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Selected Verse: Exodus 13:9 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ex 13:9	Strong Concordance	And it shall be for a sign [0226] unto thee upon thine hand [03027], and for a memorial [02146] between thine eyes [05869], that the LORD'S [03068] law [08451] may be in thy mouth [06310]: for with a strong [02389] hand [03027] hath the LORD [03068] brought thee out [03318] of Egypt [04714].
	King James	And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD'S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, &c.--There is no reason to believe that the Oriental tattooing--the custom of staining the hands with the powder of Hennah, as Eastern females now do--is here referred to. Nor is it probable that either this practice or the phylacteries of the Pharisees--parchment scrolls, which were worn on their wrists and foreheads--had so early an existence. The words are to be considered only as a figurative mode of expression. that the Lord's law may be in thy mouth, &c.--that is, that it may be the subject of frequent conversation and familiar knowledge among the people.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, &c.--There is no reason to believe that the Oriental tattooing--the custom of staining the hands with the powder of Hennah, as Eastern females now do--is here referred to. Nor is it probable that either this practice or the phylacteries of the Pharisees--parchment scrolls, which were worn on their wrists and foreheads--had so early an existence. The words are to be considered only as a figurative mode of expression.

that the Lord's law may be in thy mouth, &c.--that is, that it may be the subject of frequent conversation and familiar knowledge among the people.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Hebrew writers have generally regarded this as a formal injunction to write the precepts on slips of parchment, and to fasten them on the wrists and forehead; but other commentators are generally agreed that it is to be understood metaphorically. The words appear to be put into the mouths of the parents. They were to keep all the facts of the Passover constantly in mind, and, referring to a custom prevalent ages before Moses in Egypt, to have them present as though they were inscribed on papyrus or parchment fastened on the wrists, or on the face between the eyes. If, as may be inferred from Deu 6:7-8, Moses adopted this custom, he would take care to warn the people against the Egyptian superstition of amulets. Modern Israelites generally allege this precept as a justification for the use of phylacteries.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Upon thy hand, between thine eyes - Proverbial expressions; denoting things which are never out of our thoughts.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
And it shall be for a sign - upon thine hand - This direction, repeated and enlarged Exo 13:16, gave rise to phylacteries or tephillin, and this is one of the passages which the Jews write upon them to the present day. The manner in which the Jews understood and kept these commands may appear in their practice. They wrote the following four portions of the law upon slips of parchment or vellum: Sanctify unto me the first-born, Exodus 13, from Exo 13:2-10 inclusive. And it shall be, when the Lord shall bring thee into the land, Exodus 13, from Exo 13:11-16 inclusive. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord, Deuteronomy 6, from Deu 6:4-9 inclusive. And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently, Deuteronomy 11, from Deu 11:13-21 inclusive. These four portions, making in all 30 verses, written as mentioned above, and covered with leather, they tied to the forehead and to the hand or arm. Those which were for the Head (the frontlets) they wrote on four slips of parchment, and rolled up each by itself, and placed them in four compartments, joined together in one piece of skin or leather. Those which were designed for the hand were formed of one piece of parchment, the four portions being written upon it in four columns, and rolled up from one end to the other. These were all correct transcripts from the Mosaic text, without one redundant or deficient letter, otherwise they were not lawful to be worn. Those for the head were tied on so as to rest on the forehead. Those for the hand or arm were usually tied on the left arm, a little above the elbow, on the inside, that they might be near the heart, according to the command, Deu 6:6 : And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart. These phylacteries formed no inconsiderable part of a Jew's religion; they wore them as a sign of their obligation to God, and as representing some future blessedness. Hence they did not wear them on feast days nor on the Sabbath, because these things were in themselves signs; but they wore them always when they read the law, or when they prayed, and hence they called them תפלין tephillin, prayer, ornaments, oratories, or incitements to prayer. In process of time the spirit of this law was lost in the letter, and when the word was not in their mouth, nor the law in their heart, they had their phylacteries on their heads and on their hands. And the Pharisees, who in our Lord's time affected extraordinary piety, made their phylacteries very broad, that they might have many sentences written upon them, or the ordinary portions in very large and observable letters. It appears that the Jews wore these for three different purposes: - 1. As signs or remembrancers. This was the original design, as the institution itself sufficiently proves. 2. To procure reverence and respect in the sight of the heathen. This reason is given in the Gemara, Berachoth, chapter i: "Whence is it proved that the phylacteries or tephillin are the strength of Israel? Ans. From what is written, Deu 28:10 : All the people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord (יהוה Yehovah) and they shall be afraid of thee." 3. They used them as amulets or charms, to drive away evil spirits. This appears from the Targum on Sol 8:3 : His left hand is under my head, etc. "The congregation of Israel hath said, I am elect above all people, because I bind my phylacteries on my left hand and on my head, and the scroll is fixed to the right side of my gate, the third part of which looks to my bed-chamber, that demons may not be permitted to injure me. One of the original phylacteries or תפלין tephillin now lies before me; it is a piece of fine vellum, about eighteen inches long, and an inch and quarter broad. It is divided into four unequal compartments; the letters are very well formed, but written with many apices, after the manner of the German Jews. In the first compartment is written the portion taken from Exo 13:2-10; in the second, Exo 13:11-16; in the third, Deu 6:4-9; in the fourth, Deu 11:13-21, as before related. This had originally served for the hand or arm. These passages seem to be chosen in vindication of the use of the phylactery itself, as the reader may see on consulting them at large. Bind them for a Sign upon thy Hand; and for Frontlets between thy Eyes; write them upon the Posts of thy House and upon thy Gates; all which commands the Jews take in the most literal sense. To acquire the reputation of extraordinary sanctity they wore the fringes of their garments of an uncommon length. Moses had commanded them, Num 15:38, Num 15:39, to put fringes to the borders of their garments, that when they looked upon even these distinct threads they might remember, not only the law in general but also the very minutiae or smaller parts of all the precepts, rites, and ceremonies belonging to it. As those hypocrites (for such our Lord proves them to be) were destitute of all the life and power of religion within, they endeavored to supply its place with phylacteries and fringes without. The same principles distinguish hypocrites every where, and multitudes of them may be found among those termed Christians as well as among the Jews. It is probably to this institution relative to the phylactery that the words, Rev 14:1, allude: And I looked, and, lo, a hundred and forty-four thousand having his Father's name written on their foreheads. "That is," says Mr. Ainsworth, "as a sign of the profession of God's law; for That which in the Gospel is called his Name, (Mat 12:21), in the prophets is called his Law, (Isa 42:4)." So again antichrist exacts the obedience to his precepts by a mark on men's right hands or on their foreheads, Rev 13:16.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

