Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, July 27th, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Good News Translation

Exodus 34:20

but you are to buy back every first-born donkey by offering a lamb in its place. If you do not buy it back, break its neck. Buy back every first-born son. "No one is to appear before me without an offering.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Ass (Donkey);   Firstborn;   Liberality;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Ass, the Domestic;   Church of Israel;   Feasts, the Anniversary;   First Born, the;   Lamb, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Appear, Appearance;   Redeem, Redemption;   Easton Bible Dictionary - First-Born, Redemption of;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Devoted Thing;   Jehoiakim;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ass;   Exodus, Book of;   Firstborn;   Harvest;   Pilgrimage;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Covenant;   Gift, Giving;   Hexateuch;   Idolatry;   Law;   Moses;   Sacrifice and Offering;   Ten Commandments;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Firstborn;   Israel, Israelite;   Numbers (2);   Redemption (2);   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Firstborn;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Sinai;   Smith Bible Dictionary - First-Born;   Pass'over,;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Ass;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Moses;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Events of the Encampment;   Other Laws;   Moses, the Man of God;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ark of the Covenant;   Criticism (the Graf-Wellhausen Hypothesis);   Firstborn;   Law in the Old Testament;   Neck;   Passover;   Ten Commandments, the;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Bekorot;   Birthright;   Decalogue;   Deuteronomy;   Law, Reading from the;   Passover;   Pentecost;   Primogeniture;   Sidra;   Valuation;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
The firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb: and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. No one shall appear before me empty.
King James Version
But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.
Lexham English Bible
But the first offspring of a donkey you will redeem with small livestock, and if you will not redeem it, you will break its neck. Every firstborn of your sons you will redeem, and you will not appear before me empty-handed.
New Century Version
You may buy back a donkey by paying for it with a lamb, but if you don't want to buy back a donkey, you must break its neck. You must buy back all your firstborn sons. "No one is to come before me without a gift.
New English Translation
Now the firstling of a donkey you may redeem with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, then break its neck. You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. "No one will appear before me empty-handed.
Amplified Bible
"You shall redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a lamb; but if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. You shall redeem all the firstborn of your sons. None of you are to appear before Me empty-handed.
New American Standard Bible
"You shall redeem with a lamb the firstborn from a donkey; and if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. You shall redeem all the firstborn of your sons. None are to appear before Me empty-handed.
Geneva Bible (1587)
But ye first of ye asse thou shalt bie out with a lambe: and if thou redeeme him not, then thou shalt breake his necke: all the first borne of thy sonnes shalt thou redeeme, and none shal appeare before me emptie.
Legacy Standard Bible
And you shall redeem with a lamb the first offspring from a donkey; and if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. You shall redeem all the firstborn of your sons. None shall appear before Me empty-handed.
Contemporary English Version
You can save the life of a first-born donkey by sacrificing a lamb; if you don't, you must break the donkey's neck. You must save every first-born son. Bring an offering every time you come to worship.
Complete Jewish Bible
The firstborn of a donkey you must redeem with a lamb; if you won't redeem it, break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you are to redeem, and no one is to appear before me empty-handed.
Darby Translation
But the firstling of an ass thou shalt ransom with a lamb; and if thou ransom [it] not, then shalt thou break its neck. All the first-born of thy sons thou shalt ransom; and none shall appear before me empty.
Easy-to-Read Version
If you want to keep a donkey that is the first born, then you can buy it with a lamb. But if you don't buy that donkey with a lamb, you must break the donkey's neck. You must buy back all of your firstborn sons from me. No one should come before me without a gift.
English Standard Version
The firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. And none shall appear before me empty-handed.
George Lamsa Translation
And all the firstlings of the cattle you shall redeem with a lamb; but if you shall not redeem it, then you shall kill it. All the first-born of your sons you shall redeem. And none shall appear before me empty-handed.
Christian Standard Bible®
