Exodus 34:20 nasb — "You shall redeem with a lamb the first offspring from a donkey; and if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its…

NASB

""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."

— Exodus 34:20, NASB

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Exodus 34:20 in Other Translations

7 versions All translations
  • 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.”

  • 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. ”

  • WEB

    “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.”

  • NET

    “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.”

  • DRB

    “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.”

  • BBE

    “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.”

  • KJVA

    “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.”

Exodus 34 — Context

17

"You shall make for yourself no molten gods.

18

"You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in the month of Abib you came out of Egypt.

19

"The first offspring from every womb belongs to Me, and all your male livestock, the first offspring from cattle and sheep.

20

"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.

21

"You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest.

22

"You shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks, that is, the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year.

23

"Three times a year all your males are to appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel.

Exodus 34:20 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Exodus 34:20 say?
Exodus 34:20 in the NASB reads: “"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.”
Where is Exodus 34:20 in the Bible?
Exodus 34:20 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Exodus, chapter 34, verse 20.
Who wrote Exodus?
Exodus is traditionally attributed to Moses (traditional). It was written c. 1446–1406 BC.
What is the book of Exodus about?
Exodus tells of Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. Through the plagues, the Passover, the crossing of the Red Sea, and the covenant at Sinai, God reveals himself as Redeemer and comes to dwell among his people in the tabernacle.
What are the major themes of Exodus?
Exodus explores themes including Deliverance, Covenant, Law, God's Presence, Worship, Redemption. These themes shape the meaning and context of Exodus 34:20.
What translation should I read Exodus 34:20 in?
Exodus 34:20 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Exodus 34:20?
Exodus 34:20 reads (NASB): “"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.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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