Exodus 12 details the institution of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The LORD commanded Israel to sacrifice a blemishless lamb, apply its blood to their doorposts, and eat its roasted flesh with unleavened bread, as a sign for protection from the coming plague on Egypt's firstborn. This night culminated in the smiting of Egypt's firstborn, prompting Pharaoh to release Israel, leading to their hasty departure after 430 years of sojourning.
Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.
For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
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.
Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
¶ Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.
And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.
¶ And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.
And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.
And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.
It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.
And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.
Study Notes for Exodus 12
Verse 2
This command re-orders the religious calendar, effectively establishing the month of Nisan (Abib), marking Israel’s redemption, as the first month, symbolizing a new beginning for the nation.
Verse 5
The requirement that the lamb be 'without blemish' and a 'male of the first year' emphasizes the need for a perfect sacrifice, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice of Christ (1 Pet. 1:19).
Verse 6
The phrase 'in the evening' (Hebrew: *ben ha-arbayim*) refers to the twilight period, usually understood by later Jewish tradition as the time between sundown and full darkness, or mid-afternoon.
Verse 7
The application of the blood to the doorposts was the crucial act of faith and obedience, providing a visible 'token' of identification for the LORD to 'pass over' the house during judgment.
Verse 11
Eating in haste emphasizes readiness for immediate departure; the ritual clothing (girded loins, shoes, staff) symbolizes preparation for a journey. The name 'Passover' (*Pesach*) is officially established here.
Verse 12
The judgment was explicitly directed against 'all the gods of Egypt,' demonstrating Yahweh's sovereignty and power over the entire Egyptian pantheon and worldview.
Verse 14
The Passover and the subsequent seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread are established as a perpetual 'memorial' and 'ordinance for ever,' ensuring the memory of the Exodus remains central to Israel’s identity.
Verse 15
Leaven (yeast) often symbolizes corruption or sin in Scripture. Its removal represents the spiritual purification necessary for a people redeemed by God. To violate this rule meant being 'cut off' (excommunicated/punished).
Verse 21
Moses now transmits the lengthy divine instructions to the elders, who would then ensure the entire congregation understood and complied with the detailed, urgent requirements.
Verse 22
Hyssop, a small shrub, was used for sprinkling in purification rites (cf. Ps. 51:7). Remaining inside the house until morning emphasized that protection was only guaranteed within the covenant boundaries marked by the blood.
Verse 23
The 'destroyer' is often understood as a divine agent, possibly an angel, executing God’s judgment. Yahweh ensures this agent bypasses the blood-marked homes.
Verse 27
The instruction for future generations establishes the Passover as a teaching tool, ensuring that the historical truth of deliverance is passed down. The people's immediate worship demonstrates faith and obedience before the event occurred.
Verse 29
The plague struck 'at midnight,' emphasizing the suddenness and finality of God's judgment. The devastation spanned the entire social structure, from the highest royalty to the lowest captive, proving Yahweh’s absolute power.
Verse 33
The Egyptians, terrified by the universal death, now actively urge the Israelites to leave immediately, reversing Pharaoh’s earlier stubborn refusal.
Verse 34
The dough was unleavened because they were forced to leave so quickly, providing the practical and historical basis for the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread (Matzah).
Verse 36
The Israelites 'spoiled the Egyptians,' receiving valuable items as compensation for centuries of forced, unpaid labor, fulfilling the prophecy given to Abraham (Gen. 15:14).
Verse 37
The figure 'six hundred thousand on foot that were men' suggests a total population (including women and children) of perhaps two million people, marking the beginning of the nation's movement toward the Promised Land.
Verse 38
The 'mixed multitude' included non-Israelites who joined the Exodus, likely impressed by Yahweh's demonstration of power. This group later proved to be a source of trouble and complaining (Num. 11:4).
Verse 40
This precise timeline (430 years) confirms the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises regarding the length of their sojourn and oppression (Gen. 15:13).
Verse 42
This night is designated as a 'night to be much observed'—a vigil (*shimmurim*)—dedicated to Yahweh, recognizing that their deliverance was solely due to His intervention.
Verse 44
The rules emphasize that participation in the Passover is tied to covenant membership and ownership. Bought servants could participate only after circumcision, signifying their inclusion into the household of faith.
Verse 46
The prohibition against breaking a bone of the lamb is highly specific and later understood by the New Testament writers as a prophecy fulfilled in the crucifixion of Jesus (John 19:33-36).
Verse 48
A stranger (resident alien) could participate only if all males in his household submitted to circumcision. This universal requirement stresses that covenant markers must precede participation in covenant rituals.
Verse 49
The principle of 'one law' established equality before God’s covenant requirements, regardless of whether a person was a native Israelite or a circumcised sojourner.
Verse 51
The final verse summarizes the fulfillment of the entire divine plan: God brought the Israelites out of Egypt by their 'armies' (organized groups/tribes), confirming their identity as a unified, liberated people.
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