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 13:14KJV
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Exodus 13:14 (KJV)

What does Exodus 13:14 mean?

Exodus 13:14 tells parents to explain to their children that God, by His powerful action, brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. When future generations ask about the meaning of certain practices, parents are to recount how the LORD delivered them from bondage.

In this verse, Moses is instructing the Israelites on what to say when their children ask about the rituals connected to the Exodus, such as the Passover. The setting is just after the Israelites have left Egypt, and Moses is preparing them to remember and teach about this defining event. The verse highlights the importance of passing down the story of God's deliverance to each new generation.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 13:14

  • "Strength" (חָזָק, ḥāzāq): This word means strength or might, emphasizing the powerful and forceful way God acted to free the people.
  • "Hand" (יָד, yād): In Hebrew, "hand" often symbolizes power or action. Saying God brought them out "by strength of hand" stresses that it was God's direct intervention, not human effort, that made their escape possible.
  • "Bondage" (עֶבֶד, ʿeved): This word means servant or slave. Referring to Egypt as the "house of bondage" underlines the severity of their oppression and the significance of their liberation.

Why Exodus 13:14 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the rituals and traditions of Israel are not empty customs, but reminders of a real historical rescue by God.
  • It emphasizes the role of parents in teaching faith and history to their children, making the Exodus a living memory rather than a forgotten story.
  • By focusing on God's strength and the reality of slavery, the verse helps readers understand the depth of gratitude and identity that shapes the people of Israel.

Where else these words appear

“strength” Hebrew H2392 · used in 5 verses

  • 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 13:16 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.
  • Amos 6:13 Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?

“come” Hebrew H4279 · used in 52 verses

  • Genesis 30:33 So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.
  • Joshua 4:6 That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?
  • 1 Samuel 28:19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.