Pidyon HaBen means, literally, “redemption of the son.” It is a positive mitzvah from the Torah (Exodus 13 and Numbers 18): the father of a qualifying firstborn son gives a kohen the value of five biblical shekels of silver, and in doing so redeems his son. It is done on the baby’s thirty-first day, and it is a joyful, once-in-a-lifetime occasion.
Why a redemption at all? After the Exodus, the firstborn of Israel were consecrated to serve in the sanctuary. That role later passed to the tribe of Levi — so a firstborn who is not of priestly or Levite lineage is symbolically “redeemed” from a kohen, in silver, the metal the Torah names for sacred valuations.
The five shekels are counted out in the Book of Numbers
In the wilderness census, the Levites were designated to take the place of the firstborn in sacred service — one Levite for one firstborn. But the firstborn outnumbered the Levites, and the surplus had to be redeemed in silver. That is where the number five is fixed.
Each of the 273 was redeemed at five shekels of silver (Num. 3:47) — 1,365 shekels in all, given to Aaron and his sons (Num. 3:50–51). That one-time desert redemption becomes the permanent mitzvah of Numbers 18:15–16.
Why did the firstborn lose the role in the first place? The verse simply designates the Levites in their place. A widely-cited tradition — the sages explain — teaches that the firstborn forfeited the privilege through their part in the sin of the Golden Calf, while the tribe of Levi stayed loyal.
Is your son obligated?
Walk down the path. Any single answer that steps off it means there is no Pidyon HaBen. This is a guide to understanding, not a ruling — the edge cases are exactly the ones to bring to your rabbi.
| Situation | Status | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Firstborn boy, natural birth, two Israelite parents | Obligated | The classic peter rechem case |
| A daughter was born first | Exempt | She opened the womb; a later son is not redeemed |
| Firstborn is a girl | Exempt | The mitzvah applies to firstborn sons only |
| Delivered by cesarean section | Exempt | Not a natural opening — and the next natural son is exempt too |
| Father is a Kohen or Levi | Exempt | Priestly / Levite lineage |
| Mother is a bat-Kohen or bat-Levi | Exempt | Even if the father is a plain Israelite |
| Twin boys, natural birth | First only | Only the one born first is redeemed |
| A prior miscarriage or stillbirth | Ask a rabbi | Depends on the stage — handled gently, case by case |
A quick reference — not a substitute for a rabbi’s ruling on your case.
How much silver — and why the opinions differ
The Torah fixes the price as five sanctuary shekels of silver. Rendering that in grams depends on the disputed weight of the ancient coin, so authorities land in a range. The good news for a family: a set built to the high end simply clears them all.
Five coins to mirror the five shekalim. Some families add a sixth as a safeguard, in case one runs light.
Pure silver required, by opinion
Grams of pure silver for the full five-shekel redemption.
The thirty-first day
The day of birth counts as day one. After thirty completed days, the redemption is held on the thirty-first — with one gentle exception.
Not deferred on Chol HaMoed, Chanukah or Purim — the ceremony is held on those days.
The ceremony
The heart of it is a short scripted exchange between the father and the kohen, two blessings, and a blessing over the child, set within a festive meal (a seudat mitzvah). The wording below is the representative Ashkenaz text; rites vary by community.
The child is presented
At a daytime seudat mitzvah, the baby — often dressed in finery on a silver tray — is brought before the kohen with the five silver coins. A minyan is preferred.
The father declares, and the kohen asks
The father chooses his son
He then recites two blessings, just before handing over the silver:
The coins are handed over, and the kohen blesses the child
The father gives the five coins to the kohen. Holding them over the child, the kohen declares a formula of substitution — “may this child enter into life, Torah, and the fear of Heaven” — then places his hand on the baby’s head and gives the Priestly Blessing, opening with “May G‑d make you like Ephraim and Menasheh.”
Wine, and the festive meal
The kohen recites the blessing over a cup of wine, and the celebration continues. In many communities it is customary to hand out cloves of garlic and cubes of sugar, so their flavor carries the mitzvah into other foods — and lets many more people share in it.
Afterward — the coins
The silver is now the kohen’s. He may keep it, give it to charity, or return it to the family as a gift — customs vary. Because a kohen so often returns the coins, many families keep an engraved set as a lasting heirloom.
