Exodus 13:1-15 ▼

1 AND the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

2 Sanctify to me every first-born that opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of men and of animals; for they are mine.

3 And Moses said to the people, Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by a strong hand the LORD brought you out from this place; there shall no leavened bread be eaten on this day.

4 In this day you are going forth in the month of Abib.

5 And it shall be when the LORD shall bring you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, the Jebusites, and the Perizzites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, therefore you shall keep this service in this month.

6 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a festival to the LORD.

7 Unleavened bread shall you eat for seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with you throughout all your territory.

8 And you shall tell your son on that day, This is done because of what my God did for me when I came forth out of Egypt.

9 And it shall be to you for a sign. a token of remembrance upon your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, so that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand has the LORD brought you out of Egypt.

10 You must therefore keep this ordinance and this law at its appointed time from year to year.

11 And it shall be when the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and shall give it to you,

12 You shall set apart to the LORD every first-born that opens the womb and every firstling that comes of the animals that you have; the males shall be the LORD'S.

13 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.

14 And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, What is this? You shall say to him, By a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt from the house of bondage;

15 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh was stubborn, and would not let us go, the LORD slew all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of man to the first-born of animals; that is why I sacrifice to the LORD all that open the womb, being males; but all the first-born of my sons I redeem.