Exodus 13:1 kjv
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Exodus 13:1 nkjv
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Exodus 13:1 niv
The LORD said to Moses,
Exodus 13:1 esv
The LORD said to Moses,
Exodus 13:1 nlt
Then the LORD said to Moses,
Exodus 13 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 14:1 | Then the LORD said to Moses... | God's ongoing communication with Moses. |
| Exod 25:1 | The LORD said to Moses... | God initiating instructions for the Tabernacle. |
| Lev 1:1 | The LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying... | Establishing divine authority for Levitical laws. |
| Num 1:1 | The LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting... | Beginning of census instructions. |
| Deut 5:5 | At that time I stood between the LORD and you to declare to you the word of the LORD... | Moses as mediator between God and Israel. |
| Jer 1:7 | But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am too young.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you." | Prophetic call to Jeremiah, highlighting divine commissioning. |
| Ezek 1:3 | ...the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest... and the hand of the LORD was on him there. | Divine revelation through a prophet's anointing. |
| Jonah 1:1 | The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai... | Classic opening for prophetic divine command. |
| Hag 1:1 | In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai... | Divine word coming through specific messengers. |
| Zech 1:1 | In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah... | Another example of divine initiation of prophetic message. |
| Matt 5:17 | "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." | Christ affirming the divine origin and purpose of Old Testament law. |
| John 5:46 | "If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me." | Jesus acknowledging Moses' divine inspiration and prophetic role. |
| John 14:10 | "Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work." | Christ speaking with divine authority. |
| Acts 3:22 | For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.' | Peter quoting Moses' prophecy about a coming prophet like himself (Christ). |
| Acts 7:38 | He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us. | Stephen on Moses receiving God's living words. |
| Gal 3:19 | Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come... given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. | Paul on the Law given through a mediator (Moses). |
| Heb 1:1-2 | In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son... | God's communication through the ages, culminating in Christ. |
| Heb 2:2 | For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just punishment... | Referencing the reliability and authority of the Old Covenant message. |
| Heb 3:2-5 | Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. | Comparing Christ's fidelity to Moses', both divinely appointed. |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness... | All Scripture (including Exodus) is divinely inspired. |
| 2 Pet 1:20-21 | Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. | Reinforces the divine origin and authority of biblical words. |
Exodus 13 verses
Exodus 13 1 Meaning
Exodus 13:1 introduces a direct divine command from the LORD to Moses immediately following Israel's departure from Egypt. This verse acts as a solemn preface, emphasizing that the subsequent instructions regarding the dedication of the firstborn and the observance of Unleavened Bread are not human decrees but explicit pronouncements from God Himself, grounding Israel's foundational practices in divine revelation.
Exodus 13 1 Context
Exodus 13:1 occurs immediately after the climactic tenth plague—the death of the firstborn in Egypt—and the rapid Exodus of the Israelites, recounted in Exodus 12. Having just witnessed the mighty hand of God in their miraculous deliverance, Israel is now on the brink of their wilderness journey. This verse pivots the narrative from descriptive historical account to prescriptive divine law, specifically outlining the foundational commands related to their new identity as God's redeemed people: the consecration of all firstborn males (Exod 13:2, 11-16) and the perpetual observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exod 13:3-10), which reinforces the memory of their hurried departure. Historically, these instructions would embed the Exodus event deep within the communal and religious life of the newly formed nation of Israel.
Exodus 13 1 Word analysis
- And (וַיְדַבֵּר - wai-ye-dab-ber): This conjunctive serves to seamlessly link the preceding narrative of the Exodus and Passover with the ensuing divine commands. It indicates a continuation of God's activity and ongoing engagement with His people immediately following their deliverance, implying the instructions are a direct consequence and culmination of those saving acts.
- the LORD (יְהוָה - Yahweh): This is the covenant name of God, indicating His personal, revealed, and redemptive character. The use of "Yahweh" underscores that the speaker is not a generic deity but the specific God who heard Israel's cries, delivered them powerfully from Egypt, and now establishes a covenant relationship with them. It carries immense authority and significance for the newly liberated nation, revealing Him as the faithful, powerful God of their salvation.
- spake (דִּבֶּר - dibber from דָּבַר - dabar): This verb means "to speak, utter, command, declare." It denotes a clear, direct, and authoritative communication, not a mere thought or suggestion. It often implies a definitive declaration, making clear the divine origin and mandatory nature of the instructions that follow. In the Pentateuch, it is commonly used to introduce divine legislation.
- unto (אֶל - el): A preposition meaning "to" or "towards." It precisely indicates the recipient of God's direct communication, emphasizing Moses as the designated and unique recipient of divine revelation on behalf of Israel.
- Moses (מֹשֶׁה - Mosheh): The divinely chosen leader and mediator for Israel. His name means "drawn out," echoing the manner in which he was saved and his role in drawing Israel out of Egypt. This verse highlights his privileged and central role in receiving God's laws and delivering them to the people, reinforcing his unparalleled authority as prophet.
- saying (לֵאמֹר - le'mor): A common Hebrew idiom or infinitival construct that formally introduces the exact content or summary of the preceding "speaking." It indicates that the subsequent words are a direct quotation or faithful representation of God's authoritative message. It leaves no doubt that what follows originates entirely from the divine speaker.
Words-group analysis:
- "And the LORD spake": This phrase establishes immediate divine initiative and communication. God's action in deliverance is seamlessly followed by His voice, indicating that salvation inherently carries the expectation of a relationship defined by divine instruction and obedience.
- "unto Moses": This emphasizes Moses' unique and irreplaceable mediatorial role. God specifically chose Moses to convey His will, establishing his prophetic authority and confirming his direct access to divine revelation. The entire Law, therefore, comes through Moses.
- "saying": This formal linguistic marker highlights the absolute divine authority and origin of the upcoming commands. It is not Moses' wisdom or human tradition, but the direct, unadulterated word of the LORD Himself that follows, demanding Israel's attentiveness and obedience.
Exodus 13 1 Bonus section
- The consistency of the phrase "the LORD spake unto Moses, saying" throughout the Pentateuch underscores the consistent character of God as a speaking God, who actively reveals His will to humanity.
- This specific pronouncement links God's redemptive action (Exodus) directly to ethical and ritual requirements. Salvation is never an end in itself but is given to establish a holy relationship, implying that true freedom is found in alignment with God's commands.
- The immediate transition to commandments demonstrates God's desire for His people to remember His deeds and perpetuate His story through concrete, obedient actions and practices, making worship and obedience inseparable from the act of remembrance.
Exodus 13 1 Commentary
Exodus 13:1 serves as a foundational declaration of divine authority. Coming immediately after the powerful deliverance of the Exodus, it transitions from the narrative of salvation to the stipulations of covenant life. God, having demonstrated His power to save, now proceeds to define how His redeemed people are to live in response. This verse sets the stage for the specific laws regarding the firstborn and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, grounding these commands firmly in the sovereign will of Yahweh. It underscores that Israel's future practices, worship, and identity are to be direct consequences of God's mighty acts of redemption, preventing them from being seen as mere human rituals. It demonstrates that true freedom in God is accompanied by His guidance and a call to intentional remembrance and consecrated living.