Exodus 13:9 kjv
And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD's law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.
Exodus 13:9 nkjv
It shall be as a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the LORD's law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt.
Exodus 13:9 niv
This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For the LORD brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand.
Exodus 13:9 esv
And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt.
Exodus 13:9 nlt
This annual festival will be a visible sign to you, like a mark branded on your hand or your forehead. Let it remind you always to recite this teaching of the LORD: 'With a strong hand, the LORD rescued you from Egypt.'
Exodus 13 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 6:8 | You shall bind them as a sign on your hand...frontlets between your eyes. | Direct parallel command for covenant. |
| Deut 11:18 | You shall therefore lay up these words...bind them as a sign on your hand...frontlets between your eyes. | Reiterates command, tying to internalizing God's words. |
| Exo 13:16 | It shall be as a mark on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes... | Repeats command regarding firstborn & Passover remembrance. |
| Num 15:39 | And it shall be to you as a fringe, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments... | Another symbolic physical reminder of commands. |
| Prov 3:3 | Do not let kindness and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. | Internalizing wisdom in the heart. |
| Prov 7:3 | Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. | Parallel to literal binding, for wisdom/instruction. |
| Deut 4:9 | Only take care...lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen...make them known to your children... | Command to actively remember and teach God's works. |
| Deut 6:7 | You shall teach them diligently to your children... | Emphasizes oral transmission of God's word. |
| Josh 1:8 | This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night... | Continual verbal engagement and meditation on the Law. |
| Psa 105:5 | Remember the wonderful works that he has done, his wonders, and the judgments he uttered. | General call to remember God's powerful acts. |
| Psa 145:4 | One generation shall commend your works to another... | Passing on knowledge of God's works through speech. |
| Isa 59:21 | "As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD: "My Spirit...and my words...shall not depart out of your mouth..." | God's word and Spirit enduring in generations through mouth. |
| 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's relationship to the Law, fulfilling its essence. |
| Matt 23:5 | They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad... | Hypocrisy in externalizing religious symbols without internalizing. |
| 2 Cor 3:3 | ...written not with ink but with the Spirit...not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. | New Covenant: law written on the heart, spiritual reality. |
| Heb 8:10 | "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel...I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts..." | Echoes new covenant promise of internalized law. |
| Heb 10:16 | "This is the covenant that I will make...I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds." | Reinforces the New Covenant's internal nature of the law. |
| Rom 12:2 | Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind... | Transformation of mind to align with God's will. |
| Eph 4:23 | ...and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds... | Internal renewal leading to new conduct. |
| Col 3:16 | Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly...teaching and admonishing one another... | Internalizing and vocalizing Christ's teaching. |
| Jer 31:33 | I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. | Prophecy of the New Covenant's internal law. |
| Rev 22:4 | They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. | Ultimate spiritual mark of belonging to God in glory. |
Exodus 13 verses
Exodus 13 9 Meaning
Exodus 13:9 mandates that the remembrance of God's deliverance from Egypt be a continuous, observable, and internal reality for the Israelites. It establishes specific symbols for recalling the mighty Exodus event: "a sign on your hand" and "a memorial between your eyes." The ultimate purpose of these symbolic acts is not merely ritual, but practical and spiritual: "that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth." This ensures active engagement with God's word through teaching, speaking, and living it out. The foundation and driving force for this remembrance and obedience is explicitly stated: "for with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt," highlighting God's sovereign power as the reason for their devotion.
Exodus 13 9 Context
Exodus 13:9 is situated immediately after God establishes the statutes for the consecration of the firstborn and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, following Israel's miraculous deliverance from Egypt. The entire chapter emphasizes remembering and explaining the Passover and Exodus events to future generations. Verse 9 specifically serves as a command for how this remembrance is to be embodied and perpetuated. It sets the stage for a spiritual and communal life defined by constantly recalling God's powerful act of redemption. Historically, the Israelites, having lived under Egyptian idolatry and polytheism, were now being called to exclusively remember and serve Yahweh, a distinct polemic against the numerous deities and protective amulets prevalent in Egypt. God's mighty "strong hand" contrasts sharply with the impotent hands of Egyptian gods or the Pharaoh's power.
