share torah logo

Exodus 13:16 - Tefillin: Divine memory on body

Exodus 13:16 - שמות 13:16

Hebrew Text

וְהָיָה לְאוֹת עַל־יָדְכָה וּלְטוֹטָפֹת בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ כִּי בְּחֹזֶק יָד הוֹצִיאָנוּ יְהוָה מִמִּצְרָיִם׃

English Translation

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

Transliteration

Vehaya le'ot al-yadkha uletotafot bein einekha ki bechozek yad hotzianu Adonai miMitzrayim.

Hebrew Leining Text

וְהָיָ֤ה לְאוֹת֙ עַל־יָ֣דְכָ֔ה וּלְטוֹטָפֹ֖ת בֵּ֣ין עֵינֶ֑יךָ כִּ֚י בְּחֹ֣זֶק יָ֔ד הוֹצִיאָ֥נוּ יְהֹוָ֖ה מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃ <span class="mam-spi-samekh">{ס}</span>        
וְהָיָ֤ה לְאוֹת֙ עַל־יָ֣דְכָ֔ה וּלְטוֹטָפֹ֖ת בֵּ֣ין עֵינֶ֑יךָ כִּ֚י בְּחֹ֣זֶק יָ֔ד הוֹצִיאָ֥נוּ יְהֹוָ֖ה מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃ {ס}        

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

The Mitzvah of Tefillin

The verse (Shemot 13:16) commands the wearing of tefillin—"for a token upon thy hand, and for frontlets between thy eyes"—as a perpetual reminder of Yetziat Mitzrayim (the Exodus from Egypt). According to Rashi, this mitzvah serves as a physical and spiritual symbol of our bond with Hashem, reinforcing the belief in His providence and the miracles He performed for Bnei Yisrael.

Symbolism of "Yad Chazakah" (Strength of Hand)

The phrase "for by strength of hand the Lord brought us forth out of Miżrayim" emphasizes that the Exodus was not a natural event but a divine intervention. Rambam (Hilchot Tefillin 4:25) explains that the tefillin act as a tangible reminder of this miracle, ensuring that we internalize the lesson of Hashem’s absolute power and our dependence on Him.

Structure and Placement of Tefillin

  • Tefillin shel Yad (Hand Tefillin): Placed on the weaker arm (left for right-handed individuals), symbolizing submission to Hashem’s will (Menachot 37a). The verse’s wording "upon thy hand" (יָדְכָה) is interpreted by the Talmud as referring to the left hand, as the letter kaf at the end suggests a weaker side (Kiddushin 36a).
  • Tefillin shel Rosh (Head Tefillin): Positioned "between thy eyes", representing the intellect’s submission to divine wisdom. The term "totafot" is linked by the Talmud (Sanhedrin 4b) to the Aramaic word for "twofold," alluding to the four compartments in the head tefillin.

Midrashic Insights

The Midrash (Mechilta Bo 17) connects tefillin to the idea of zikaron (remembrance), teaching that just as Hashem "wore" tefillin (metaphorically, as described in Berachot 6a), so too must we emulate His ways. The placement near the heart (hand tefillin) and mind (head tefillin) signifies total devotion in thought and action.

Halachic Implications

Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 25-48) details the precise requirements for tefillin, including the writing of the parshiyot (scriptural passages), the leather boxes, and the straps. The mitzvah is obligatory for men (based on time-bound positive commandments) and is observed daily (except Shabbat and Yom Tov) to continually affirm faith in Hashem’s miracles.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Menachot 34b
The verse is discussed in the context of the mitzvah of tefillin, specifically regarding the proper placement and significance of the tefillin on the hand and between the eyes.
📖 Berakhot 6a
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the importance of tefillin as a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, emphasizing the exodus from Egypt as a foundational event.
📖 Sanhedrin 4b
The verse is mentioned in a broader discussion about the commandments and their symbolic meanings, particularly focusing on the tefillin as a reminder of God's deliverance from Egypt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does 'a token upon thy hand' and 'frontlets between thy eyes' mean in Exodus 13:16?
A: This verse refers to the mitzvah (commandment) of Tefillin (phylacteries). 'A token upon thy hand' refers to the Tefillin shel yad (worn on the arm), and 'frontlets between thy eyes' refers to the Tefillin shel rosh (worn on the head). These are physical reminders of Hashem's commandments and His redemption of the Jewish people from Egypt (Rashi on Exodus 13:16).
Q: Why is wearing Tefillin important according to this verse?
A: Tefillin serve as a constant reminder of Hashem's miracles and our commitment to His commandments. The verse connects them directly to the Exodus from Egypt ('for by strength of hand the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt'), teaching us that we must always remember this foundational event in Jewish history (Rambam, Hilchot Tefillin 4:25).
Q: How does this verse apply to Jewish life today?
A: This verse establishes the daily practice of wearing Tefillin (for men over bar mitzvah age) as a physical and spiritual connection to Hashem and our history. Just as the verse commands, observant Jews continue this tradition every weekday morning as a fulfillment of this biblical commandment (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 25-45).
Q: What is the connection between Tefillin and the Exodus from Egypt?
A: The verse explicitly links Tefillin to the Exodus ('for by strength of hand...'). The Talmud explains that wearing Tefillin demonstrates our belief in Hashem and commemorates His miracles in taking us out of Egypt (Berachot 6a). The Tefillin contain parchments with verses about the Exodus, making this connection concrete.
Q: Why are Tefillin placed on the arm and head specifically?
A: The arm represents action and the head represents thought. By placing Tefillin on both, we dedicate both our physical deeds and our intellectual/spiritual focus to serving Hashem (Zohar, Bo 43a). The hand Tefillin faces inward toward the heart, symbolizing the connection between action and intention.