share torah logo

Exodus 13:8 - Passover's eternal parent-child dialogue

Exodus 13:8 - שמות 13:8

Hebrew Text

וְהִגַּדְתָּ לְבִנְךָ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לֵאמֹר בַּעֲבוּר זֶה עָשָׂה יְהוָה לִי בְּצֵאתִי מִמִּצְרָיִם׃

English Translation

And thou shalt relate to thy son on that day, saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did to me when I came out of Miżrayim.

Transliteration

Vehigadta levincha bayom hahu lemor ba'avur ze asa Adonai li betzeiti miMitzrayim.

Hebrew Leining Text

וְהִגַּדְתָּ֣ לְבִנְךָ֔ בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא לֵאמֹ֑ר בַּעֲב֣וּר זֶ֗ה עָשָׂ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ לִ֔י בְּצֵאתִ֖י מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃
וְהִגַּדְתָּ֣ לְבִנְךָ֔ בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא לֵאמֹ֑ר בַּעֲב֣וּר זֶ֗ה עָשָׂ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ לִ֔י בְּצֵאתִ֖י מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

The Mitzvah of Sippur Yetziat Mitzrayim

The verse (Shemot 13:8) establishes the fundamental obligation of recounting the Exodus from Egypt (sippur yetziat mitzrayim) to one's children. Rashi explains that this refers specifically to the night of the 15th of Nisan, when we fulfill this mitzvah through the Passover Seder. The phrase "ba'avur zeh" ("because of this") is interpreted by Rashi as referring to the Passover offering, matzah, and maror - the central elements of the Seder that serve as tangible reminders of our redemption.

The Personal Dimension of Redemption

The Ramban emphasizes the striking language "asah Hashem li" ("the Lord did for me"), noting that each Jew must view themselves as having personally left Egypt. The Mechilta expands on this, teaching that we must feel as if we ourselves experienced the slavery and redemption, not merely our ancestors. This transforms the historical event into a living reality for every generation.

Pedagogical Methods

The Talmud (Pesachim 116a) derives from this verse four approaches to teaching children about the Exodus, corresponding to the four sons in the Haggadah:

  • The wise son - teach him all the laws of Passover
  • The wicked son - rebuke him for excluding himself
  • The simple son - give him basic explanations
  • The one who doesn't know how to ask - initiate the discussion

The Role of Physical Symbols

The Seforno explains that the verse connects the verbal recounting with physical objects ("ba'avur zeh" - "because of this"), teaching that visual aids and experiential learning are essential for transmitting our heritage. This is why the Seder involves not just telling the story, but tasting the matzah, feeling its texture, and experiencing the bitterness of maror.

Generational Continuity

The Kli Yakar notes that the commandment is specifically directed to "your son", highlighting Judaism's emphasis on transmitting our history and values to the next generation. The Midrash Tanchuma adds that this mitzvah ensures the eternal nature of the Jewish people, as each generation renews its connection to the foundational Exodus narrative.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Pesachim 116a
The verse is quoted in the context of discussing the obligation to recount the Exodus from Egypt during the Passover Seder.
📖 Mekhilta Bo 17
The verse is referenced in the Mekhilta, a halakhic midrash on Exodus, in the discussion of the commandment to tell the story of the Exodus to one's children.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Exodus 13:8 mean?
A: Exodus 13:8 commands us to tell our children about the Exodus from Egypt, emphasizing that Hashem performed miracles for us when we left Egypt. This verse is the basis for the mitzvah of recounting the story of Yetziat Mitzrayim (the Exodus) during the Passover Seder, as explained in the Haggadah.
Q: Why is telling our children about the Exodus important?
A: The Torah repeatedly emphasizes teaching our children about the Exodus (e.g., Exodus 12:26-27, 13:14) because it is foundational to our faith. As Rambam explains in Hilchot Chametz U'Matzah (7:1), remembering Hashem's miracles strengthens our belief in Him and our commitment to Torah observance.
Q: How do we fulfill this commandment today?
A: We primarily fulfill this mitzvah through the Passover Seder, where we recite the Haggadah and discuss the Exodus in detail. The Mishnah in Pesachim (10:4) outlines how we should tell the story in a way that children can understand, answering their questions according to their level.
Q: Why does the verse say 'the Lord did to me' if it happened long ago?
A: Rashi explains that we must see ourselves as if we personally left Egypt. This idea is central to the Passover Seder experience - every Jew should feel as if they were redeemed from slavery. The Sages teach that in every generation, a person must view themselves as having left Egypt (Pesachim 116b).
Q: What is the connection between this verse and matzah?
A: This verse appears in the context of the mitzvah of eating matzah (Exodus 13:6-7). The Talmud (Pesachim 115b) explains that matzah serves as a visual aid when teaching children about the Exodus - when they ask why we eat matzah, we explain how our ancestors left Egypt in haste without time for dough to rise.