What Does Exodus 34:20 Mean?

“But the firstling”

a fissure, i.e., (concretely) firstling (as opening the matrix)

“of an ass”

a male ass (from its dun red)

“and if thou redeem”

to sever, i.e., ransom; generally to release, preserve

“with a lamb”

a member of a flock, i.e., a sheep or goat

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

“and if thou redeem”

to sever, i.e., ransom; generally to release, preserve

“him not then shalt thou break his neck”

to break the neck; hence (figuratively) to destroy

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

“All the firstborn”

first-born; hence, chief

“of thy sons”

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

“and if thou redeem”

to sever, i.e., ransom; generally to release, preserve

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

“And none shall appear”

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

“before”

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

“me empty”

emptily; figuratively (objective) ineffectually, (subjective) undeservedly