Exo 13:14 | NETfull | STEP | In the future, when your son asks you ‘What is this?’ you are to tell him, ‘With a mighty hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the land of slavery.

Exodus 13:14

14 ^{▼▼ As with v. 8, the Law now requires that the children be instructed on the meaning of this observance. It is a memorial of the deliverance from bondage and the killing of the firstborn in Egypt.} In the future, ^{▼▼ Heb “tomorrow.”} when your son asks you ^{▼▼ Heb “and it will be when your son will ask you.”} ‘What is this?’ ^{▼▼ The question is cryptic; it simply says, “What is this?” but certainly refers to the custom just mentioned. It asks, “What does this mean?” or “Why do we do this?”} you are to tell him, ‘With a mighty hand ^{▼▼ The expression is “with strength of hand,” making “hand” the genitive of specification. In translation “strength” becomes the modifier, because “hand” specifies where the strength was. But of course the whole expression is anthropomorphic for the power of God.} the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the land of slavery. ^{▼▼ Heb “house of slaves.”}