Exodus 23:15

23:15 You are to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread; seven days you must eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you, at the appointed time of the month of Abib, for at that time you came out of Egypt. No one may appear before me empty-handed.

Exodus 34:20

34:20 Now the firstling of a donkey you may redeem with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, then break its neck. You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons.

“No one will appear before me empty-handed.


tn This is an adverbial accusative of time.

tn Heb “in it.”

tn The verb is a Niphal imperfect; the nuance of permission works well here – no one is permitted to appear before God empty (Heb “and they will not appear before me empty”).

tn Heb “and the one that opens [the womb of] the donkey.”

sn See G. Brin, “The Firstling of Unclean Animals,” JQR 68 (1971): 1-15.

tn The form is the adverb “empty.”