King James Bible
"Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:"
This introduces a parent's response to a child's question about God's laws (v.20), establishing intergenerational teaching as central to Israel's faith. The command emphasizes personal testimony rather than abstract theology, making history alive through family storytelling. The parent begins with Israel's lowest point—slavery under Egyptian rule—using "we" to maintain collective identity across generations. This humble origin underscores that Israel's existence depends entirely on divine intervention, not their own merit or power. The exodus is attributed solely to God's powerful action, with "mighty hand" being a Hebrew idiom for overwhelming divine strength. This phrase anchors obedience to God's laws in gratitude for past deliverance, making covenant-keeping a response to experienced redemption.