Exodus 13 · Scripture · Fisherman's Friend

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

ΕΙΠΕ δὲ Κύριος πρὸς Μωυσῆν λέγων·

И҆ речѐ гдⷭ҇ь къ мѡѷсе́ю гл҃ѧ:

Sanctify to me every first-born, first produced, opening every womb among the children of Israel both of man and beast: it is mine.

ἁγίασόν μοι πᾶν πρωτότοκον πρωτογενὲς διανοῖγον πᾶσαν μήτραν ἐν τοῖς υἱοῖς ᾿Ισραὴλ ἀπὸ ἀνθρώπου ἕως κτήνους· ἐμοί ἐστιν.

ѡ҆ст҃ѝ мѝ всѧ́каго пе́рвенца перворожде́ннаго, разверза́ющаго всѧ̑каѧ ложесна̀ въ сынѣ́хъ і҆и҃левыхъ ѿ человѣ́ка до скота̀, ꙗ҆́кѡ мнѣ̀ є҆́сть.

Luke 2:21-24 †61

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord) [Exodus 13:2] And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

Tertullian †220

For who is really holy but the Son of God? Who properly opened the womb but he who opened a closed one? But it is marriage which opens the womb in all cases. The Virgin’s womb, therefore, was especially opened, because it was especially closed.
On the Flesh of Christ 23.4-5

Origen of Alexandria †253

Therefore let us draw together from the divine Scriptures instances in which we find “holy” used, and discover not only persons but also mute animals that are called “holy,” and also find both “the vessels” of the ministry that are called “holy,” and the garments which are said to be “holy,” and even the places which were located in cities and suburbs and counted as priestly. Indeed, among the brute animals it is commanded through the law that “the firstborn” of calves or cattle be sacrificed to the Lord, and it says, You will not do any work with them because they have been consecrated to the Lord.
Homilies on Leviticus 11.1.2

Males were sacred because they opened their mothers’ wombs. They were offered before the altar of the Lord. Scripture says, “Every male that opens the womb.…” This phrase has a spiritual meaning. For you might say that “every male is brought forth from the womb” but does not open the womb of his mother in the way that the Lord Jesus did. In the case of every other woman, it is not the birth of an infant but intercourse with a man that opens the womb. But the womb of the Lord’s mother was opened at the time when her offspring was brought forth, because before the birth of Christ a male did not even touch her womb, holy as it was and deserving of all respect.
Homilies on the Gospel of Luke 14:7-8

3

And Moses said to the people, Remember this day, in which ye came forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, for with a strong hand the Lord brought you forth thence; and leaven shall not be eaten.

Εἶπε δὲ Μωυσῆς πρὸς τὸν λαόν· μνημονεύετε τὴν ἡμέραν ταύτην, ἐν ᾗ ἐξήλθετε ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, ἐξ οἴκου δουλείας· ἐν γὰρ χειρὶ κραταιᾷ ἐξήγαγεν ὑμᾶς Κύριος ἐντεῦθεν· καὶ οὐ βρωθήσεται ζύμη.

Рече́ же мѡѷсе́й къ лю́демъ: по́мните де́нь се́й, во́ньже и҆зыдо́сте ѿ землѝ є҆гѵ́петскїѧ, и҆з̾ до́мꙋ рабо́ты: рꙋко́ю бо крѣ́пкою и҆зведѐ ва́съ гдⷭ҇ь ѿсю́дꙋ: и҆ не ꙗ҆ди́те ква́сна,

4

For on this day ye go forth in the month of new [corn].

ἐν γὰρ τῇ σήμερον ὑμεῖς ἐκπορεύεσθε ἐν μηνὶ τῶν νέων.

поне́же въ дне́шнїй де́нь и҆схо́дите въ мцⷭ҇ѣ плодѡ́въ но́выхъ:

5

And it shall come to pass when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land of the Chananites, and the Chettites, and Amorites, and Evites, and Jebusites, and Gergesites, and Pherezites, which he sware to thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt perform this service in this month.

