Deuteronomy 16:1

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.

Complete Jewish Bible:

"Observe the month of Aviv, and keep Pesach to ADONAI your God; for in the month of Aviv, ADONAI your God brought you out of Egypt at night.

Berean Standard Bible:

Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, because in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night.

American Standard Version:

Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto Jehovah thy God; for in the month of Abib Jehovah thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Observe{H8104} the month{H2320} of Abib{H24}, and keep{H6213} the passover{H6453} unto the LORD{H3068} thy God{H430}: for in the month{H2320} of Abib{H24} the LORD{H3068} thy God{H430} brought thee forth{H3318} out of Egypt{H4714} by night{H3915}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Exodus 34:18

  • ¶ The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt.

Exodus 13:4

  • This day came ye out in the month Abib.

Numbers 28:16

  • ¶ And in the fourteenth day of the first month [is] the passover of the LORD.

Exodus 12:2

  • This month [shall be] unto you the beginning of months: it [shall be] the first month of the year to you.

Exodus 12:20

  • Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

Numbers 9:2

  • Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season.

Numbers 9:5

  • And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.

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Commentary for Deuteronomy 16:1

1. **Themes:**
- **Observance of Religious Festivals:** The verse emphasizes the importance of observing the Passover, a central Jewish festival, as a commemoration of God's deliverance.
- **Remembrance of God's Deliverance:** It calls the Israelites to remember the Exodus from Egypt, an event that is foundational to Jewish identity and theology.
- **Obedience and Worship:** The command to keep the Passover is an expression of obedience to God and a form of worship that is both communal and familial.

2. **Historical Context:**
- **The Exodus:** The Passover commemorates the final plague on Egypt, when the firstborn of the Egyptians were killed, but the Israelites were spared because they marked their doorposts with lamb's blood. This event precipitated the release of the Israelites from slavery.
- **The Month of Abib:** Also known as Nisan in the later Jewish calendar, Abib corresponds to the period of the barley harvest in the spring (March-April). The name "Abib" means "ripe ears" or "green," referring to the sprouting of the barley. This timing was significant because it aligned the religious festival with an agricultural season.
- **The Setting of Deuteronomy:** The book of Deuteronomy is presented as a series of speeches by Moses to the Israelites as they are encamped on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River, before entering the Promised Land. It serves as a restatement of the law to the new generation born during the 40 years of wilderness wanderings.
- **Covenant Renewal:** Deuteronomy is part of the covenant renewal process, where Moses reiterates the law to ensure that the new generation understands and commits to the covenant with God, which includes the observance of sacred times like the Passover.

In summary, Deuteronomy 16:1 is a command to the Israelites to celebrate the Passover in the month of Abib, to remember and worship God for their liberation from Egypt, and to pass on this practice to future generations, thereby reinforcing their covenantal relationship with God.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H8104
    There are 440 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁמַר
    Transliteration: shâmar
    Pronunciation: shaw-mar'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.; beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
  2. Strong's Number: H2320
    There are 224 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חֹדֶשׁ
    Transliteration: chôdesh
    Pronunciation: kho'-desh
    Description: from חָדַשׁ; the new moon; by implication, a month; month(-ly), new moon.
  3. Strong's Number: H24
    There are 2550 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָבִיב
    Transliteration: ʼâbîyb
    Pronunciation: aw-beeb'
    Description: from an unused root (meaning to be tender); green, i.e. a young ear of grain; hence, the name of the month Abib or Nisan; Abib, ear, green ears of corn (not maize).
  4. Strong's Number: H6213
    There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָשָׂה
    Transliteration: ʻâsâh
    Pronunciation: aw-saw'
    Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
  5. Strong's Number: H6453
    There are 46 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פֶּסַח
    Transliteration: peçach
    Pronunciation: peh'-sakh
    Description: from פָּסַח; a pretermission, i.e. exemption; used only techically of the Jewish Passover (the festival or the victim); passover (offering).
  6. Strong's Number: H3068
    There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְהֹוָה
    Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
    Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
    Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
  7. Strong's Number: H430
    There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
    Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
    Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
    Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.
  8. Strong's Number: H3318
    There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָצָא
    Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
    Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
    Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter.
  9. Strong's Number: H4714
    There are 602 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מִצְרַיִם
    Transliteration: Mitsrayim
    Pronunciation: mits-rah'-yim
    Description: dual of מָצוֹר; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt; Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim.
  10. Strong's Number: H3915
    There are 223 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: לַיִל
    Transliteration: layil
    Pronunciation: lah'-yil
    Description: or (Isaiah 21:11) לֵיל; also לַיְלָה; from the same as לוּל; properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity; (mid-)night (season).