You may redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a sheep, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. No one is to appear before me empty-handed.
Literal Translation
and a firstling of an ass, you shall redeem with a lamb. And if you do not redeem, you shall break its neck. You shall redeem every first-born of your sons, and they shall not be seen before My face empty.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But the first of thyne Asse shalt thou bye out wt a shepe: yf thou redeme it not, then breake his necke. All the first borne of thy children shalt thou redeme. And se that no man appeare before me emptye.
American Standard Version
And the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck. All the first-born of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.
Bible in Basic English
A lamb may be given in payment for the young of an ass, but if you will not make payment for it, its neck will have to be broken. For all the first of your sons you are to make payment. No one is to come before me without an offering.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But the firstling of the asse thou shalt bye out with a lambe: and if thou redeeme hym not, thou shalt breake his necke. All the first borne of thy sonnes thou shalt redeeme: & see that no man appeare before me emptie.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck. All the first-born of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before Me empty.
King James Version (1611)
But the firstling of an Asse thou shalt redeeme with a lambe: and if thou redeeme him not, then shalt thou breake his necke. All the first borne of thy sonnes thou shalt redeeme: and none shall appeare before me empty.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the first-born of an ass thou shalt redeem with a sheep, and if thou wilt not redeem it thou shalt pay a price: every first-born of thy sons shalt thou redeem: thou shalt not appear before me empty.
English Revised Version
And the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.
Berean Standard Bible
You must redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a lamb; but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. No one shall appear before Me empty-handed.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Thou schalt ayenbie with a scheep the firste gendrid of an asse, ellis if thou yyuest not prijs therfor, it schal be slayn. Thou schalt ayenbie the firste gendrid of thi sones; nether thou schalt appere voide in my siyt.
Young's Literal Translation
and the firstling of an ass thou dost ransom with a lamb; and if thou dost not ransom, then thou hast beheaded it; every first-born of thy sons thou dost ransom, and they do not appear before Me empty.
Update Bible Version
And the firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb: and if you will not redeem, then you shall break its neck. All the first-born of your sons you shall redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.
Webster's Bible Translation
But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou shalt not redeem him, then shalt thou break his neck. All the first-born of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.
World English Bible
The firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb: and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. No one shall appear before me empty.
New King James Version
But the firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb. And if you will not redeem him, then you shall break his neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. "And none shall appear before Me empty-handed.
New Living Translation
A firstborn donkey may be bought back from the Lord by presenting a lamb or young goat in its place. But if you do not buy it back, you must break its neck. However, you must buy back every firstborn son. "No one may appear before me without an offering.
New Life Bible
But the life of a first-born donkey should be paid for with the blood of a lamb. If you do not pay for its life, you should break its neck. Pay for the life of all your first-born sons with the blood of a lamb. No one is to come before Me without a gift.
New Revised Standard
The firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. No one shall appear before me empty-handed.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But the firstling of an ass, thou mayst redeem with a lamb, and if thou wilt not redeem it, then shalt thou break its neck. Every firstborn of thy sons, shalt thou redeem, and he must not see my face, with empty hand.
Douay-Rheims Bible
The firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a sheep: but if thou wilt not give a price for it, it shall be slain. The firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem: neither shalt thou appear before me empty.
Revised Standard Version
The firstling of an ass you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. All the first-born of your sons you shall redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.
THE MESSAGE
"Redeem your firstborn donkey with a lamb. If you don't redeem it you must break its neck. "Redeem each of your firstborn sons. "No one is to show up in my presence empty-handed.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"You shall redeem with a lamb the first offspring from a donkey; and if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. You shall redeem all the firstborn of your sons. None shall appear before Me empty-handed.