And it shall be for a sign - upon thine hand - This direction, repeated and enlarged Exo 13:16, gave rise to phylacteries or tephillin, and this is one of the passages which the Jews write upon them to the present day. The manner in which the Jews understood and kept these commands may appear in their practice. They wrote the following four portions of the law upon slips of parchment or vellum: Sanctify unto me the first-born, Exodus 13, from Exo 13:2-10 inclusive. And it shall be, when the Lord shall bring thee into the land, Exodus 13, from Exo 13:11-16 inclusive. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord, Deuteronomy 6, from Deu 6:4-9 inclusive. And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently, Deuteronomy 11, from Deu 11:13-21 inclusive. These four portions, making in all 30 verses, written as mentioned above, and covered with leather, they tied to the forehead and to the hand or arm.

Those which were for the Head (the frontlets) they wrote on four slips of parchment, and rolled up each by itself, and placed them in four compartments, joined together in one piece of skin or leather. Those which were designed for the hand were formed of one piece of parchment, the four portions being written upon it in four columns, and rolled up from one end to the other. These were all correct transcripts from the Mosaic text, without one redundant or deficient letter, otherwise they were not lawful to be worn. Those for the head were tied on so as to rest on the forehead. Those for the hand or arm were usually tied on the left arm, a little above the elbow, on the inside, that they might be near the heart, according to the command, Deu 6:6 : And these words which I command thee this day shall be in thine heart. These phylacteries formed no inconsiderable part of a Jew's religion; they wore them as a sign of their obligation to God, and as representing some future blessedness. Hence they did not wear them on feast days nor on the Sabbath, because these things were in themselves signs; but they wore them always when they read the law, or when they prayed, and hence they called them תפלין tephillin, prayer, ornaments, oratories, or incitements to prayer. In process of time the spirit of this law was lost in the letter, and when the word was not in their mouth, nor the law in their heart, they had their phylacteries on their heads and on their hands. And the Pharisees, who in our Lord's time affected extraordinary piety, made their phylacteries very broad, that they might have many sentences written upon them, or the ordinary portions in very large and observable letters.

