Exodus 13 10

Exodus 13:10 kjv

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

Exodus 13:10 nkjv

You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.

Exodus 13:10 niv

You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year.

Exodus 13:10 esv

You shall therefore keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year.

Exodus 13:10 nlt

So observe the decree of this festival at the appointed time each year.

Exodus 13 verses

Exodus 13 10 Meaning

Exodus 13:10 reiterates the divine command for Israel to observe the ordinance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread perpetually, year after year, at its appointed time. This emphasizes the non-negotiable and recurring nature of this crucial commemoration of their redemption from Egyptian bondage. The verse solidifies the establishment of an annual remembrance, ensuring that future generations would actively participate in and understand the historical and theological significance of the Exodus event.

Exodus 13 10 Context

Exodus chapter 13 immediately follows the devastating tenth plague, the death of the firstborn, and the rapid departure of Israel from Egypt. It details two foundational commandments given by God at this pivotal moment: the sanctification of the firstborn and the observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. These ordinances serve as tangible, perpetual reminders of God's miraculous intervention, power over the gods of Egypt (including Pharaoh himself), and faithfulness in redeeming His people. The verse explicitly emphasizes the annual repetition of these feasts, transforming a historical event into an ongoing spiritual education and covenantal practice for all future generations.

Exodus 13 10 Word analysis

• Thou shalt therefore keep (וְשָׁמַרְתָּ֣ - wəšāmārtā):
  • This is an imperative verb, emphasizing a direct, unyielding command and responsibility.
  • The root šamar means "to guard," "watch over," "preserve," "observe diligently." It implies more than mere compliance; it means careful and devoted adherence.
  • Significance: It underscores the active and responsible role of the Israelites in maintaining this divine directive, ensuring its continuity and integrity. It's a safeguarding of the sacred memory.
• this ordinance (אֶת־הַחֻקָּ֣ה - et-haḥuqāh):
  • Ḥuqāh refers to a fixed decree, statute, or prescribed rule. It originates from the root ḥāqaq, meaning "to inscribe," "engrave," or "decree."
  • Significance: The use of ḥuqāh implies a non-negotiable, divinely established, and immutable law. It is not open to human alteration or discontinuation, underscoring its absolute authority and perpetual validity. It binds future generations to the foundational event of their national identity.
• in his season (בְּמוֹעֲדָ֔הּ - bə’môʿădāh):
  • Môʿēd means an "appointed time," "fixed period," or "festival." It refers to a specific, pre-determined temporal slot, often used for holy convocations or feasts (e.g., Leviticus 23).
  • Significance: The precise timing is crucial. It connects the observance to God's cosmic and salvific timetable, preventing casual or irregular performance. It also served to synchronize their religious calendar, ensuring unity in their worship and remembrance.
• from year to year (מִיָּמִ֖ים יָמִ֑ימָה - miyyāmîm yāmîmāh):
  • This is a Hebrew idiom that conveys perpetuity, annually, repeatedly, or continuously from one specific period to another. Literally, "from days to days."
  • Significance: It clearly establishes the ongoing, generational requirement for the observance. This command is not for a single instance or even for a generation, but for every subsequent generation, perpetually ensuring the memorial of the Exodus is passed down and re-enacted. It guards against forgetfulness and secularization.

Exodus 13 10 Bonus section

• The perpetual nature of this ordinance connects directly to God's unchanging character and covenant faithfulness. As God does not change, neither do the requirements for remembering His saving acts (Mal 3:6).
• The emphasis on "keeping" the ordinance points to the active responsibility of the people in their covenant relationship with God. It's not passive knowledge but active obedience.
• The ritualistic observance served as a pedagogical tool. The "season" implies that these acts are timed to specific periods in the agricultural year, intertwining their spiritual life with their daily existence. This ensured the memory of God's power would permeate all aspects of Israelite life.
• This verse underpins the concept of national memory, crucial for shaping identity and collective purpose. The shared remembrance reinforces communal bonds and a common story of divine redemption.
• While a literal yearly observance applied to ancient Israel, the underlying principle of regularly remembering God's salvific acts and faithfully observing His commands is timeless and universally applicable for believers today.

Exodus 13 10 Commentary

Exodus 13:10 encapsulates the divine imperative for sustained memorialization, ensuring that the transformative Exodus event remains at the heart of Israelite identity and faith. God's command is not a suggestion but a definitive decree, a ḥuqāh, fixed and inviolable. The insistence on "in his season" highlights the importance of order, rhythm, and obedience to God's precise scheduling, transforming time itself into a vehicle for remembrance and worship. The phrase "from year to year" emphasizes a crucial theological and pedagogical principle: the perpetuation of covenant truth through consistent, tangible ritual. This ensures that the foundational story of God's redemption is not lost to time but actively re-experienced by each new generation, linking their present identity to God's past faithfulness. This yearly observance served as an implicit polemic against surrounding cultures whose deities had no such demonstrated saving power, subtly reinforcing Yahweh's unparalleled might and care for His people. This continuous command anticipates the New Covenant's call for believers to likewise "do this in remembrance" of Christ's ultimate redemption (1 Cor 11:24-25), solidifying the perpetual nature of divine instruction and salvific memorial.

• Example: A family setting aside specific annual dates for celebrating national holidays.
• Example: Christian churches observing communion regularly to remember Christ's sacrifice.