The Basics of Judaism: Basic Values and Morality: Redeeming First Born Males:
Why do only male first born have to be redeemed?
The sanctification of the first born (which is why they require
redemption) can be regarded as a consequence of the Tenth Plague
in Egypt, which killed all the Egyptian male first born, human
and animal; see Exodus 13:11-15. Since only males died in Egypt,
only males need to be redeemed. Other laws that commemorate the
Exodus, such as the laws of the Passover Seder, apply equally to
men and women.
Ask a follow-up question