It appears that the Jews wore these for three different purposes: -

1. As signs or remembrancers. This was the original design, as the institution itself sufficiently proves.

2. To procure reverence and respect in the sight of the heathen. This reason is given in the Gemara, Berachoth, chapter i: "Whence is it proved that the phylacteries or tephillin are the strength of Israel? Ans. From what is written, Deu 28:10 : All the people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord (יהוה Yehovah) and they shall be afraid of thee."

3. They used them as amulets or charms, to drive away evil spirits. This appears from the Targum on Sol 8:3 : His left hand is under my head, etc. "The congregation of Israel hath said, I am elect above all people, because I bind my phylacteries on my left hand and on my head, and the scroll is fixed to the right side of my gate, the third part of which looks to my bed-chamber, that demons may not be permitted to injure me.

One of the original phylacteries or תפלין tephillin now lies before me; it is a piece of fine vellum, about eighteen inches long, and an inch and quarter broad. It is divided into four unequal compartments; the letters are very well formed, but written with many apices, after the manner of the German Jews. In the first compartment is written the portion taken from Exo 13:2-10; in the second, Exo 13:11-16; in the third, Deu 6:4-9; in the fourth, Deu 11:13-21, as before related. This had originally served for the hand or arm.

These passages seem to be chosen in vindication of the use of the phylactery itself, as the reader may see on consulting them at large. Bind them for a Sign upon thy Hand; and for Frontlets between thy Eyes; write them upon the Posts of thy House and upon thy Gates; all which commands the Jews take in the most literal sense. To acquire the reputation of extraordinary sanctity they wore the fringes of their garments of an uncommon length. Moses had commanded them, Num 15:38, Num 15:39, to put fringes to the borders of their garments, that when they looked upon even these distinct threads they might remember, not only the law in general but also the very minutiae or smaller parts of all the precepts, rites, and ceremonies belonging to it. As those hypocrites (for such our Lord proves them to be) were destitute of all the life and power of religion within, they endeavored to supply its place with phylacteries and fringes without. The same principles distinguish hypocrites every where, and multitudes of them may be found among those termed Christians as well as among the Jews. It is probably to this institution relative to the phylactery that the words, Rev 14:1, allude: And I looked, and, lo, a hundred and forty-four thousand having his Father's name written on their foreheads. "That is," says Mr. Ainsworth, "as a sign of the profession of God's law; for That which in the Gospel is called his Name, (Mat 12:21), in the prophets is called his Law, (Isa 42:4)." So again antichrist exacts the obedience to his precepts by a mark on men's right hands or on their foreheads, Rev 13:16.

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⁷ And thou shalt teach them diligently [08150] unto thy children [01121], and shalt talk [01696] of them when thou sittest [03427] in thine house [01004], and when thou walkest [03212] by the way [01870], and when thou liest down [07901], and when thou risest up [06965].
⁸ And thou shalt bind [07194] them for a sign [0226] upon thine hand [03027], and they shall be as frontlets [02903] between thine eyes [05869].

¹⁶ And [2532] he causeth [4160] all [3956], both small [3398] and [2532] great [3173], [2532] rich [4145] and [2532] poor [4434], [2532] free [1658] and [2532] bond [1401], to [2443] [846] receive [1325] a mark [5480] in [1909] their [846] right hand [1188] [5495], or [2228] in [1909] their [846] foreheads [3359]:

⁴ He shall not fail [03543] nor be discouraged [07533], till he have set [07760] judgment [04941] in the earth [0776]: and the isles [0339] shall wait [03176] for his law [08451].

²¹ And [2532] in [1722] his [846] name [3686] shall [1679] the Gentiles [1484] trust [1679].