Choosing the silver
We don’t rule on halacha; your rabbi does that. What we can do is make sure the silver itself is right — the correct weight, honest fineness, and, if you’d like, a keepsake worth passing down. Here is what actually qualifies.
Valid for the redemption
- ✓Genuine silver coins — dedicated Pidyon HaBen sets or Silver Eagles
- ✓Pre-1935 US silver dollars (Morgan / Peace, 90%) — five ≈ 120 g
- ✓Silverware or jewelry of sufficient value
Cannot be used
- ✕Paper money or banknotes
- ✕A check or credit-card payment
- ✕Land, loans, IOUs, or clad / plated “silver” — at any face value
Is your family exempt — a kohen, a levi, a cesarean birth? There is nothing to buy and nothing missed. If you’d still like to mark a firstborn’s thirtieth day with a silver keepsake, we’d be glad to help; it carries no obligation of any kind.
Common Questions
Questions families ask us
What does “Pidyon HaBen” actually mean?
Literally, “redemption of the son.” It is a Torah mitzvah in which a father redeems his firstborn son from a kohen for the value of five biblical silver shekels — traditionally on the baby’s 31st day.
Who is obligated, and who is exempt?
The obligation is on the father of a firstborn son who is a peter rechem — the first to open his mother’s womb by natural birth, to two non-Kohen/non-Levi parents. There is no redemption if the father is a Kohen or Levi, if the mother is a bat-Kohen or bat-Levi, if the birth was by cesarean, if the firstborn is a girl or a daughter was born first, or (depending on the stage) after a prior pregnancy loss. Several of these need a rabbi’s ruling.
When is it held — and what if that day is Shabbat?
On the 31st day after birth (the day of birth counts as day one). If the 31st falls on Shabbat or a festival, it is deferred to the next permitted weekday, because handing over the coins is a kind of transaction. Chol HaMoed, Chanukah and Purim are not deferred.
How much silver is required?
Five sanctuary shekels, rendered as pure silver. The mainstream range is roughly 90–93 g (Sephardi) and 96–100 g (Ashkenazi), commonly summarized as “about 100 grams,” or ≈3.2 troy oz. Many dedicated sets are made to ≈117 g as a buffer so a single set clears every opinion. Follow your community’s custom.
Can I use US silver dollars, Silver Eagles, or cash?
Genuine silver works: four one-ounce Silver Eagles already exceed the weight, and five pre-1935 Morgan or Peace dollars (90% silver) hold about 120 g. Later clad or plated “silver” dollars generally do not qualify, and paper money, checks, credit, land and IOUs are never valid — they lack intrinsic value.
Why five coins — and sometimes six?
The five coins mirror the “five shekalim” the Torah names. Strictly, it is the weight that matters, not the count — but five is the beloved custom. Some families add a sixth coin as a safeguard, in case one is slightly light.
What actually happens during the ceremony?
A short scripted dialogue: the father presents his firstborn and the coins; the kohen asks whether he would rather keep the son or the five coins; the father chooses his son and hands over the silver, reciting two blessings (al pidyon haben and Sheheḥeyanu). The kohen then blesses the child. It is set within a festive meal.
What does the kohen do with the coins afterward?
They legally become his. He may keep them, give them to charity, or return them to the family as a gift once the redemption has taken effect. Many kohanim return an engraved set so the family can keep it as an heirloom.
Our situation is unusual — grown son, twins, adoption, conversion, a prior loss…
All of these have specific halachot. A grown man whose father never redeemed him redeems himself — it is never too late. With twins, only the firstborn is redeemed. Adoption, conversion timing, uncertain lineage and prior pregnancy loss each turn on details. Bring your case to a competent rabbi; the redemption can always be arranged later.
This is my first time buying silver — what should I look for?
Confirm three things: fineness (.999 or .900/.925), the total pure-silver weight in grams, and that it meets the weight for your community’s practice — ideally the ≈117 g buffer so it is valid for all. A certificate of content and clear guidance matter most. If in doubt, check the specifics with your rabbi or the officiating kohen.
This guide is prepared by the Bullion Trading LLC editorial team. Pidyon Haben requirements vary with individual circumstances; consult a competent rabbi for your family. Silver-value examples are educational, not a purchase quote or religious ruling. About our editorial team