καὶ ἔσται ἡνίκα ἐὰν εἰσαγάγῃ σε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου εἰς τὴν γῆν τῶν Χαναναίων καὶ Χετταίων καὶ ᾿Αμορραίων καὶ Εὐαίων καὶ ᾿Ιεβουσαίων καὶ Γεργεσαίων καὶ Φερεζαίων, ἣν ὤμοσε τοῖς πατράσι σου δοῦναί σοι γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι, καὶ ποιήσεις τὴν λατρείαν ταύτην ἐν τῷ μηνὶ τούτῳ.

и҆ бꙋ́детъ, є҆гда̀ введе́тъ тѧ̀ гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ тво́й въ зе́млю ханане́йскꙋ и҆ хетте́йскꙋ, и҆ а҆морре́йскꙋ и҆ є҆ѵе́йскꙋ, и҆ і҆евꙋсе́йскꙋ и҆ гергесе́йскꙋ и҆ ферезе́йскꙋ, є҆́юже клѧ́тсѧ ко ѻ҆тцє́мъ твои̑мъ, да́ти тебѣ̀ зе́млю точа́щꙋю млеко̀ и҆ ме́дъ, и҆ сотвори́ши слꙋ́жбꙋ сїю̀ сегѡ̀ мцⷭ҇а:

6

Six days ye shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day is a feast to the Lord.

ἓξ ἡμέρας ἔδεσθε ἄζυμα, τῇ δὲ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ ἑορτὴ Κυρίου·

ше́сть дні́й ꙗ҆ди́те ѡ҆прѣсно́ки, въ седмы́й же де́нь пра́здникъ гдⷭ҇ꙋ,

7

Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; nothing leavened shall be seen with thee, neither shalt thou have leaven in all thy borders.

ἄζυμα ἔδεσθε ἑπτὰ ἡμέρας, οὐκ ὀφθήσεταί σοι ζυμωτόν, οὐδὲ ἔσται σοι ζύμη ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ὁρίοις σου.

ѡ҆прѣсно́ки ꙗ҆ди́те се́дмь дні́й: да не ꙗ҆ви́тсѧ тебѣ̀ ква́сное, нижѐ бꙋ́детъ тебѣ̀ ква́съ во всѣ́хъ предѣ́лѣхъ твои́хъ,

8

And thou shalt tell thy son in that day, saying, Therefore the Lord dealt thus with me, as I was going out of Egypt.

καὶ ἀναγγελεῖς τῷ υἱῷ σου ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ λέγων· διὰ τοῦτο ἐποίησε Κύριος ὁ Θεός μοι, ὡς ἐξεπορευόμην ἐξ Αἰγύπτου.

и҆ возвѣсти́ши сы́нꙋ твоемꙋ̀ въ де́нь ѡ҆́нъ, глаго́лѧ: сегѡ̀ ра́ди сотвори́лъ гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ мнѣ̀, є҆гда̀ и҆схожда́хъ и҆з̾ є҆гѵ́пта:

9

And it shall be to thee a sign upon thy hand and a memorial before thine eyes, that the law of the Lord may be in thy mouth, for with a strong hand the Lord God brought thee out of Egypt.

καὶ ἔσται σοι σημεῖον ἐπὶ τῆς χειρός σου καὶ μνημόσυνον πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν σου, ὅπως ἂν γένηται ὁ νόμος Κυρίου ἐν τῷ στόματί σου· ἐν γὰρ χειρὶ κραταιᾷ ἐξήγαγέ σε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἐξ Αἰγύπτου.

и҆ бꙋ́детъ тебѣ̀ зна́менїе на рꙋцѣ̀ твое́й, и҆ воспомина́нїе пред̾ ѻ҆чи́ма твои́ма, ꙗ҆́кѡ да бꙋ́детъ зако́нъ гдⷭ҇ень во ᲂу҆стѣ́хъ твои́хъ, рꙋко́ю бо крѣ́пкою и҆зведе́ тѧ гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ и҆з̾ є҆гѵ́пта:

10

And preserve ye this law according to the times of the seasons, from year to year.

καὶ φυλάξασθε τὸν νόμον τοῦτον κατὰ καιροὺς ὡρῶν, ἀφ᾿ ἡμερῶν εἰς ἡμέρας.

