Deuteronomy 16:1

KJV

¶ 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 16:1 initiates the section on Israel's annual pilgrim festivals, specifically commanding the perpetual observance of the Passover in the month of Abib. This foundational instruction serves as a solemn and enduring reminder of Yahweh's decisive, miraculous, and urgent act of liberation, bringing His people out of Egyptian bondage "by night." The verse firmly establishes the theological bedrock of Israel's national identity—their redemption by God's mighty hand—and precisely sets the timing for this pivotal commemorative feast, inextricably linking their communal worship to their defining historical deliverance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse marks the beginning of a crucial legislative section within Moses' final discourses to the second generation of Israelites, delivered on the plains of Moab just prior to their entry into the Promised Land. The book of Deuteronomy, meaning "second law," systematically reiterates and expounds upon the covenant stipulations originally given at Mount Sinai, meticulously preparing the people for faithful life in the land. Chapters 12-26 comprise the Deuteronomic Code, a detailed exposition of laws governing various aspects of Israelite life. Within this comprehensive code, [Deuteronomy 16](/deuteronomy/16 "Deuteronomy 16 - The Annual Festivals") specifically outlines the three annual pilgrim festivals—Passover/Unleavened Bread, Weeks (Pentecost), and Booths (Tabernacles)—which were central to Israel's communal worship and their corporate remembrance of God's redemptive acts. The command to observe Passover here builds directly upon its initial institution and detailed instructions found in [Exodus 12](/exodus/12 "Exodus 12 - The First Passover"), underscoring its enduring significance and perpetual obligation for the new generation entering Canaan.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The command to observe Passover is profoundly rooted in the historical reality of the Exodus, the singular, defining event of Israel's formation as a nation. The "month of Abib" (later known as Nisan) was the first month of the religious calendar, typically corresponding to March or April in the Gregorian calendar. Culturally, Abib literally signifies the spring season, specifically marked by the ripening of barley ears, indicating new life and the commencement of the agricultural cycle. The Exodus itself was a dramatic, supernatural liberation from centuries of brutal slavery in Egypt, culminating in the tenth plague where the firstborn of Egypt were struck down, while Israel's firstborn were miraculously spared by the blood of a lamb applied to their doorposts. This act of "passing over" (Pesach) by the angel of death led directly to Israel's hasty and urgent departure "by night," a detail explicitly emphasized in this verse to highlight the divine orchestration and immediate compulsion of their deliverance, as vividly recounted in [Exodus 12:29-34](/exodus/12-29 "Exodus 12:29-34 - The Tenth Plague and Exodus").

