Remembering God's Deliverance and Consecration

What You'll Learn

• The significance of sanctifying the firstborn to the Lord
• The importance of remembering God's deliverance from bondage
• How to teach future generations about God's mighty works
• God's guidance through the wilderness by His presence

God calls His people to consecrate what is His and to continually remember His mighty deliverance and guidance.

Bible Translation Note Scripture Verse-by-Verse Study Chapter Synopsis Prayer Personal Application Weekly Actions Chapter Summary

Bible Translation Note: All Scripture on this page is quoted from the King James Version (KJV) and presented in full without alteration.

Exodus 13:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Exodus 13:2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

Exodus 13:3 And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.

Exodus 13:4 This day came ye out in the month Abib.

Exodus 13:5 And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.

Exodus 13:6 Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD.

Exodus 13:7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.

Exodus 13:8 And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.

Exodus 13:9 And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD’S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.

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

Exodus 13:11 And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,

Exodus 13:12 That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD’S.

Exodus 13:13 And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.

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.

Exodus 13:17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

Exodus 13:18 But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

Exodus 13:19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.

Exodus 13:20 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.

Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

Exodus 13:22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

Exodus 13:1

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Study: After Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, God continues to speak and give instruction. Freedom does not mean living without direction; redeemed people are called to listen to the Lord.

Exodus 13:2

Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

Study: God claims the firstborn as His own because He spared Israel’s firstborn during the Passover. This command teaches Israel that deliverance creates belonging; what God saves, He also sets apart for Himself.

Exodus 13:3

And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.

Study: Moses commands Israel to remember the day God brought them out of slavery. Their freedom came by the strong hand of the Lord, and the unleavened bread would become a visible reminder of that deliverance.

Exodus 13:4

This day came ye out in the month Abib.

Study: The timing of Israel’s departure is remembered specifically. God’s deliverance was not abstract; it happened in real history, on a real day, according to His appointed time.

Exodus 13:5

And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.

Study: God connects Israel’s present deliverance with the future land He promised to their fathers. When they enter the land, they must continue remembering that the Lord brought them out and gave them the inheritance.

Exodus 13:6

Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD.

Study: The week of unleavened bread ends with a feast to the Lord. Israel’s remembrance of redemption is not only solemn but also worshipful, turning deliverance into celebration before God.

Exodus 13:7

Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.

Study: The absence of leaven reaches throughout Israel’s homes and borders. God’s people are called to let the remembrance of redemption shape the whole community, not just one meal.

Exodus 13:8

And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.

Study: Parents are commanded to explain the meaning of the feast to their children. The story of deliverance is meant to become personal: “what the Lord did unto me” becomes the testimony passed from one generation to the next.

Exodus 13:9

And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD’S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.

Study: The remembrance of deliverance is to shape Israel’s actions, thoughts, and speech. God brought them out by His strong hand so that His law would remain close to their lives and continually be spoken among them.

Exodus 13:10

Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.

Study: Israel is commanded to keep this ordinance every year. God knows His people are prone to forget, so He builds remembrance into their calendar as a repeated act of worship.

Exodus 13:11

And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,

Study: The command about the firstborn is tied to God’s promise of the land. Israel’s future inheritance is certain because the Lord swore it, and their worship must continue after the promise is received.

Exodus 13:12

That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD’S.

Study: The firstborn males of the animals are to be set apart to the Lord. This ongoing practice reminds Israel that life, increase, and provision all belong to God first.

Exodus 13:13

And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.

Study: Redemption is required for the firstborn that are not offered in sacrifice. This teaches that the firstborn belong to the Lord because He spared Israel’s sons through the blood of the Passover lamb.

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:

Study: God again expects children to ask about the meaning of Israel’s practices. Every act of remembrance becomes an opportunity to tell the next generation that the Lord brought His people out of bondage by His strength.

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.

Study: The redemption of Israel’s firstborn is rooted in the night God judged Egypt and spared His people. Each future offering would retell the story of judgment, mercy, and deliverance.

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.

Study: The memory of God’s deliverance is to remain visible and constant, shaping what Israel does and how Israel thinks. Their identity is anchored in this truth: the Lord brought them out by strength of hand.

Exodus 13:17

And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

Study: God does not lead Israel by the shortest route because He knows their weakness. His guidance may not always seem direct, but it is wise, protective, and fitted to what His people can bear.

Exodus 13:18

But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

Study: God leads Israel into the wilderness by the Red Sea, a route that will soon reveal His power even more clearly. The people leave Egypt in ordered ranks, but they still must learn to trust God’s direction step by step.

Exodus 13:19

And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.

Study: Moses carries Joseph’s bones because Joseph believed God would surely visit His people. This act connects the exodus to earlier promises and shows that faith can look beyond death to the certainty of God’s word.

Exodus 13:20

And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.

Study: Israel’s journey continues from Succoth to Etham at the edge of the wilderness. God has brought them out of Egypt, but now He begins teaching them to walk with Him in unfamiliar places.

Exodus 13:21

And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

Study: The Lord personally goes before Israel in a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. His presence gives direction and light, showing that the God who delivers also guides His people.

Exodus 13:22

He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

Study: God does not remove His visible presence from before the people. Israel’s journey begins with the constant assurance that the Lord is with them, leading them both day and night.

In Exodus 13, God instructs the Israelites to sanctify the firstborn as a reminder of His ownership and deliverance. The chapter stresses the importance of remembering God's mighty hand in bringing them out of Egypt and teaching this truth to future generations. It also highlights God's faithful guidance through the wilderness by His visible presence, encouraging trust and obedience.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mighty hand that delivers and guides us. Help us to consecrate our lives to You fully and to remember Your faithfulness daily. Teach us to pass on Your truth to the next generation and to trust Your presence in every step we take. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

• Set aside a daily moment to thank God for His deliverance in your life.
• Identify one area to consecrate fully to God and take practical steps to do so.
• Share the story of God's faithfulness with someone younger or new in faith.
• Pray for God’s guidance and be attentive to His leading throughout the week.

Exodus 13 calls believers to recognize God's ownership over all things by sanctifying the firstborn and to remember His powerful deliverance from Egypt. It emphasizes the importance of teaching these truths to future generations and trusting in God's continual guidance through life's wilderness.

Exodus 13 completed

Check this box when you finish this chapter study.

You have completed 0 of 40 chapters in Exodus.

View your full progress on the Exodus Hub.

Still Studying?

Have a Question About This Chapter?

Ask a Bible question and receive a Scripture-guided study response designed to help point you back to God's Word.

Ask a Bible Question →