¹ And [2532] I looked [1492], and [2532], lo [2400], a Lamb [721] stood [2476] on [1909] the mount [3735] Sion [4622], and [2532] with [3326] him [846] an hundred [1540] forty [5062] and four [5064] thousand [5505], having [2192] his [846] Father's [3962] name [3686] written [1125] in [1909] their [846] foreheads [3359].

³⁹ And it shall be unto you for a fringe [06734], that ye may look [07200] upon it, and remember [02142] all the commandments [04687] of the LORD [03068], and do [06213] them; and that ye seek [08446] not after [0310] your own heart [03824] and your own eyes [05869], after [0310] which ye use to go a whoring [02181]:

³⁸ Speak [01696] unto the children [01121] of Israel [03478], and bid [0559] them that they make [06213] them fringes [06734] in the borders [03671] of their garments [0899] throughout their generations [01755], and that they put [05414] upon the fringe [06734] of the borders [03671] a ribband [06616] of blue [08504]:

¹³ And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken [08085] diligently [08085] unto my commandments [04687] which I command [06680] you this day [03117], to love [0157] the LORD [03068] your God [0430], and to serve [05647] him with all your heart [03824] and with all your soul [05315],
¹⁴ That I will give [05414] you the rain [04306] of your land [0776] in his due season [06256], the first rain [03138] and the latter rain [04456], that thou mayest gather [0622] in thy corn [01715], and thy wine [08492], and thine oil [03323].
¹⁵ And I will send [05414] grass [06212] in thy fields [07704] for thy cattle [0929], that thou mayest eat [0398] and be full [07646].
¹⁶ Take heed [08104] to yourselves, that your heart [03824] be not deceived [06601], and ye turn aside [05493], and serve [05647] other [0312] gods [0430], and worship [07812] them;
¹⁷ And then the LORD'S [03068] wrath [0639] be kindled [02734] against you, and he shut up [06113] the heaven [08064], that there be no rain [04306], and that the land [0127] yield [05414] not her fruit [02981]; and lest ye perish [06] quickly [04120] from off the good [02896] land [0776] which the LORD [03068] giveth [05414] you.
¹⁸ Therefore shall ye lay up [07760] these my words [01697] in your heart [03824] and in your soul [05315], and bind [07194] them for a sign [0226] upon your hand [03027], that they may be as frontlets [02903] between your eyes [05869].
¹⁹ And ye shall teach [03925] them your children [01121], speaking [01696] of them when thou sittest [03427] in thine house [01004], and when thou walkest [03212] by the way [01870], when thou liest [07901] down, and when thou risest up [06965].
²⁰ And thou shalt write [03789] them upon the door posts [04201] of thine house [01004], and upon thy gates [08179]:
²¹ That your days [03117] may be multiplied [07235], and the days [03117] of your children [01121], in the land [0127] which the LORD [03068] sware [07650] unto your fathers [01] to give [05414] them, as the days [03117] of heaven [08064] upon the earth [0776].

⁴ Hear [08085], O Israel [03478]: The LORD [03068] our God [0430] is one [0259] LORD [03068]:
⁵ And thou shalt love [0157] the LORD [03068] thy God [0430] with all thine heart [03824], and with all thy soul [05315], and with all thy might [03966].
⁶ And these words [01697], which I command [06680] thee this day [03117], shall be in thine heart [03824]:
⁷ And thou shalt teach them diligently [08150] unto thy children [01121], and shalt talk [01696] of them when thou sittest [03427] in thine house [01004], and when thou walkest [03212] by the way [01870], and when thou liest down [07901], and when thou risest up [06965].
⁸ And thou shalt bind [07194] them for a sign [0226] upon thine hand [03027], and they shall be as frontlets [02903] between thine eyes [05869].
⁹ And thou shalt write [03789] them upon the posts [04201] of thy house [01004], and on thy gates [08179].

