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.
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.
NASB
And it shall serve as a sign to you on your hand, and as a reminder on your forehead, that the law of the Lord may be in your mouth; for with a powerful hand the Lord brought you out of Egypt.
CSB
Let it serve as a sign for you on your hand and as a reminder on your forehead, so that the Lord’s instruction may be in your mouth; for the Lord brought you out of Egypt with a strong hand.
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.’
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.
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.
What does Exodus 13:9 mean?
God has commanded Israel to teach future generations about their liberation from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 1:11–14; 12:40–41). This is the primary purpose of celebrations such as Passover (Exodus 12:11) and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 13:6–8). The Lord used His power (Exodus 3:19–20) to free His people (Deuteronomy 14:2) and they were obligated to remember this for all time. This verse is meant to emphasize the importance of understanding Israel's history and what it means. Such things should influence everything the Israelites think, see, and do, and should always be part of their understanding.Later, some Jewish people would take these expressions regarding hands and eyes very literally (Exodus 13:16). They would begin wearing tefillin—also called "phylacteries"—which are small boxes containing written Scripture. Common inclusions for these boxes are this very passage (Exodus 13:2–10), the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4–9), or Deuteronomy 11:13–21. By the time of Jesus' earthly ministry, these had become showy, shallow acts of pride, rather than of remembrance (Matthew 23:5).
Exodus 13:1–10 starts with a command for consecration of all Israel's firstborn. It then gives further instructions about the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This is a week-long observance which celebrates God's work to free Israel from Egyptian slavery. Eating bread with no leaven—without yeast—symbolizes being free from the pervasive effects of sin. It also recalls how the people prepared un-risen bread on the night they were freed (Exodus 12:8, 39).
God reiterates the requirements of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Israel is to celebrate this every year as a way of remembering their liberation from Egyptian slavery. In addition, the people are to consecrate all of the first-born of any mother—both people and animals. Animals that cannot be sacrificed are to be redeemed. Sons are to be redeemed by an animal sacrifice. The Lord creates a column of clouds for the people to follow during the day, which is lit by fire so they can also follow it at night. This keeps them moving quickly. Soon, Egyptian soldiers will catch up to them and God will once again provide miraculous rescue (Exodus 14).