Exodus 13 9 Word analysis
- And it shall be to you: This phrase signifies a direct command and a personal requirement. It's not optional, but a foundational aspect of Israel's identity and worship, tying them personally to the event of the Exodus.
- as a sign (אות, ’ot): More than just a visible mark; it implies a "token" or a "memorial" that signifies a relationship, a divine action, or a future event. Here, it is a perpetual indicator and reminder of God's mighty deed. It is a sign not just for the wearer but for others, demonstrating devotion.
- on your hand: Symbolically represents one's actions, labor, and strength. The placement of the sign on the hand suggests that all the work and activity of life should be done with a conscious remembrance of God's redemption. It links active living to spiritual remembrance.
- and as a memorial (זיכרון, zikaron): Emphasizes active remembrance, not mere recall, but a conscious bringing to mind that influences thought and action. It’s an act of re-presenting the past event as perpetually significant in the present.
- between your eyes: Located on the forehead, the seat of the intellect, perception, and guiding principles. This signifies that the remembrance of the Exodus should constantly be before their minds, influencing their thoughts, discernment, and outlook on life. It directs inner perception.
- that the law (תורה, Torah) of the LORD: Torah here initially refers to the specific Exodus instructions given, but broadly foreshadows God's teaching and divine instruction as it unfolds through Moses. It refers to God's will, ways, and commands. The Torah is not just rules but God's loving guidance.
- may be in your mouth: The ultimate goal of the visible sign and internal memorial. The mouth represents speech, teaching, prayer, meditation, and proclamation. The visible sign and mental remembrance are meant to culminate in the oral transmission and articulation of God's word and works to future generations and in their daily lives. This ensures active adherence and sharing.
- for with a strong hand (יד חזקה, yad chazaqah) the LORD has brought you out of Egypt: This foundational phrase reiterates God's immense power and sovereign might in the Exodus. "Strong hand" is a key motif throughout Exodus, signifying divine omnipotence and decisive intervention. This clause provides the motivation: Israel's remembering is a response to God's powerful, unmerited salvation. It roots the obligation in divine action, not human initiative.
Exodus 13 9 Bonus section
The concept of a "sign on the hand and memorial between the eyes" is a pre-Mosaic covenant sign. Before the written Law was extensively given at Sinai, God was establishing markers for His covenant relationship. These were to be visual and internal reminders of specific divine acts. The absence of specific instruction on how these "signs" should physically look allows for flexibility in their early application—whether symbolic adherence or rudimentary objects—until codified later in Deuteronomy and then practically developed by tradition. The phrase "strong hand" functions almost as a divine signature or watermark upon Israel's identity and history, making forgetfulness inexcusable and covenant breaking a direct insult to God's might and grace. The contrast between Egypt's idols and Israel's spiritual markers underscores a radical shift in worldview: away from magical amulets to a covenantal remembrance rooted in actual divine redemption and expressed through active teaching and faithful living.
Exodus 13 9 Commentary
Exodus 13:9 succinctly ties together symbol, mind, speech, and divine action to ensure the eternal memory of the Exodus deliverance. The "sign on your hand" and "memorial between your eyes" represent a tangible and cognitive commitment. While later generations would interpret these literally as tefillin (phylacteries), the initial command is deeply symbolic, urging a total life of remembrance: every action (hand) and every thought (between eyes) must be rooted in God's saving power. This outward manifestation and inward recollection culminates in the "law of the LORD" being "in your mouth," stressing the crucial role of verbal proclamation and diligent teaching, ensuring that God's instructions and mighty deeds are continually shared and absorbed within the community. The driving force for all this—"for with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt"—serves as a constant reminder that Israel's very existence, identity, and the foundation of their law are solely attributable to God's sovereign, irresistible power, compelling their devoted remembrance and obedience. The practices establish a living memory, transforming abstract history into present reality, actively countering forgetfulness and apostasy.