¹¹ And it shall be when the LORD [03068] shall bring [0935] thee into the land [0776] of the Canaanites [03669], as he sware [07650] unto thee and to thy fathers [01], and shall give [05414] it thee,
¹² That thou shalt set apart [05674] unto the LORD [03068] all that openeth [06363] the matrix [07358], and every firstling [06363] that cometh [07698] of a beast [0929] which thou hast; the males [02145] shall be the LORD'S [03068].
¹³ And every firstling [06363] of an ass [02543] thou shalt redeem [06299] with a lamb [07716]; and if thou wilt not redeem [06299] it, then thou shalt break his neck [06202]: and all the firstborn [01060] of man [0120] among thy children [01121] shalt thou redeem [06299].
¹⁴ And it shall be when thy son [01121] asketh [07592] thee in time to come [04279], saying [0559], What is this? that thou shalt say [0559] unto him, By strength [02392] of hand [03027] the LORD [03068] brought us out [03318] from Egypt [04714], from the house [01004] of bondage [05650]:
¹⁵ And it came to pass, when Pharaoh [06547] would hardly [07185] let us go [07971], that the LORD [03068] slew [02026] all the firstborn [01060] in the land [0776] of Egypt [04714], both the firstborn [01060] of man [0120], and the firstborn [01060] of beast [0929]: therefore I sacrifice [02076] to the LORD [03068] all that openeth [06363] the matrix [07358], being males [02145]; but all the firstborn [01060] of my children [01121] I redeem [06299].
¹⁶ And it shall be for a token [0226] upon thine hand [03027], and for frontlets [02903] between thine eyes [05869]: for by strength [02392] of hand [03027] the LORD [03068] brought us forth [03318] out of Egypt [04714].

² Sanctify [06942] unto me all the firstborn [01060], whatsoever openeth [06363] the womb [07358] among the children [01121] of Israel [03478], both of man [0120] and of beast [0929]: it is mine.
³ And Moses [04872] said [0559] unto the people [05971], Remember [02142] this [02088] day [03117], in which ye came out [03318] from Egypt [04714], out of the house [01004] of bondage [05650]; for by strength [02392] of hand [03027] the LORD [03068] brought you out [03318] from this place: there shall no leavened bread [02557] be eaten [0398].
⁴ This day [03117] came ye out [03318] in the month [02320] Abib [024].
⁵ And it shall be when the LORD [03068] shall bring [0935] thee into the land [0776] of the Canaanites [03669], and the Hittites [02850], and the Amorites [0567], and the Hivites [02340], and the Jebusites [02983], which he sware [07650] unto thy fathers [01] to give [05414] thee, a land [0776] flowing [02100] with milk [02461] and honey [01706], that thou shalt keep [05647] this service [05656] in this month [02320].
⁶ Seven [07651] days [03117] thou shalt eat [0398] unleavened bread [04682], and in the seventh [07637] day [03117] shall be a feast [02282] to the LORD [03068].
⁷ Unleavened bread [04682] shall be eaten [0398] seven [07651] days [03117]; and there shall no leavened bread [02557] be seen [07200] with thee, neither shall there be leaven [07603] seen [07200] with thee in all thy quarters [01366].
⁸ And thou shalt shew [05046] thy son [01121] in that day [03117], saying [0559], This is done because of [05668] that [02088] which the LORD [03068] did [06213] unto me when I came forth [03318] out of Egypt [04714].
⁹ And it shall be for a sign [0226] unto thee upon thine hand [03027], and for a memorial [02146] between thine eyes [05869], that the LORD'S [03068] law [08451] may be in thy mouth [06310]: for with a strong [02389] hand [03027] hath the LORD [03068] brought thee out [03318] of Egypt [04714].
¹⁰ Thou shalt therefore keep [08104] this ordinance [02708] in his season [04150] from year [03117] to year [03117].

³ His left hand [08040] should be under my head [07218], and his right hand [03225] should embrace [02263] me.

¹⁰ And all people [05971] of the earth [0776] shall see [07200] that thou art called [07121] by the name [08034] of the LORD [03068]; and they shall be afraid [03372] of thee.

⁶ And these words [01697], which I command [06680] thee this day [03117], shall be in thine heart [03824]:

¹⁶ And it shall be for a token [0226] upon thine hand [03027], and for frontlets [02903] between thine eyes [05869]: for by strength [02392] of hand [03027] the LORD [03068] brought us forth [03318] out of Egypt [04714].