и҆ сохрани́те зако́нъ се́й по временѡ́мъ ᲂу҆ста́влєнымъ, ѿ дні́й до дні́й,

11

And it shall come to pass when the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land of the Chananites, as he sware to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,

καὶ ἔσται ὡς ἂν εἰσαγάγῃ σε Κύριος ὁ Θεός σου εἰς τὴν γῆν τῶν Χαναναίων, ὃν τρόπον ὤμοσε τοῖς πατράσι σου, καὶ δώσει σοι αὐτήν,

и҆ бꙋ́детъ є҆гда̀ введе́тъ тѧ̀ гдⷭ҇ь бг҃ъ тво́й въ зе́млю ханане́йскꙋ, ꙗ҆́коже клѧ́сѧ ѻ҆тцє́мъ твои̑мъ, и҆ да́стъ ю҆̀ тебѣ̀:

12

that thou shalt set apart every [offspring] opening the womb, the males to the Lord, every one that opens the womb out of the herds or among thy cattle, as many as thou shalt have: thou shalt sanctify the males to the Lord.

καὶ ἀφελεῖς πᾶν διανοῖγον μήτραν, τὰ ἀρσενικά, τῷ Κυρίῳ· πᾶν διανοῖγον μήτραν ἐκ βουκολίων ἢ ἐν τοῖς κτήνεσί σου, ὅσα ἐὰν γένηταί σοι, τὰ ἀρσενικὰ ἁγιάσεις τῷ Κυρίῳ.

и҆ ѿлꙋчи́ши всѧ́кое разверза́ющее ложесна̀, мꙋ́жескъ по́лъ гдⷭ҇ꙋ: всѧ́кое разверза́ющее ложесна̀ ѿ ста́дъ и҆лѝ ѿ скѡ́тъ твои́хъ, є҆ли̑ка бꙋ́дꙋтъ тебѣ̀, мꙋ́жескъ по́лъ ѡ҆свѧти́ши гдⷭ҇ꙋ:

13

Every [offspring] opening the womb of the ass thou shalt change for a sheep; and if thou wilt not change it, thou shalt redeem it: every first-born of man of thy sons shalt thou redeem.

πᾶν διανοῖγον μήτραν ὄνου ἀλλάξεις προβάτῳ· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀλλάξῃς, λυτρώσῃ αὐτό. πᾶν πρωτότοκον ἀνθρώπου τῶν υἱῶν σου λυτρώσῃ.

всѧ́кое разверза́ющее ᲂу҆тро́бꙋ ѻ҆́слю премѣни́ши ѻ҆вце́ю: а҆́ще же не премѣни́ши, и҆скꙋ́пиши є҆̀: и҆ всѧ́каго пе́рвенца человѣ́ча сынѡ́въ твои́хъ да и҆скꙋ́пиши:

14

And if thy son should ask thee hereafter, saying, What is this? then thou shalt say to him, With a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

ἐὰν δὲ ἐρωτήσῃ σε ὁ υἱός σου μετὰ ταῦτα λέγων· τί τοῦτο; καὶ ἐρεῖς αὐτῷ, ὅτι ἐν χειρὶ κραταιᾷ ἐξήγαγε Κύριος ἡμᾶς ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου, ἐξ οἴκου δουλείας·

а҆́ще же вопро́ситъ тѧ̀ сы́нъ тво́й по си́хъ, глаго́лѧ: что̀ сїѐ; и҆ рече́ши є҆мꙋ̀: ꙗ҆́кѡ рꙋко́ю крѣ́пкою и҆зведѐ на́съ гдⷭ҇ь и҆з̾ землѝ є҆гѵ́петскїѧ, и҆з̾ до́мꙋ рабо́ты,

15

And when Pharao hardened [his heart so as not] to send us away, he slew every first-born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man and the first-born of beast; therefore do I sacrifice every [offspring] that opens the womb, the males to the Lord, and every first-born of my sons I will redeem.

ἡνίκα δὲ ἐσκλήρυνε Φαραὼ ἐξαποστεῖλαι ἡμᾶς, ἀπέκτεινε πᾶν πρωτότοκον ἐν γῇ Αἰγύπτῳ, ἀπὸ πρωτοτόκων ἀνθρώπων ἕως πρωτοτόκων κτηνῶν· καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἐγὼ θύω πᾶν διανοῖγον μήτραν, τὰ ἀρσενικά, τῷ Κυρίῳ, καὶ πᾶν πρωτότοκον τῶν υἱῶν μου λυτρώσομαι.

