The Bible — World English Bible

Exodus 13

In brief

Exodus 13 follows right after the departure from Egypt. God asks that every firstborn be consecrated to him and that the feast of unleavened bread be kept in memory of the deliverance. Parents are to explain these acts to their children, who will ask the question “What is this?” The chapter then tells of the people's departure: God avoids the shortest road, the way of the Philistines, and leads them through the wilderness. A pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night guides Israel, and Moses takes the bones of Joseph with him.

The chapter in 4 parts

  1. v. 1-10Remembering the exodus from Egypt: unleavened bread
  2. v. 11-16Consecrating the firstborn and explaining it to the children
  3. v. 17-19A detour chosen by God, and the bones of Joseph
  4. v. 20-22The pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire

1Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

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

3Moses said to the people, “Remember this day, in which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand Yahweh brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten.

4Today you go out in the month Abib.

5It shall be, when Yahweh brings you into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month.

6Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to Yahweh.

7Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and no leavened bread shall be seen with you. No yeast shall be seen with you, within all your borders.

8You shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘It is because of that which Yahweh did for me when I came out of Egypt.’

9It shall be for a sign to you on your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that Yahweh’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand Yahweh has brought you out of Egypt.

10You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.

11“It shall be, when Yahweh brings you into the land of the Canaanite, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and will give it you,

12that you shall set apart to Yahweh all that opens the womb, and every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have. The males shall be Yahweh’s.

13Every 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.

14It shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ that you shall tell him, ‘By strength of hand Yahweh brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage.

15When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, Yahweh killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of livestock. Therefore I sacrifice to Yahweh all that opens the womb, being males; but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’

16It shall be for a sign on your hand, and for symbols between your eyes; for by strength of hand Yahweh brought us out of Egypt.”

17When Pharaoh had let the people go, God didn’t lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and they return to Egypt”;

18but God led the people around by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea; and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt.

19Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the children of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones away from here with you.”

20They took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.

21Yahweh went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night:

22the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, didn’t depart from before the people.

Key verses

Verse 3
Moses said to the people, “Remember this day, in which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand Yahweh brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten.

The people must remember the day they left Egypt, presented as the work of the mighty hand of the LORD. The unleavened bread keeps that memory alive.

Verse 8
You shall tell your son in that day, saying, ‘It is because of that which Yahweh did for me when I came out of Egypt.’

The deliverance must be told from generation to generation. Each father explains to his son what God did for him.

Verse 17-18
When Pharaoh had let the people go, God didn’t lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and they return to Egypt”; but God led the people around by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea; and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt.

God does not take the shortest road, because the people might give up when they saw war. The detour through the wilderness is an act of protection, not a mistake.

Verse 21-22
Yahweh went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night: the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, didn’t depart from before the people.

God walks ahead of his people, day and night, in the cloud and then in the fire. His presence guides and lights the way and never withdraws.

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What the sermons say

Plan C: When God Answers Your Prayer DifferentlySteven Furtick cites verses 17 and 18: God takes Israel through the wilderness rather than by the road of the Philistines, a picture of a roundabout path that is not a failure.Read the summary →Remaining in Jesus: Rebuilt for a Season of FreedomMicah reads verse 17: God knows how fragile his people's faith is and chooses a detour. He also notes the bones of Joseph, a sign that a promise crosses generations.Read the summary →Exodus 12: The Passover and the Judgment of the FirstbornThe sermon points out how chapter 13 insists on remembering: unleavened bread, a sign on the hand, the consecration of the firstborn, because to forget is to condemn ourselves to losing our identity.Read the summary →Put God FirstPatrice Martorano cites verse 2, “Sanctify to me all the firstborn”, to explain the principle of firstfruits: the first share already belongs to God.Read the summary →The Anointing: Four Things It Changes in Your LifePaul Ettori mentions the pillar of cloud and fire of verses 21 and 22, a sign of God's presence guiding his people.Read the summary →

Frequently asked questions about Exodus 13

Why does God ask for the firstborn to be consecrated to him in Exodus 13?

God reminds Israel that their firstborn were spared at the tenth plague: they belong to him. Firstborn sons are redeemed, and animals are consecrated or replaced by a lamb. This rite keeps the memory of the deliverance alive and teaches that the life we receive comes from God.

Why does God not lead Israel by the road of the Philistines?

The text explains that this road, the shortest, leads into war, and that the people might change their minds about leaving when they saw it and return to Egypt. God therefore chooses the detour through the wilderness toward the Red Sea, which protects the people's still fragile faith.

What do the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire represent?

They are the visible signs of God's presence walking ahead of his people: a cloud by day to guide, a fire by night to give light. They never leave Israel. Many Christians see in them a picture of the direction God gives his people through his Spirit.

Articles quoting Exodus 13

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World English Bible translation — public domain.