Joshua 4:6
Context4:6 The stones 1 will be a reminder to you. 2 When your children ask someday, ‘Why are these stones important to you?’
Genesis 30:33
Context30:33 My integrity will testify for me 3 later on. 4 When you come to verify that I’ve taken only the wages we agreed on, 5 if I have in my possession any goat that is not speckled or spotted or any sheep that is not dark-colored, it will be considered stolen.” 6
Exodus 13:14
Context13:14 7 In the future, 8 when your son asks you 9 ‘What is this?’ 10 you are to tell him, ‘With a mighty hand 11 the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the land of slavery. 12
Deuteronomy 6:20
Context6:20 When your children 13 ask you later on, “What are the stipulations, statutes, and ordinances that the Lord our God commanded you?”
[4:6] 1 tn Heb “that this may be”; the referent of “this” (the twelve stones) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[4:6] 2 tn Heb “in order that this might be a sign among you.”
[30:33] 3 tn Heb “will answer on my behalf.”
[30:33] 4 tn Heb “on the following day,” or “tomorrow.”
[30:33] 5 tn Heb “when you come concerning my wage before you.”
[30:33] 6 tn Heb “every one which is not speckled and spotted among the lambs and dark among the goats, stolen it is with me.”
[13:14] 7 sn As with v. 8, the Law now requires that the children be instructed on the meaning of this observance. It is a memorial of the deliverance from bondage and the killing of the firstborn in Egypt.
[13:14] 9 tn Heb “and it will be when your son will ask you.”
[13:14] 10 tn The question is cryptic; it simply says, “What is this?” but certainly refers to the custom just mentioned. It asks, “What does this mean?” or “Why do we do this?”
[13:14] 11 tn The expression is “with strength of hand,” making “hand” the genitive of specification. In translation “strength” becomes the modifier, because “hand” specifies where the strength was. But of course the whole expression is anthropomorphic for the power of God.