є҆гда́ бо ѡ҆жесточи́сѧ фараѡ́нъ ѿпꙋсти́ти на́съ, и҆збѝ гдⷭ҇ь всѧ́каго пе́рвенца въ землѝ є҆гѵ́петстѣй, ѿ пе́рвенца человѣ́ча до пе́рвенца ско́тїѧ: сегѡ̀ ра́ди а҆́зъ въ же́ртвꙋ приношꙋ̀ всѧ́кое разверза́ющее ложесна̀, мꙋ́жескъ по́лъ гдⷭ҇ꙋ, и҆ всѧ́каго пе́рвенца сынѡ́въ мои́хъ и҆скꙋплю̀,

16

And it shall be for a sign upon thy hand, and immovable before thine eyes, for with a strong hand the Lord brought thee out of Egypt.

καὶ ἔσται εἰς σημεῖον ἐπὶ τῆς χειρός σου καὶ ἀσάλευτον πρὸ ὀφθαλμῶν σου· ἐν γὰρ χειρὶ κραταιᾷ ἐξήγαγέ σε Κύριος ἐξ Αἰγύπτου.

и҆ бꙋ́детъ въ зна́менїе на рꙋцѣ̀ твое́й, и҆ непоколеби́мо пред̾ ѻ҆чесы̀ твои́ми: рꙋко́ю бо крѣ́пкою и҆зведе́ тѧ гдⷭ҇ь и҆з̾ є҆гѵ́пта.

17

And when Pharao sent forth the people, God led them not by the way of the land of the Phylistines, because it was near; for God said, Lest at any time the people repent when they see war, and return to Egypt.

῾Ως δὲ ἐξαπέστειλε Φαραὼ τὸν λαόν, οὐχ ὡδήγησεν αὐτοὺς ὁ Θεὸς ὁδὸν γῆς Φυλιστιείμ, ὅτι ἐγγὺς ἦν· εἶπε γὰρ ὁ Θεός· μήποτε μεταμελήσῃ τῷ λαῷ ἰδόντι πόλεμον, καὶ ἀποστρέψῃ εἰς Αἴγυπτον.

Є҆гда́ же ѿпꙋстѝ фараѡ́нъ лю́ди, не поведѐ и҆́хъ бг҃ъ пꙋте́мъ землѝ фѷлїсті́мскїѧ, ꙗ҆́кѡ бли́з̾ бѧ́ше, и҆́бо речѐ бг҃ъ: да не когда̀ раска́ютсѧ лю́дїе, ви́дѣвше ра́ть, и҆ возвратѧ́тсѧ во є҆гѵ́петъ.

18

And God led the people round by the way to the wilderness, to the Red Sea: and in the fifth generation the children of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt.

καὶ ἐκύκλωσεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν λαὸν ὁδὸν τὴν εἰς τὴν ἔρημον, εἰς τὴν ἐρυθρὰν θάλασσαν, πέμπτῃ δὲ γενεᾷ ἀνέβησαν οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου.

И҆ ѡ҆бведѐ бг҃ъ лю́ди пꙋте́мъ, и҆́же въ пꙋсты́ню къ чермно́мꙋ мо́рю. Пѧ́тагѡ же ро́да и҆зыдо́ша сы́нове і҆и҃лєвы ѿ землѝ є҆гѵ́петскїѧ.

19

And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had solemnly adjured the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones hence with you.

καὶ ἔλαβε Μωυσῆς τὰ ὀστᾶ ᾿Ιωσὴφ μεθ᾿ ἑαυτοῦ· ὅρκῳ γὰρ ὥρκισε τοὺς υἱοὺς ᾿Ισραὴλ λέγων· ἐπισκοπῇ ἐπισκέψεται ὑμᾶς Κύριος καὶ συνανοίσετέ μου τὰ ὀστᾶ ἐντεῦθεν μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν.