Contextual Overview

18 "Keep the Festival of Unleavened Bread. As I have commanded you, eat unleavened bread for seven days in the month of Abib, because it was in that month that you left Egypt. 19 "Every first-born son and first-born male domestic animal belongs to me, 20 but you are to buy back every first-born donkey by offering a lamb in its place. If you do not buy it back, break its neck. Buy back every first-born son. "No one is to appear before me without an offering. 21 "You have six days in which to do your work, but do not work on the seventh day, not even during plowing time or harvest. 22 "Keep the Harvest Festival when you begin to harvest the first crop of your wheat, and keep the Festival of Shelters in the autumn when you gather your fruit. 23 "Three times a year all of your men must come to worship me, the Lord , the God of Israel. 24 After I have driven out the nations before you and extended your territory, no one will try to conquer your country during the three festivals. 25 "Do not offer bread made with yeast when you sacrifice an animal to me. Do not keep until the following morning any part of the animal killed at the Passover Festival. 26 "Each year bring to the house of the Lord the first grain that you harvest. "Do not cook a young sheep or goat in its mother's milk." 27 The Lord said to Moses, "Write these words down, because it is on the basis of these words that I am making a covenant with you and with Israel."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

firstling: Exodus 13:10, Numbers 18:15

lamb: or, kid

All the: Exodus 13:15, Numbers 3:45-51

none: Exodus 23:15, Deuteronomy 16:16, 1 Samuel 9:7, 1 Samuel 9:8, 2 Samuel 24:24

Reciprocal: Exodus 13:2 - Sanctify Exodus 13:13 - of an ass 1 Samuel 6:3 - empty

Cross-References

Genesis 22:17
I promise that I will give you as many descendants as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand along the seashore. Your descendants will conquer their enemies.
Genesis 23:10
Ephron himself was sitting with the other Hittites at the meeting place at the city gate; he answered in the hearing of everyone there,
Deuteronomy 17:5
then take them outside the town and stone them to death.
Ruth 4:1
Boaz went to the meeting place at the town gate and sat down there. Then Elimelech's nearest relative, the man whom Boaz had mentioned, came by, and Boaz called to him, "Come over here, my friend, and sit down." So he went over and sat down.
2 Samuel 15:2
He would get up early and go and stand by the road at the city gate. Whenever someone came there with a dispute that he wanted the king to settle, Absalom would call him over and ask him where he was from. And after the man had told him what tribe he was from,
Job 29:7
Whenever the city elders met and I took my place among them,
Proverbs 31:23
Her husband is well known, one of the leading citizens.
Amos 5:10
You people hate anyone who challenges injustice and speaks the whole truth in court.
Amos 5:12
I know how terrible your sins are and how many crimes you have committed. You persecute good people, take bribes, and prevent the poor from getting justice in the courts.
Amos 5:15
Hate what is evil, love what is right, and see that justice prevails in the courts. Perhaps the Lord will be merciful to the people of this nation who are still left alive.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem,.... This goes along with the former, :-:

and none shall appear before me empty; at the grand festivals, the passover, pentecost, and tabernacles, :-.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The precepts contained in these verses are, for the most part, identical in substance with some of those which follow the Ten Commandments and are recorded in “the Book of the covenant” (Exo. 20–23; see Exodus 24:7).

Exodus 34:13

Cut down their groves - This is the first reference to what is commonly known as grove-worship. The original word for “grove” in this connection אשׁרה 'ăshêrāh is different from that so rendered in Genesis 21:33. Our translators supposed that what the law commands is the destruction of groves dedicated to the worship of false deities Judges 6:25; 2 Kings 18:4; but inasmuch as the worship of asherah is found associated with that of Astarte, or Ashtoreth Judges 2:13; Jdg 10:6; 1 Samuel 7:4, it seems probable that while Astarte was the personal name of the goddess, the asherah was a symbol of her, probably in some one of her characters, made in wood in some conventional form.

Exodus 34:15-16

An expansion of Exodus 34:12. The unfaithfulness of the nation to its covenant with Yahweh is here for the first time spoken of as a breach of the marriage bond. The metaphor is, in any case, a natural one, but it seems to gain point, if we suppose it to convey an allusion to the abominations connected with pagan worship, such as are spoken of in Numbers 25:1-3.

Exodus 34:21

See Exodus 20:9; Exodus 23:12. There is here added to the commandment a particular caution respecting those times of year when the land calls for most labor. The old verb “to ear” (i. e. to plow) is genuine English.

Exodus 34:24

Neither shall any man desire etc. - Intended to encourage such as might fear the consequences of obeying the divine law in attending to their religious duties. Compare Proverbs 16:7.


 
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