Exodus 12
BSB1 Now the LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2 “This month is the beginning of months for you; it shall be the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man must select a lamb for his family, one per household. 4 If the household is too small for a whole lamb, they are to share with the nearest neighbor based on the number of people, and apportion the lamb accordingly. 5 Your lamb must be an unblemished year-old male, and you may take it from the sheep or the goats. 6 You must keep it until the fourteenth day of the month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight. 7 They are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 They are to eat the meat that night, roasted over the fire, along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 9 Do not eat any of the meat raw or cooked in boiling water, but only roasted over the fire—its head and legs and inner parts. 10 Do not leave any of it until morning; before the morning you must burn up any part that is left over. 11 This is how you are to eat it: You must be fully dressed for travel, with your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. You are to eat in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover. 12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. 13 The blood on the houses where you are staying will distinguish them; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. 14 And this day will be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a feast to the LORD, as a permanent statute for the generations to come. 15 For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day you are to remove the leaven from your houses. Whoever eats anything leavened from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly, and another on the seventh day. You must not do any work on those days, except to prepare the meals—that is all you may do. 17 So you are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your divisions out of the land of Egypt. You must keep this day as a permanent statute for the generations to come. 18 In the first month you are to eat unleavened bread, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day. 19 For seven days there must be no leaven found in your houses. If anyone eats something leavened, that person, whether a foreigner or native of the land, must be cut off from the congregation of Israel. 20 You are not to eat anything leavened; eat unleavened bread in all your homes." 21 Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and told them, “Go at once and select for yourselves a lamb for each family, and slaughter the Passover lamb. 22 Take a cluster of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin, and brush the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out the door of his house until morning. 23 When the LORD passes through to strike down the Egyptians, He will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway; so He will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. 24 And you are to keep this command as a permanent statute for you and your descendants. 25 When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as He promised, you are to keep this service. 26 When your children ask you, ‘What does this service mean to you?’ 27 you are to reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when He struck down the Egyptians and spared our homes.’” Then the people bowed down and worshiped. 28 And the Israelites went and did just what the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron. 29 Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner in the dungeon, as well as all the firstborn among the livestock. 30 During the night Pharaoh got up—he and all his officials and all the Egyptians—and there was loud wailing in Egypt; for there was no house without someone dead. 31 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Get up, leave my people, both you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. 32 Take your flocks and herds as well, just as you have said, and depart! And bless me also." 33 And in order to send them out of the land quickly, the Egyptians urged the people on. “For otherwise,” they said, “we are all going to die!" 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, carrying it on their shoulders in kneading bowls wrapped in clothing. 35 Furthermore, the Israelites acted on Moses’ word and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold, and for clothing. 36 And the LORD gave the people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that they granted their request. In this way they plundered the Egyptians. 37 The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth with about 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children. 38 And a mixed multitude also went up with them, along with great droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. 39 Since their dough had no leaven, the people baked what they had brought out of Egypt into unleavened loaves. For when they had been driven out of Egypt, they could not delay and had not prepared any provisions for themselves. 40 Now the duration of the Israelites’ stay in Egypt was 430 years. 41 At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD’s divisions went out of the land of Egypt. 42 Because the LORD kept a vigil that night to bring them out of the land of Egypt, this same night is to be a vigil to the LORD, to be observed by all the Israelites for the generations to come. 43 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: No foreigner is to eat of it. 44 But any slave who has been purchased may eat of it, after you have circumcised him. 45 A temporary resident or hired hand shall not eat the Passover. 46 It must be eaten inside one house. You are not to take any of the meat outside the house, and you may not break any of the bones. 47 The whole congregation of Israel must celebrate it. 48 If a foreigner resides with you and wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover, all the males in the household must be circumcised; then he may come near to celebrate it, and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised man may eat of it. 49 The same law shall apply to both the native and the foreigner who resides among you." 50 Then all the Israelites did this—they did just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 And on that very day the LORD brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt by their divisions.
