The Meaning of Exodus 34:20 Explained

Exodus 34:20

KJV: 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.

YLT: 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.

Darby: 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.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Exodus 34:20 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 34:18-35 - Moses Brings The Renewed Tables Of The Law
For forty days, with no sustenance from bread or water, Moses abode on the Mount-absorbed with a passion of love and awe-not counting the hours which passed like a dream. He talked with God as a man face to face with His friend; but he was completely unaware of the marvelous transformation which this holy intercourse was effecting. At God's dictation he wrote out the covenant, as we have it in this Book, and finally God gave him the two tables of stone, on which He had imprinted His autograph.
With these in his hand Moses descended to the plain, unconscious that his face shone. See 2 Corinthians 3:18, r.v. The Apostle urges that we, as Christians, should first behold, and then reflect the glory of Jesus. We must be mirrors, for the purpose of shedding His light among our fellow-men; and in the effort to do this we shall become transfigured into His glorious beauty from one degree to another. The crowning glory of that transfiguration will be our unconsciousness: "He wist not." [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 34

1  The tablets are replaced
5  The name of the Lord proclaimed
8  Moses entreats God to go with them
10  God makes a covenant with them, repeating certain duties
28  Moses after forty days on the mount, comes down with the tablets
29  His face is radiant, and he covers it with a veil

What do the individual words in Exodus 34:20 mean?

but the firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb and if not you will 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
וּפֶ֤טֶר חֲמוֹר֙ תִּפְדֶּ֣ה בְשֶׂ֔ה וְאִם־ לֹ֥א תִפְדֶּ֖ה וַעֲרַפְתּ֑וֹ כֹּ֣ל בְּכ֤וֹר בָּנֶ֙יךָ֙ תִּפְדֶּ֔ה וְלֹֽא־ יֵרָא֥וּ פָנַ֖י רֵיקָֽם

וּפֶ֤טֶר  but  the  firstborn 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּטֶר 
Sense: firstborn, firstling, that which separates or first opens.
חֲמוֹר֙  of  a  donkey 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֲמֹור 
Sense: (he)ass.
תִּפְדֶּ֣ה  you  shall  redeem 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: פָּדָה  
Sense: to ransom, redeem, rescue, deliver.
בְשֶׂ֔ה  with  a  lamb 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֶׂה  
Sense: one of a flock, lamb, sheep, goat, young sheep, young goat.
וְאִם־  and  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
תִפְדֶּ֖ה  you  will  redeem  [him] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: פָּדָה  
Sense: to ransom, redeem, rescue, deliver.
וַעֲרַפְתּ֑וֹ  then  you  shall  break  his  neck 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: עָרַף  
Sense: (Qal) to break the neck (of an animal).
בְּכ֤וֹר  the  firstborn 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בְּכֹר  
Sense: firstborn, firstling.
בָּנֶ֙יךָ֙  of  your  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
תִּפְדֶּ֔ה  you  shall  redeem 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: פָּדָה  
Sense: to ransom, redeem, rescue, deliver.
וְלֹֽא־  And  none 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יֵרָא֥וּ  shall  appear 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
פָנַ֖י  before  Me 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
רֵיקָֽם  empty-handed 
Parse: Adverb
Root: רֵיקָם  
Sense: vainly, emptily.