* **Key Themes:** Deuteronomy 16:1 contributes significantly to several overarching theological and narrative themes prevalent throughout the book. Firstly, **Remembrance and Gratitude** are paramount; the festival serves as a perpetual, tangible, and communal reminder for all generations of God's mighty hand in their salvation, actively preventing spiritual amnesia and fostering a grateful heart (cf. [Deuteronomy 6:12](/deuteronomy/6-12 "Deuteronomy 6:12 - Do Not Forget the Lord")). Secondly, it powerfully underscores **God's Deliverance and Redemption**, portraying Yahweh as the active, sovereign agent who "brought thee forth out of Egypt," thereby establishing the bedrock of Israel's unique identity and their covenant relationship with Him (cf. [Deuteronomy 7:8](/deuteronomy/7-8 "God's Love and Deliverance")). Thirdly, the explicit command to "observe" and "keep" highlights **Obedience and Worship** as the proper and necessary response to God's unparalleled grace, framing the celebration as an essential act of communal devotion and covenant fidelity. Finally, the specific timing in the "month of Abib" carries rich **Symbolism of New Beginnings and Divine Providence**, linking their spiritual liberation and national birth to the natural cycles of renewal and emphasizing God's meticulous ordering of both their lives and their sacred worship.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Observe (Hebrew, _shâmar'_):** From the root H8104, this verb fundamentally means "to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard." In the context of a divine command, it implies far more than mere casual notice; it denotes a careful, diligent, and intentional adherence, signifying covenant loyalty and active obedience. To "observe" the month and the Passover means to watch over it, to preserve it, and to meticulously carry out its instructions, ensuring its proper execution and perpetuation across generations.
* **Abib (Hebrew, _ʼâbîyb'_):** From the root H24, literally meaning "green, i.e., a young ear of grain." This term is not simply a name for a month, but a descriptor of the season, specifically indicating the precise agricultural moment in early spring when the barley crop begins to ripen. Its inclusion connects the spiritual act of remembrance and the historical event of the Exodus to the natural rhythms of life, God's ongoing provision, and the promise of new life inherent in the spring harvest.
* **Passover (Hebrew, _peçach'_):** From the root H6453, meaning "a pretermission, i.e., exemption." This noun refers to the central annual festival commemorating God's act of "passing over" or "sparing" the Israelite firstborn during the tenth plague in Egypt, while judgment fell upon the Egyptians. The name itself serves as a constant and powerful reminder of God's righteous judgment on the oppressors and His miraculous, redemptive deliverance of His chosen people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Observe the month of Abib":** This is a direct, imperative command to recognize, acknowledge, and honor a specific time of year. "Abib" is not just a calendar designation but carries profound agricultural and symbolic significance, tying the spiritual observance to the natural cycle of spring and harvest. It implies a state of readiness, attentiveness, and anticipation for the divinely appointed season for the Passover celebration, ensuring the people are prepared to fulfill God's command at the precise moment.
* **"and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God":** This clause specifies the sacred action to be undertaken during the month of Abib: the celebration of the Passover. The crucial phrase "unto the LORD thy God" elevates this observance far beyond a mere cultural tradition; it emphasizes that this is an act of worship, devotion, and covenant fidelity directed exclusively to Yahweh. It acknowledges His proprietorship over Israel and His unique role as their Redeemer, underscoring the sacred, covenantal, and worshipful nature of the observance.
* **"for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night":** This final clause provides the profound theological rationale and the immutable historical foundation for the preceding command. The conjunction "for" introduces the reason: the Exodus. It highlights God's active, sovereign role ("the LORD thy God brought thee forth") and the specific, dramatic, and urgent circumstances of their liberation ("by night"). This detail emphasizes the suddenness, divine orchestration, and overwhelming power of their deliverance from Egyptian bondage. This reason clause transforms the command from a simple ritual into a profound, perpetual act of remembrance, gratitude, and worship for God's saving power and faithfulness.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 16:1 employs several significant literary devices to convey its profound message. The **Repetition** of "the month of Abib" and "the LORD thy God" serves to powerfully emphasize both the precise divinely appointed timing of the festival and the singular divine agent responsible for Israel's deliverance, reinforcing their central importance. The verse functions as a **Commemorative Rite**, establishing the annual Passover as a perpetual act of remembrance, ensuring that the foundational, nation-birthing event of the Exodus is never forgotten by future generations. The concise historical summary embedded within the command ("brought thee forth out of Egypt by night") is a potent form of **Historical Narrative** compressed into a single, impactful clause, powerfully recalling the defining moment of Israel's national birth and God's decisive intervention. The entire command is framed within classic **Covenant Language**, as "Observe" and "keep" are typical imperatives for covenant fidelity, directly linking obedience to the historical acts of God. Furthermore, the selection of "Abib," the month of new grain, carries rich **Symbolism**, associating Israel's liberation and new beginning as a nation with the natural cycle of renewal, life, and God's ongoing provision.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 16:1 encapsulates the very core of Israel's relationship with Yahweh: a people miraculously redeemed by divine power, perpetually called to remember and respond in worship. The Passover is not merely a historical reenactment but a profound theological declaration of God's absolute sovereignty over history, His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises, and His unique, gracious choice of Israel. It teaches that salvation originates entirely with God and demands an active, grateful, and obedient response from His people. This foundational act of liberation sets the pattern for all subsequent divine interventions and underscores the enduring principle that a vibrant, intentional remembrance of God's past acts of deliverance fuels present faith, sustains present obedience, and inspires future hope. The command ensures that the Exodus remains the living, shaping memory of the nation, profoundly influencing their identity and their understanding of God's character.