Study Notes — Exodus 12
- Chapter Summary
- Context for the Chapter
- Heart Application
- What Does This Chapter Mean?
- Voices from the Church
- Outline for Preaching
- Core Doctrines
- Lessons from Exodus 12
- Themes from Exodus 12
- Questions for Meditation
- Detailed Chapter Outline
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Top Cross References
- Sermons on Exodus 12
- Matthew Henry Commentary
- What Do You Notice?
Chapter Summary
Exodus chapter 12 begins with God instructing Moses and Aaron to tell the Israelites to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb, so that the angel of death would pass over their homes and spare their firstborn sons (Exodus 12:1-13). The chapter then describes the Passover meal, which the Israelites were to eat in haste, with their loins girded and their staffs in their hands (Exodus 12:14-20). The chapter also explains the significance of the Passover, which was to be a memorial to the Israelites of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12:21-28). The chapter concludes with the death of the firstborn sons of the Egyptians, and the Israelites' departure from Egypt (Exodus 12:29-42).
Context for the Chapter
Exodus chapter 12 is part of the larger narrative of the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt, which is described in the book of Exodus. The chapter follows God's instructions to Moses and Aaron to tell the Israelites to prepare for their departure from Egypt, and it precedes the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, which is described in the following chapters. The Passover is also mentioned in other books of the Bible, such as Leviticus and Numbers, and it is an important part of Jewish tradition and history.
Heart Application
As we read about the Passover in Exodus 12, we are reminded of God's mercy and grace, and the significance of the blood of Christ, which saves us from God's wrath and judgment. We are also encouraged to obey God's commands, just as the Israelites were instructed to follow God's instructions exactly, and to trust in God's protection and salvation.
What Does This Chapter Mean?
Exodus chapter 12 is about the Passover, which was a special meal that the Israelites ate before they left Egypt. They had to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb, so that the angel of death would pass over their homes and spare their firstborn sons. This event is a powerful symbol of God's redemption and salvation, and it foreshadows the death and resurrection of Christ. As we read in Exodus 12:13, the blood of the lamb was a sign of God's protection and salvation.
Voices from the Church
“The Passover was a type of the great sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our Passover, and who has been sacrificed for us.”
— Charles Spurgeon
“The blood of the lamb was a symbol of the blood of Christ, which is the price of our redemption, and which has been shed for the remission of our sins.”
— John Calvin
Outline for Preaching
- The Institution of the Passover (Exodus 12:1-13) — God instructs Moses and Aaron to tell the Israelites to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb, so that the angel of death would pass over their homes and spare their firstborn sons.
- The Passover Meal (Exodus 12:14-20) — The Israelites were to eat the Passover meal in haste, with their loins girded and their staffs in their hands.
- The Significance of the Passover (Exodus 12:21-28) — The Passover was to be a memorial to the Israelites of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt, and it foreshadows the death and resurrection of Christ.
- The Death of the Firstborn Sons (Exodus 12:29-30) — The angel of death destroyed the firstborn sons of the Egyptians, but it passed over the Israelites' homes, which were marked with the blood of the lamb.
- The Israelites' Departure from Egypt (Exodus 12:31-42) — The Israelites departed from Egypt, and they were instructed to remember the Passover and to celebrate it every year.
Core Doctrines
- The doctrine of salvation
- The Passover is a powerful symbol of God's redemption and salvation, and it highlights the importance of faith and obedience in our lives.
- The doctrine of the atonement
- The blood of the lamb symbolizes the blood of Christ, which is the price of our redemption, and which has been shed for the remission of our sins.
- The doctrine of the Lord's Supper
- The Passover meal foreshadows the Lord's Supper, which commemorates Christ's sacrifice on the cross, and which is a symbol of our unity and fellowship with Christ and with each other.
- The doctrine of God's sovereignty
- The Passover highlights God's sovereignty and power, as He delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and spared them from the angel of death.
Lessons from Exodus 12
- The importance of faith and obedience — The Passover teaches us the importance of faith and obedience in our lives, as the Israelites were instructed to follow God's commands exactly, and their obedience was crucial to their deliverance from slavery in Egypt.
