Exodus 34:20
Exodus 34:20 in Multiple Translations
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.
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.
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.
A lamb may be given in payment for the young of an ass, but if you will not make payment for it, its neck will have to be broken. For all the first of your sons you are to make payment. No one is to come before me without an offering.
You can redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a lamb, but if you don't, you must break its neck. All your firstborn sons must be redeemed. No one is to come before me without an offering.
But ye first of ye asse thou shalt bie out with a lambe: and if thou redeeme him not, then thou shalt breake his necke: all the first borne of thy sonnes shalt thou redeeme, and none shall appeare before me emptie.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The firstborn of your male donkeys also belong to me. But you may buy them back by offering to me lambs in their place. If you do not do that, you must kill these animals by breaking their necks. You must also buy back your firstborn sons. You must bring an offering to me [LIT] each time you come to worship me.
Berean Amplified Bible — Exodus 34:20
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Exodus 34:20 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Exodus 34:20
Study Notes — Exodus 34:20
- Context
- Cross References
- Exodus 34:20 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Exodus 34:20
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 34:20
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Exodus 34:20
- Trapp's Commentary on Exodus 34:20
- Ellicott's Commentary on Exodus 34:20
- Cambridge Bible on Exodus 34:20
- Whedon's Commentary on Exodus 34:20
- Sermons on Exodus 34:20
Context — The LORD Renews the Covenant
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. 22And you are to celebrate the Feast of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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. |
| 2 | Exodus 23:15 | You are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread as I commanded you: At the appointed time in the month of Abib you are to eat unleavened bread for seven days, because that was the month you came out of Egypt. No one may appear before Me empty-handed. |
| 3 | 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. |
| 4 | 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. |
| 5 | Exodus 13:15 | And 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.’ |
| 6 | 1 Samuel 9:7–8 | “If we do go,” Saul replied, “what can we give the man? For the bread in our packs is gone, and there is no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?” The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have here in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.” |
| 7 | Exodus 13:10 | Therefore you shall keep this statute at the appointed time year after year. |
| 8 | 2 Samuel 24:24 | “No,” replied the king, “I insist on paying a price, for I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. |
| 9 | Numbers 3:45–51 | “Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites belong to Me; I am the LORD. 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. Give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for the excess among the Israelites.” So Moses collected the redemption money from those in excess of the number redeemed by the Levites. He collected the money from the firstborn of the Israelites: 1,365 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. And Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons in obedience to the word of the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him. |
Exodus 34:20 Summary
[This verse is talking about how the Israelites were supposed to show God that they valued the firstborn of their animals and their sons, by either redeeming them with an offering or letting them go, as a way of acknowledging that everything belongs to God, as seen in Exodus 34:20. It's also reminding them to always come before God with something to offer, whether it's a sacrifice or a gift, as a sign of their love and obedience, similar to what is taught in Deuteronomy 26:1-11. By doing this, they were showing that they trusted and honored God, and that's something we can still learn from today, as expressed in Psalm 96:8-9. We can apply this principle to our own lives by giving God our first and best, whether it's our time, our talents, or our resources, as a way of saying thank you for all that He has given us, as encouraged in Proverbs 3:9-10.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a lamb?
This refers to a practice in which the Israelites would offer a lamb as a substitute for the firstborn donkey, symbolizing the value placed on all life and the need for redemption, as seen in Exodus 34:20 and supported by the concept of substitutionary sacrifice in Leviticus 1:4.
Why were the Israelites required to redeem their firstborn sons?
The redemption of the firstborn sons was a reminder that all life belongs to God, and it was a way of acknowledging God's sovereignty over every aspect of their lives, as stated in Exodus 34:20 and reinforced by the concept of consecration in Numbers 8:17.
What is the significance of not appearing before God empty-handed?
This phrase emphasizes the importance of coming before God with an offering or a sacrifice, demonstrating gratitude, obedience, and a willingness to honor Him, as seen in Exodus 34:20 and Deuteronomy 16:16-17, where the Israelites were required to bring offerings to the festivals.
How does this verse relate to the concept of sacrifice in the Bible?
The idea of redeeming the firstborn and not appearing before God empty-handed points to the larger theme of sacrifice in the Bible, where God's people are called to offer themselves and their possessions to Him, as exemplified in Romans 12:1 and Hebrews 13:15-16.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I need to acknowledge God's sovereignty and offer Him my first and best?
- How can I apply the principle of redeeming the firstborn to my own life, recognizing that everything I have belongs to God?
- What does it mean for me to come before God 'empty-handed', and how can I ensure that I am always prepared to offer Him something of value?
- In what ways can I demonstrate my gratitude to God for the gift of life and the blessings He has given me, as expressed in Psalm 100:4-5?
Gill's Exposition on Exodus 34:20
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Exodus 34:20
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Exodus 34:20
Trapp's Commentary on Exodus 34:20
Ellicott's Commentary on Exodus 34:20
Cambridge Bible on Exodus 34:20
Whedon's Commentary on Exodus 34:20
Sermons on Exodus 34:20
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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That Unclean Donkey Is Yourself! by C.H. Spurgeon | C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the necessity of redemption through the metaphor of the unclean donkey, which represents humanity's sinful nature. He explains that while the donkey is rig |
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Corinthians: Principles Governing Body Functioning by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being diligent in our daily lives as believers. He encourages the congregation to come prepared and ready to contribute whe |
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How Should We Celebrate Christmas? by Timothy Tow | Timothy Tow preaches about the true meaning of Christmas, emphasizing that it is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who offers salvation and everlasting |
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Thanksgiving Cannot Be Commanded by Timothy Tow | Timothy Tow preaches on the story of the ten lepers cleansed by Jesus, highlighting the gratitude shown by the Samaritan, a stranger, in contrast to the ingratitude of the nine Jew |
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The Breaking of Bread by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of announcing and remembering the death of the Lord Jesus. The act of breaking bread and drinking the cup is a testimony to th |
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Exodus 23;14 Missionary Conf. by J.M. Davies | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the prophetic and commemorative nature of the death and resurrection of Christ. These events are foundational to Christian teaching and serve |
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Worship - Notes of a Reading John 4 by John Nelson Darby | John Nelson Darby emphasizes that true worship is distinct from preaching and requires a relationship with God through salvation. He explains that worship can only occur in the pre |





