Exodus 13:16

ESV It shall be as a mark on your hand or frontlets between your eyes, for by a strong hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt."

NIV And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand."

NASB So it shall serve as a sign on your hand and as phylacteries on your forehead, for with a powerful hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.'

CSB So let it be a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead, for the Lord brought us out of Egypt by the strength of his hand."

NLT This ceremony will be like a mark branded on your hand or your forehead. It is a reminder that the power of the Lord’s mighty hand brought us out of Egypt.'

KJV And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt.

NKJV It shall be as a sign on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes, for by strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.”

What does Exodus 13:16 mean?

Over time, ancient Israel developed the practice of wearing teffilin: small containers of scripture strapped to the forearm and forehead. This tradition was inspired by verses such as this, as well as others using the same figure of speech (Exodus 13:9; Deuteronomy 6:8–9; 11:13–21). God's chosen people (Deuteronomy 14:2) were to maintain a constant awareness of His truth and all that He had done for them. That relationship was to be part of everything they saw, thought, or did. God did not necessarily mean that His people were to physically attach these words to their bodies. During Jesus' earthly life, this practice had become a prideful display instead of a remembrance (Matthew 23:5).

God's "strong hand" was responsible for Israel's freedom from slavery (Exodus 1:11–14; 12:40–41). Egypt was never going to release their captives without tremendous pressure (Exodus 3:19–20). So, God sent supernatural disasters (Exodus 7:21; 8:6, 17, 24; 9:6, 10, 24; 10:14, 23). None were enough until the last plague. The Lord killed all of Egypt's firstborn (Exodus 11:4–6). Only then did Pharaoh give the Hebrews an unconditional release (Exodus 12:29–32).

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