- The significance of the blood of Christ — The Passover highlights the significance of the blood of Christ, which is the price of our redemption, and which has been shed for the remission of our sins.
- The importance of remembering and celebrating our salvation — The Passover teaches us the importance of remembering and celebrating our salvation, as the Israelites were instructed to remember the Passover and to celebrate it every year.
- The power of God's sovereignty — The Passover highlights the power of God's sovereignty, as He delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and spared them from the angel of death.
- The importance of unity and fellowship with Christ and with each other — The Passover meal foreshadows the Lord's Supper, which commemorates Christ's sacrifice on the cross, and which is a symbol of our unity and fellowship with Christ and with each other.
Themes from Exodus 12
- Redemption and salvation — The Passover is a powerful symbol of God's redemption and salvation, and it highlights the importance of faith and obedience in our lives.
- The blood of Christ — The blood of the lamb symbolizes the blood of Christ, which is the price of our redemption, and which has been shed for the remission of our sins.
- God's sovereignty and power — The Passover highlights God's sovereignty and power, as He delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and spared them from the angel of death.
- The importance of remembering and celebrating our salvation — The Passover teaches us the importance of remembering and celebrating our salvation, as the Israelites were instructed to remember the Passover and to celebrate it every year.
- Unity and fellowship with Christ and with each other — The Passover meal foreshadows the Lord's Supper, which commemorates Christ's sacrifice on the cross, and which is a symbol of our unity and fellowship with Christ and with each other.
Questions for Meditation
- What is the significance of the Passover, and how does it relate to our lives today?
- How does the blood of the lamb symbolize the blood of Christ, and what does this mean for our salvation?
- What is the importance of obedience to God's commands, and how does this relate to our faith and trust in God?
- How does the Passover meal foreshadow the Lord's Supper, and what does this mean for our unity and fellowship with Christ and with each other?
- What does the Passover teach us about God's sovereignty and power, and how does this relate to our lives and our faith?
Detailed Chapter Outline
1. The Institution of the Passover (Exodus 12:1-13)
| 12:1 | God instructs Moses and Aaron to tell the Israelites to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb, so that the angel of death would pass over their homes and spare their firstborn sons. |
| 12:2 | The Israelites were to take a lamb for each household, and to kill it at twilight. |
| 12:3 | The Israelites were to take some of the blood and put it on the doorposts of their houses, so that the angel of death would pass over their homes and spare their firstborn sons. |
| 12:4 | If a household was too small for a whole lamb, they were to share it with their neighbors. |
| 12:5 | The lamb was to be a year-old male, without blemish. |
| 12:6 | The Israelites were to keep the lamb until the fourteenth day of the month, and then they were to kill it at twilight. |
| 12:7 | The Israelites were to take some of the blood and put it on the doorposts of their houses, so that the angel of death would pass over their homes and spare their firstborn sons. |
| 12:8 | The Israelites were to eat the lamb that night, roasted over fire, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. |
| 12:9 | The Israelites were not to eat the lamb raw or boiled, but roasted over fire. |
| 12:10 | The Israelites were to eat the whole lamb, and not to leave any of it until morning. |
| 12:11 | The Israelites were to eat the lamb in haste, with their loins girded and their staffs in their hands. |
| 12:12 | The Israelites were to eat the lamb as a memorial to their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. |
| 12:13 | The blood of the lamb would be a sign for the Israelites, and God would pass over their homes and spare their firstborn sons. |
2. The Passover Meal (Exodus 12:14-20)
| 12:14 | The Passover was to be a memorial to the Israelites of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. |
| 12:15 | The Israelites were to eat unleavened bread for seven days, and to remove all leaven from their houses. |
