Exodus 12:24

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.

Complete Jewish Bible:

You are to observe this as a law, you and your descendants forever.

Berean Standard Bible:

And you are to keep this command as a permanent statute for you and your descendants.

American Standard Version:

And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And ye shall observe{H8104} this thing{H1697} for an ordinance{H2706} to thee and to thy sons{H1121} for{H5704} ever{H5769}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Genesis 17:8

  • And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

Genesis 17:10

  • This [is] my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

Exodus 12:14

  • And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

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Commentary for Exodus 12:24

**Exodus 12:24 Summary:**

**Themes:**
- **Passover Observance:** The verse emphasizes the perpetual observance of the Passover, a festival commemorating the Israelites' liberation from slavery in Egypt. It underscores the importance of remembrance and the passing down of religious traditions from generation to generation.
- **Covenantal Faithfulness:** The command to observe Passover "for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever" reflects God's covenant with Israel, which requires ongoing faithfulness and adherence to His laws and statutes.
- **Identity and Heritage:** Passover serves as a foundational element of Israelite identity, with the celebration binding the community together and reinforcing their history and heritage.

**Historical Context:**
- **The Exodus:** Exodus 12:24 is set within the narrative of the Israelites' escape from Egypt. God has sent the tenth and final plague, the death of the firstborn, and instructs Moses and Aaron on how the Israelites can avoid this fate by marking their doorposts with the blood of a lamb, an act which becomes the Passover ritual.
- **Establishment of Religious Practice:** This verse is part of God's instructions to the Israelites for the establishment of the Passover feast, which is to be a lasting ordinance. It occurs just before the Israelites' departure from Egypt, as God institutes the practices that will define their religious life as a nation.
- **The Larger Narrative of Deliverance:** The Passover is a central event in the narrative of God's deliverance of Israel from bondage, which sets the stage for their journey to the Promised Land and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai.

In essence, Exodus 12:24 captures a moment of divine instruction that establishes a religious and cultural pillar for the Israelite people, commanding a remembrance that transcends time and becomes a defining feature of their identity as a covenant community.

*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: H1697
    There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: דָּבָר
    Transliteration: dâbâr
    Pronunciation: daw-baw'
    Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work.
  3. Strong's Number: H2706
    There are 124 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חֹק
    Transliteration: chôq
    Pronunciation: khoke
    Description: from חָקַק; an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage); appointed, bound, commandment, convenient, custom, decree(-d), due, law, measure, [idiom] necessary, ordinance(-nary), portion, set time, statute, task.
  4. Strong's Number: H1121
    There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בֵּן
    Transliteration: bên
    Pronunciation: bane
    Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
  5. Strong's Number: H5704
    There are 97 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עַד
    Transliteration: ʻad
    Pronunciation: ad
    Description: properly, the same as עַד (used as a preposition, adverb or conjunction; especially with a preposition); as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with); against, and, as, at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as), (hither-) to, [phrase] how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that, till, toward, until, when, while, ([phrase] as) yet.
  6. Strong's Number: H5769
    There are 414 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עוֹלָם
    Transliteration: ʻôwlâm
    Pronunciation: o-lawm'
    Description: or עֹלָם; from עָלַם; properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always; alway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-)) ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world ([phrase] without end). Compare נֶצַח, עַד.