Exodus 13 4

Exodus 13:4 kjv

This day came ye out in the month Abib.

Exodus 13:4 nkjv

On this day you are going out, in the month Abib.

Exodus 13:4 niv

Today, in the month of Aviv, you are leaving.

Exodus 13:4 esv

Today, in the month of Abib, you are going out.

Exodus 13:4 nlt

On this day in early spring, in the month of Abib, you have been set free.

Exodus 13 verses

Exodus 13 4 Meaning

Exodus 13:4 precisely states the time of Israel's departure from Egypt: "This day came you out in the month Abib." This verse fixes the moment of divine liberation to a specific point in time, anchoring the foundational event of Israel's nationhood in a tangible, historical context. It emphasizes that their freedom was not by chance but was an act orchestrated by God during the specific spring month known as Abib, thereby establishing the sacred timing for future remembrance and religious feasts.

Exodus 13 4 Context

Exodus 13 follows directly from the momentous events of the tenth plague (the death of the firstborn) and the institution of the Passover sacrifice. The Israelites have been dramatically liberated from centuries of bondage in Egypt. This chapter details further commands related to their new identity as a redeemed people: the sanctification of the firstborn and the perpetual observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Verse 4 serves as a precise chronological anchor, establishing the specific day and month of their actual physical departure. Historically, this declaration signals the beginning of Israel's national and religious calendar, replacing the previously implied Egyptian dating system with God's divinely appointed timeline for His people. It solidifies the Exodus as the defining, foundational event of Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh.

Exodus 13 4 Word analysis

• "This day" (Hebrew: הַיּוֹם, hayyom):

  • Significance: The definite article "the" combined with "day" makes it highly specific, emphasizing the precise moment of liberation.
  • Meaning: Not just "a day" but "the very day." This asserts the historical reality and tangibility of the Exodus, marking it as a factual event, not a mythical story. It grounds God's redemptive work in a particular point in time.

• "came you out" (Hebrew: יְצָאתֶם, yetza'tem):

  • Significance: A verb indicating an accomplished action in the past, literally "you went forth."
  • Meaning: It emphasizes the active, decisive step of departure. While the verb is in the second person plural ("you"), the underlying force and directive for this departure came entirely from God, underscoring that it was a divinely orchestrated exit, not by Israel's own might (as seen in later texts like Deuteronomy).

• "in the month Abib" (Hebrew: בְּחֹדֶשׁ הָאָבִיב, b'chodesh ha'aviv):

  • בְּ (b’): "in," denoting placement in time.
  • חֹדֶשׁ (chodesh):
    • Significance: Means "month," derived from the root "new," often referring to the new moon that marked the beginning of a month in lunar calendars.
    • Meaning: Establishes a lunar calendar system used by Israel, connected to celestial patterns.
  • הָאָבִיב (ha'aviv):
    • Significance: Aviv means "ear of grain" or "fresh ear," specifically referring to barley when it is in the plump, ripening stage, before becoming fully hard.
    • Meaning: This term clearly anchors the Exodus to the spring season in the ancient Near East, during the beginning of the barley harvest. It thus signifies the month of spring or the month of fresh ears, later named Nisan (post-exilic, Neh 2:1, Esth 3:7).
    • Polemics: By associating His deliverance with a specific agricultural phase, God demonstrates His sovereignty not only over human history but also over nature and the cycle of seasons, thereby challenging the powers and nature gods of Egypt who were thought to control such elements. This specific timing also set the stage for the Feast of Unleavened Bread (harvest festival) which celebrated both the beginning of the barley harvest and the historical deliverance from Egypt.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "This day came you out": This phrase directly states the historical event, grounding the deliverance in an undeniable reality. It's a foundational statement upon which Israel's identity and future obedience will be built, emphasizing divine action. The focus is on the definitive exit.
• "in the month Abib": This clause provides the divine timestamp and introduces the beginning of Israel's unique sacred calendar (Exo 12:2). By initiating their nationhood and calendar with this precise month, it signifies a new order and a fresh start under God's dominion, separate from the surrounding nations and their chronological systems. This linkage to a specific agricultural season ensures that their remembering of the Exodus is tied to the cycles of God's creation and provision.

Exodus 13 4 Bonus Section

• Calendar Shift: Before the Exodus, it's likely the Israelites followed a civil calendar starting in the fall (like many ancient Near Eastern cultures). Exodus 12:2, alongside this verse, establishes a new sacred calendar for Israel, starting in the spring (Abib/Nisan), making the Exodus event the true beginning of their national and religious existence under God's explicit command.
• Significance of First Fruits: The month Abib is connected to the beginning of the barley harvest, which ultimately led to the offering of first fruits (Lev 23:9-14). Thus, the deliverance itself occurred at a time when God provided new life from the ground, symbolizing His power to provide sustenance both spiritually and physically.
• New Covenant Foreshadowing: The timing of the Exodus in Abib foreshadows Jesus Christ, the ultimate Passover Lamb, being sacrificed in the month Nisan (Abib) (John 19:14), rising during the Feast of Firstfruits (1 Cor 15:20-23). This timing perfectly fulfills the typology initiated at the first Passover.
• Teaching Tool: The emphasis on "this day" and "remembering" (Exo 13:3, 8) sets up a pedagogical framework for future generations, ensuring the story of deliverance becomes central to Israel's identity and passed down verbally through father to son.

Exodus 13 4 Commentary

Exodus 13:4 is more than a mere date; it is a foundational statement of divine precision and historical truth. By specifying "this day" and "the month Abib," God emphasizes the historicity and intentionality of the Exodus. It was not a random migration but a calculated act of God, perfectly timed with the spring barley harvest. This timing not only provides a marker for annual religious observance (Passover and Unleavened Bread) but also deeply intertwines Israel's redemption with God's overarching sovereignty over nature and seasons. The specific mention of "Abib" (meaning 'fresh ears of grain') establishes the first month of Israel's religious year, initiating their distinct identity and marking their departure from the former rhythms and spiritual ties of Egypt. It demonstrates that Yahweh controls both time and the natural world, solidifying His unparalleled power over any claimed deities of the nations. This pinpointing of the date insists on constant remembrance, linking God's past powerful deliverance to future generational observance and spiritual formation.