Exodus 34:20

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.

But the firstling {H6363} of an ass {H2543} thou shalt redeem {H6299} with a lamb {H7716}: and if thou redeem {H6299} him not, then shalt thou break his neck {H6202}. All the firstborn {H1060} of thy sons {H1121} thou shalt redeem {H6299}. And none shall appear {H7200} before {H6440} me empty {H7387}.

The firstborn of a donkey you must redeem with a lamb; if you won't redeem it, break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you are to redeem, and no one is to appear before me empty-handed.

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.

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.

Commentary

Exodus 34:20 is part of God's renewed covenant instructions to Moses after the incident of the golden calf. This verse outlines specific laws concerning the redemption of firstborn animals and sons, concluding with a general command about appearing before the Lord with an offering.

Context

This chapter follows the breaking of the first set of tablets (due to Israel's idolatry with the golden calf) and God's renewed covenant with His people. The laws presented here (often called the "Ritual Decalogue" by scholars) are a reaffirmation and expansion of earlier commandments, emphasizing Israel's unique relationship with God and their obligations under the covenant. The command to redeem the firstborn is deeply rooted in the Passover event, where God struck the firstborn of Egypt but spared Israel's firstborn, thus claiming them as His own.

Key Themes

  • Redemption and Substitution: The core concept here is redemption, from the Hebrew padah (Χ€Χ“Χ”), meaning "to ransom" or "buy back." For an unclean animal like the firstling of an ass, which could not be sacrificed, a clean lamb had to be offered as a substitute. This highlights the principle of substitutionary atonement, where one life is given in place of another. If no redemption occurred, the ass was to be killed, signifying its unfitness for sacred use and its ultimate forfeiture.
  • Consecration of the Firstborn: God had previously commanded the consecration of all firstborn to Him (Exodus 13:13). This verse reiterates that the firstborn sons, though dedicated to God, were to be "redeemed." This redemption often involved a payment, or the service of the Levites could serve as a substitute for the firstborn of all Israel, underscoring God's ownership and provision.
  • Worship and Offering: The final clause, "And none shall appear before me empty," emphasizes the expectation that when God's people came to worship Him, especially at the three annual pilgrimage feasts (Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles), they were to bring an offering. This act demonstrated their gratitude, dependence, obedience, and recognition of God's sovereignty and provision. It was a tangible expression of worship, ensuring that their hearts were engaged in giving as well as receiving. Deuteronomy 16:16 further elaborates on this command.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "redeem," padah (Χ€Χ“Χ”), signifies a deliverance achieved by payment or substitution. It's a foundational concept in understanding God's plan of salvation, pointing forward to the ultimate redemption.

Practical Application

  • The Cost of Redemption: This verse foreshadows the immense cost of our redemption. Just as the firstborn ass required a lamb, and firstborn sons required a payment, humanity's redemption from sin required a perfect sacrifice. Christians understand this to be accomplished through the blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
  • Giving to God: The command not to appear "empty" before the Lord reminds believers today that worship involves bringing our best to God – not just monetarily, but our time, talents, and wholehearted devotion. It cultivates a spirit of generosity and gratitude, recognizing that all we have comes from Him.
  • Living a Consecrated Life: Just as the firstborn were consecrated to God, believers are called to live consecrated lives, set apart for God's purposes. While we are redeemed by grace, our response is to offer our lives as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), acknowledging His ownership and loving Lordship over us.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 16:16

    Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:

  • Exodus 23:15

    Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)

  • 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.

  • Numbers 18:15

    Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the LORD, [whether it be] of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.

  • 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.

  • 1 Samuel 9:7

    Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, [if] we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and [there is] not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?

  • 1 Samuel 9:8

    And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: [that] will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
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