| 12:16 | The Israelites were to have a holy convocation on the first day and on the seventh day, and they were not to do any work on those days. |
| 12:17 | The Israelites were to keep the Passover, and to eat unleavened bread for seven days. |
| 12:18 | The Israelites were to eat unleavened bread from the evening of the fourteenth day of the month until the evening of the twenty-first day. |
| 12:19 | The Israelites were to remove all leaven from their houses, and anyone who ate leavened bread during those seven days would be cut off from the community of Israel. |
| 12:20 | The Israelites were not to eat any leavened bread, but only unleavened bread, during those seven days. |
3. The Significance of the Passover (Exodus 12:21-28)
| 12:21 | Moses called all the elders of Israel and told them to select lambs for their families and to kill them. |
| 12:22 | The Israelites were to take some of the blood and put it on the doorposts of their houses, so that the angel of death would pass over their homes and spare their firstborn sons. |
| 12:23 | The angel of death would pass over the Israelites' homes and spare their firstborn sons, but it would destroy the firstborn sons of the Egyptians. |
| 12:24 | The Israelites were to observe this ritual, and to tell their children about it, so that they would know the significance of the Passover. |
| 12:25 | When the Israelites entered the land that God would give them, they were to observe the Passover and to tell their children about it. |
| 12:26 | The Israelites were to tell their children about the Passover, and to explain its significance to them. |
| 12:27 | The Passover was a memorial to the Israelites of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt, and it foreshadowed the death and resurrection of Christ. |
| 12:28 | The Israelites did as Moses instructed them, and they kept the Passover. |
4. The Death of the Firstborn Sons (Exodus 12:29-30)
| 12:29 | At midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh to the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon. |
| 12:30 | Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead. |
5. The Israelites' Departure from Egypt (Exodus 12:31-42)
| 12:31 | During the night, Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested." |
| 12:32 | Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me." |
| 12:33 | The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country, for they thought, "We will all die!" |
| 12:34 | So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing. |
| 12:35 | The Israelites did as Moses instructed them; they asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. |
| 12:36 | The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians. |
| 12:37 | The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. |
| 12:38 | A large number of other people went up with them, and also many flocks and herds. |
| 12:39 | With the dough the Israelites had brought from Egypt, they baked loaves of unleavened bread, for it was not leavened; they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves. |
| 12:40 | Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. |
| 12:41 | At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord's divisions left Egypt. |
| 12:42 | Because the Lord kept watch that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep watch to honor the Lord for the generations to come. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the Passover?
The Passover is a powerful symbol of God's redemption and salvation, and it highlights the importance of faith and obedience in our lives. As we read in Exodus 12:13, the blood of the lamb was a sign of God's protection and salvation, and it symbolizes the blood of Christ, which saves us from God's wrath and judgment.
Why did the Israelites have to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb?
The Israelites had to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb, so that the angel of death would pass over their homes and spare their firstborn sons. This was a sign of God's protection and salvation, and it symbolizes the blood of Christ, which saves us from God's wrath and judgment.
What is the connection between the Passover and the Lord's Supper?
The Passover meal foreshadows the Lord's Supper, which commemorates Christ's sacrifice on the cross, and which is a symbol of our unity and fellowship with Christ and with each other. As we read in Exodus 12:14, the Passover was to be a memorial to the Israelites of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt, just as the Lord's Supper is a memorial to us of our deliverance from sin and death.