И҆ взѧ̀ мѡѷсе́й кѡ́сти і҆ѡ́сифѡвы съ собо́ю: клѧ́твою бо заклѧ̀ і҆ѡ́сифъ сы́ны і҆и҃лєвы, глаго́лѧ: присѣще́нїемъ присѣти́тъ ва́съ гдⷭ҇ь, и҆ и҆знесе́те ѿсю́дꙋ кѡ́сти моѧ̑ съ собо́ю.

20

And the children of Israel departed from Socchoth, and encamped in Othom by the wilderness.

ἐξάραντες δὲ οἱ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ ἐκ Σοκχὼθ ἐστρατοπέδευσαν ἐν ᾿Οθὼμ παρὰ τὴν ἔρημον.

Воздви́гшесѧ же сы́нове і҆и҃лєвы ѿ сокхѡ́ѳа, ѡ҆полчи́шасѧ во ѻ҆ѳѡ́мѣ при пꙋсты́ни.

21

And God led them, in the day by a pillar of cloud, to show them the way, and in the night by a pillar of fire.

ὁ δὲ Θεὸς ἡγεῖτο αὐτῶν, ἡμέρας μὲν ἐν στύλῳ νεφέλης, δεῖξαι αὐτοῖς τὴν ὁδόν, τὴν δὲ νύκτα ἐν στύλῳ πυρός·

Бг҃ъ же вожда́ше и҆̀хъ, въ де́нь ᲂу҆́бѡ столпо́мъ ѡ҆́блачнымъ, показа́ти и҆̀мъ пꙋ́ть, но́щїю же столпо́мъ ѻ҆́гненнымъ, свѣти́ти и҆̀мъ:

Augustine of Hippo †430

Who can doubt that here too God appeared to the eyes of mortal men by a corporeal creature made subject to him and not by his own substance? But it is also not apparent whether it was the Father, or the Son, or the Holy Spirit, or the Trinity itself, the one God. Nor, as far as I can judge, has this distinction been made in that place where it is written: “And the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud, and the Lord spoke to Moses saying, ‘I have heard the grumbling of the children of Israel.’ ”
The Trinity 2.14.24

Peter Chrysologus †450

At one time he appears all aglow in a bush. For you are cold with the perfidy of infidelity, and he wants to enkindle you with the heat of faith. At another time he glows like fire in a pillar extending toward heaven, that the darkness of your ignorance may be removed and that you can follow the way of saving knowledge through the wilderness of this world. At yet another time he is changed for you into a pillar of cloud, in order to restrain the burning ebullience of your passions.
Sermon 170

Gregory the Dialogist †604

It was also fitting that a pillar of fire preceded the Israelites as they progressed through the desert during the night and a pillar of a cloud during the day. There is dread in fire but a gentle soothing quality in the sight of a cloud. “Day” is understood to point toward the life of the righteous and “night” that of the sinner. Hence Paul said to sinners who had been converted, “You were once darkness but are now light in the Lord.” The pillar was revealed as a cloud during the day and as a fire during the night since almighty God will appear soothing to the righteous and dreadful to the unrighteous. When he comes at the judgment, he will reassure the former by his gentleness and mildness and cause dread in the latter by the strictness of his justice.
Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 21

Bede †735

The freeing of the children of Israel and their being brought out into the fatherland once promised them is also linked with the mystery of our redemption. By means of it we make our way to the light of the dwelling place on high with the grace of Christ lighting our way and guiding us. That cloud and column of fire that both protected them throughout the whole of their journey from the darkness of the nights and led them by a sure path to the promised homes of the fatherland also prefigured the light of this grace.
Commentary on the Catholic Epistles, 1 Peter 2:9

22

And the pillar of cloud failed not by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, before all the people.

οὐκ ἐξέλιπε δὲ ὁ στῦλος τῆς νεφέλης ἡμέρας καὶ ὁ στῦλος τοῦ πυρὸς νυκτὸς ἐναντίον τοῦ λαοῦ παντός.

и҆ не ѡ҆скꙋдѣ̀ сто́лпъ ѡ҆́блачный во днѝ и҆ сто́лпъ ѻ҆́гненный но́щїю пред̾ всѣ́ми людьмѝ.