* [Exodus 12:14](/exodus/12-14 "Exodus 12:14 - Perpetual Ordinance of Passover")
* [Leviticus 23:5](/leviticus/23-5 "Leviticus 23:5 - Passover in the Calendar of Feasts")
* [Numbers 9:1-5](/numbers/9-1-5 "Numbers 9:1-5 - The Second Passover")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 16:1 issues a timeless call for us to cultivate a profound and intentional remembrance of God's saving acts in our lives, both corporately as a community of faith and individually. Just as ancient Israel was commanded to observe the Passover annually, we are invited to establish practices and rhythms that regularly bring to mind God's unwavering faithfulness, His deliverance from spiritual bondage, and His ongoing provision and grace. This is not about engaging in rote ritual, but about fostering a deep, abiding heart of gratitude that profoundly shapes our identity in Christ and informs our present obedience. Remembering God's past interventions—His "Exodus moments" in our personal narratives—builds our faith for current challenges, strengthens us through trials, and provides a sure anchor for future uncertainties. It serves as a constant reminder that our freedom, our identity, and our very existence are rooted in His redemptive work, compelling us to live lives that honor Him, reflect His grace, and declare His glory to a world in need of His saving power.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are the "Exodus" moments in my own life or in the history of my community/church where God has powerfully delivered, provided, or intervened?**
* **How can I intentionally "observe" and "keep" the memory of God's faithfulness alive in my daily life, beyond formal religious observances?**
* **In what specific ways does remembering God's past acts of redemption strengthen my faith, deepen my gratitude, and inform my obedience today?**

### FAQ
**Why is the month of Abib so specifically mentioned, rather than just a calendar month number?**

Answer: The mention of "Abib" (אביב, _ʼâbîyb_) is highly significant because it connects the Passover observance directly to the agricultural cycle and the natural rhythms of life in ancient Israel. Abib literally means "ear of grain" or "green ears," referring to the specific stage of ripeness of the barley crop in early spring. This was the time of the barley harvest, symbolizing new life, fresh beginnings, and God's provision. By linking the Passover to Abib, God rooted Israel's most important redemptive festival in the very fabric of their existence, ensuring that their spiritual remembrance was intertwined with their physical sustenance and the natural world God had created. It also marked the beginning of their religious calendar, signifying the new start God gave them through the [Exodus](/exodus/12 "Exodus 12 - The First Passover").

**How does the detail "by night" add to our understanding of the Exodus?**

Answer: The phrase "by night" (בַּלַּיְלָה, _ballaylah_) is a crucial detail that emphasizes the urgency, suddenness, and divine orchestration of Israel's departure from Egypt. It vividly recalls the dramatic climax of the tenth plague, where the firstborn of Egypt were struck down at midnight, prompting Pharaoh to immediately and desperately demand Israel's departure (cf. [Exodus 12:29-34](/exodus/12-29 "Exodus 12:29-34 - The Tenth Plague and Exodus")). This detail highlights that Israel's liberation was not a gradual negotiation or a planned migration, but a swift, divinely compelled expulsion, demonstrating God's overwhelming power and the complete subjugation of Egypt. It underscores the miraculous nature of their freedom, achieved not by human strength or strategic planning, but by God's decisive, sovereign intervention in the darkest hour, leaving no doubt about the divine hand in their redemption.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 16:1, with its command to observe the Passover commemorating Israel's liberation from Egyptian bondage, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament Passover, with its requirement of a spotless lamb, the shedding of its blood, and the subsequent deliverance from death, serves as a powerful **type** or foreshadowing of the redemptive work accomplished by Jesus. He is the true and perfect [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), whose perfect, once-for-all sacrifice on the cross delivers humanity from the far greater bondage of sin and eternal death. Just as the blood of the Passover lamb caused death to "pass over" the houses of Israel, the precious blood of Christ, our [Passover Lamb](/1_corinthians/5-7 "1 Corinthians 5:7 - Christ Our Passover"), provides complete atonement, forgiveness, and eternal life for all who believe. The "Exodus by night" from Egypt prefigures the spiritual exodus from the dominion of darkness into the glorious light of God's kingdom that Christ accomplishes for His followers, bringing them into a new and eternal covenant relationship with God (cf. [Luke 22:19-20](/luke/22-19 "Luke 22:19-20 - The New Covenant in Christ's Blood")). The observance of the Lord's Supper (Communion) in the New Testament is the Christian equivalent of the Passover, a perpetual feast of remembrance that proclaims the Lord's death until He comes, celebrating the ultimate deliverance and new creation secured by Christ's finished work (cf. [1 Corinthians 11:23-26](/1_corinthians/11-23 "1 Corinthians 11:23-26 - The Lord's Supper")), ushering believers into the true spiritual Abib of new life in Him.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

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.