Top Cross References
| Reference | Connection | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 12:1 → Leviticus 23:5 | The Passover is also mentioned in Leviticus 23:5, where it is described as a festival to be celebrated by the Israelites. |
| 2 | Exodus 12:13 → 1 Corinthians 5:7 | The blood of the lamb symbolizes the blood of Christ, which is the price of our redemption, and which has been shed for the remission of our sins. |
| 3 | Exodus 12:14 → Luke 22:7-20 | The Passover meal foreshadows the Lord's Supper, which commemorates Christ's sacrifice on the cross, and which is a symbol of our unity and fellowship with Christ and with each other. |
| 4 | Exodus 12:21 → Hebrews 11:28 | The Passover is mentioned in Hebrews 11:28, where it is described as an example of faith and obedience. |
| 5 | Exodus 12:23 → Revelation 7:3 | The angel of death is also mentioned in Revelation 7:3, where it is described as a symbol of God's judgment and wrath. |
| 6 | Exodus 12:25 → Deuteronomy 16:1-8 | The Passover is also mentioned in Deuteronomy 16:1-8, where it is described as a festival to be celebrated by the Israelites. |
| 7 | Exodus 12:29 → Psalm 78:51 | The death of the firstborn sons is also mentioned in Psalm 78:51, where it is described as a symbol of God's judgment and wrath. |
| 8 | Exodus 12:31 → Acts 13:17 | The Israelites' departure from Egypt is also mentioned in Acts 13:17, where it is described as an example of God's deliverance and salvation. |
| 9 | Exodus 12:37 → Numbers 33:3 | The Israelites' journey from Rameses to Sukkoth is also mentioned in Numbers 33:3, where it is described as part of their journey through the wilderness. |
| 10 | Exodus 12:42 → Deuteronomy 16:3 | The Passover is also mentioned in Deuteronomy 16:3, where it is described as a festival to be celebrated by the Israelites. |
Sermons on Exodus 12
| Sermon | Description | |
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(Exodus) Exodus 1 Introduction by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the book of Exodus and its connection to the previous events in the book of Genesis. The sermon begins by referencing a passage from Genesis |
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Redeemed From the Curse of the Law by Paris Reidhead | Paris Reidhead emphasizes the profound truth that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by being made a curse for us. He recounts his personal journey of understanding h |
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(Exodus) Exodus 12:1-2 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the significance of the Passover feast and the death of the firstborn. He emphasizes that redemption is achieved through the blood of Jesus a |
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(Exodus) Exodus 11:10 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of the gods of Egypt claiming the firstborn of both man and beast. However, God intervenes and takes what belongs to Him. The spea |
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(Exodus) Exodus 12:3-4 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of the Passover and its significance for both the individual and the family. The Passover is a family celebration where the bl |
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(Exodus) Exodus 12:29-38 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the last judgment and the final plague that was coming upon the land of Egypt. The land of Goshen had previously escaped the last three plagu |
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(Exodus) Exodus 12:9-13 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of law enforcement and the consequences of sin. He emphasizes that in God's universe, the law is inexorable and sin leads to d |
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(Exodus) Exodus 12:39-51 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the journey of the children of Israel after leaving Egypt. He emphasizes that the Israelites were not prepared for the journey, as they had t |
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(Exodus) Exodus 12:5-8 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher shares his experiences as a young preacher in Middle Tennessee. He talks about how he used to hold meetings in country churches during the summer and h |
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(The Word for Today) Isaiah 16:1 - Part 2 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the importance of standing up for Jesus Christ in a fallen world. He emphasizes the need for young adults to abstain from the immoralit |
Summary of Matthew Henry Commentary on Exodus 12
According to Matthew Henry, Exodus 12 is a chapter that highlights God's mercy and grace, as He delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and spared them from the angel of death. The Passover is a powerful symbol of God's redemption and salvation, and it foreshadows the death and resurrection of Christ. Henry notes that the Israelites' obedience to God's commands was crucial to their deliverance, and that the Passover meal is a symbol of our unity and fellowship with Christ and with each other. As we read in Exodus 12:13, the blood of the lamb was a sign of God's protection and salvation, and it symbolizes the blood of Christ, which saves us from God's wrath and judgment. Henry also notes that the Passover is a reminder of God's sovereignty and power, as He delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and spared them from the angel of death. Read the full unabridged Matthew Henry Commentary →
What Do You Notice?
The importance of obedience
The Israelites were instructed to follow God's commands exactly, and their obedience was crucial to their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. This highlights the importance of obedience to God's commands in our own lives.
The significance of the blood of the lamb
The blood of the lamb was a sign of God's protection and salvation, and it symbolizes the blood of Christ, which saves us from God's wrath and judgment.
The foreshadowing of Christ
The Passover meal and the blood of the lamb foreshadow the death and resurrection of Christ, and the Lord's Supper, which commemorates Christ's sacrifice on the cross.