Exodus 13:14

14 "In days to come, your son will ask you, 'What does this mean?' "When he does, say to him, 'The LORD used his mighty hand to bring us out of Egypt. That's the land where we were slaves.

Exodus 13:14 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 13:14

And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come
Or "on the morrow" ^F8, the day following such a separation of the firstborn of clean creatures, or such a redemption of the firstborn of unclean ones, and of man, or in any later time: saying, what is this?
what is the meaning of this? for what reason are such things done? that thou shall say unto him, by strength of hand the Lord brought us
out of Egypt from the house of bondage:
by laying his mighty hand upon the firstborn of Egypt, and destroying them, which made the king of Egypt, and his people, willing to let Israel go; (See Gill on Exodus 13:3).

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 (rxm) "eras", Pagninus, Montanus, Tiguriue version.

Exodus 13:14 In-Context

12 "After you arrive there, give to the LORD the oldest son of every mother. Every male animal that is born first to its mother among your livestock belongs to the Lord.

13 By sacrificing a lamb, buy back every male donkey that is born first to its mother. But if you don't buy the donkey back, break its neck. Buy back every oldest son.

14 "In days to come, your son will ask you, 'What does this mean?' "When he does, say to him, 'The LORD used his mighty hand to bring us out of Egypt. That's the land where we were slaves.

15 Pharaoh was stubborn. He refused to let us go. So the LORD killed every oldest son in Egypt. He also killed every male animal that was born first to its mother. That's why I sacrifice to the LORD every male animal that was born first. And that's why I buy back each oldest son for him.'

16 "This day will be like a mark on your hand. It will be like a sign on your forehead. It will remind you that the LORD used his mighty hand to bring us out of Egypt."