirstbornH1060
בְּאֶ֣רֶץbe.'E.retzin [the] land ofH776
מִצְרַ֔יִםmitz.Ra.yimEgyptH4714
מִבְּכֹ֥רmi.be.Khorfrom [the] firstborn ofH1060
אָדָ֖ם'a.DamhumankindH120
וְעַד\־ve.'ad-and untoH5704
בְּכ֣וֹרbe.Khor[the] firstborn ofH1060
בְּהֵמָ֑הbe.he.MahlivestockH929
עַל\־'al-there-H5921
כֵּן֩ken-foreH3651
אֲנִ֨י'a.NiIH589
זֹבֵ֜חַzo.Ve.ach[am] sacrificingH2076
לַֽיהוָ֗הla.Yah.wehto YahwehH3068
כָּל\־kol-everyH3605
פֶּ֤טֶרPe.terfirstborn ofH6363
רֶ֙חֶם֙re.chema wombH7358
הַזְּכָרִ֔יםha.ze.kha.Rimthe malesH2145
וְכָל\־ve.kholand everyH3605
בְּכ֥וֹרbe.Khor<the> firstborn ofH1060
בָּנַ֖יba.Naisons myH1121
אֶפְדֶּֽה\׃'ef.DehI redeemH6299

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Exodus 13:15

  • 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.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the Lord slew.
12:29
therefore I.
12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Exodus 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:

  • 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 13:16

    And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt.

Read all of Exodus 13

Exodus 13:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y endureciéndose Faraón en no dejarnos ir, Jehová mató en la tierra de Egipto á todo primogénito, desde el primogénito humano hasta el primogénito de la bestia: y por esta causa yo sacrifico á Jehová todo primogénito macho, y redimo todo primogénito de mis hijos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et il arriva, quand le Pharaon s’obstinait à ne pas nous laisser aller, que l’ Éternel tua tous les premiers-nés dans le pays d’Égypte, depuis le premier-né des hommes jusqu’au premier-né des bêtes; c’est pourquoi je sacrifie à l’ Éternel tout ce qui ouvre la matrice, les mâles, et je rachète tout premier-né de mes fils.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und es geschah, da der Pharao sich hartnäckig weigerte, uns ziehen zu lassen, tötete Jehova alle Erstgeburt im Lande Ägypten, vom Erstgeborenen des Menschen bis zum Erstgeborenen des Viehes; darum opfere ich dem Jehova alles, was die Mutter bricht, die Männlichen, und jeden Erstgeborenen meiner Söhne löse ich.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Nam cum induratus esset Pharao, et nollet nos dimittere, occidit Dominus omne primogenitum in terra Ægypti, a primogenito hominis usque ad primogenitum jumentorum: idcirco immolo Domino omne quod aperit vulvam masculini sexus, et omnia primogenita filiorum meorum redimo.