Exodus 12:21

Translation
King James Version
¶ 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.
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KJV (with Strong's)
Then Moses H4872 called H7121 for all the elders H2205 of Israel H3478, and said H559 unto them, Draw out H4900 and take H3947 you a lamb H6629 according to your families H4940, and kill H7819 the passover H6453.
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Complete Jewish Bible
Then Moshe called for all the leaders of Isra'el and said, "Select and take lambs for your families, and slaughter the Pesach lamb.
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Berean Standard Bible
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.
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American Standard Version
Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out, and take you lambs according to your families, and kill the passover.
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World English Bible Messianic
Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said to them, “Draw out, and take lambs according to your families, and kill the Passover.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
Then Moses called all the Elders of Israel, and saide vnto them, Choose out and take you for euerie of your housholdes a lambe, and kill the Passeouer.
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Young's Literal Translation
And Moses calleth for all the elders of Israel, and saith unto them, `Draw out and take for yourselves from the flock, for your families, and slaughter the passover-sacrifice;
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See also
Exodus 12:3Exodus 3:16Numbers 11:16Exodus 12:112 Chronicles 30:152 Chronicles 30:17Joshua 5:10
See on the biblical-era map
The Kingdom of Egypt in the Time of Moses
The Kingdom of Egypt in the Time of Moses View full PDF
The Exodus: From Egypt to Elim
The Exodus: From Egypt to Elim View full PDF
The Exodus: From Elim to Mount Sinai
The Exodus: From Elim to Mount Sinai View full PDF

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In the KJVVerse 1,838 of 31,102

Study This Verse

SUMMARY

Exodus 12:21 records Moses' urgent convocation of the elders of Israel, through whom he relays God's precise instructions for the first Passover. This command mandates each family to select and sacrifice a lamb, applying its blood as a sign of protection from the impending tenth plague—the death of the firstborn—thereby instituting a pivotal ritual of redemption, remembrance, and covenant for the nascent nation.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: This verse serves as a critical pivot point within the unfolding narrative of the tenth and final plague against Egypt. Immediately prior, God has meticulously detailed the Passover ritual to Moses and Aaron, covering everything from the selection of the lamb on the tenth day of the month, its slaughter on the fourteenth, the application of its blood to the doorposts, and the consumption of its roasted flesh, all to be observed "throughout your generations" (Exodus 12:1-20). Moses, acting as God's faithful intermediary, now takes these divine, life-saving commands directly to the recognized leaders of the Israelite community. The verses that follow swiftly depict the Israelites' immediate and unwavering obedience to these instructions, culminating in God's awe-inspiring act of "passing over" their blood-marked homes as the death angel strikes down the firstborn of Egypt (Exodus 12:28-29). This sequence underscores the direct link between divine command, human obedience, and miraculous deliverance.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: The Israelites were deeply entrenched in a brutal system of slavery under Pharaoh in Egypt, a bondage that had persisted for centuries. The preceding nine plagues had systematically dismantled the power of Egypt's gods and Pharaoh's authority, yet Pharaoh's heart remained hardened. The Passover, therefore, was not merely another plague but God's climactic act of judgment against Egypt's idolatry and defiance, and simultaneously, a dramatic, redemptive act for Israel. In the ancient Near East, "elders" (Hebrew: zēqēnîm) were highly respected figures, serving as the judicial, administrative, and spiritual leaders of their tribes and families. Their role here as the immediate recipients of Moses' commands highlights the communal nature of the Passover and the hierarchical structure through which divine directives were disseminated and enforced within Israelite society. The concept of a substitutionary sacrifice—where an animal's life is offered to avert a greater judgment or to atone for human sin—was a known practice in the ancient world, but here it is uniquely imbued with Yahweh's specific covenantal deliverance and His absolute sovereignty over life and death.
  • Key Themes: Exodus 12:21 significantly contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Exodus and the broader Pentateuch. Foremost among these is the theme of Divine Deliverance and Redemption, showcasing God's power to liberate His people from oppression through a decisive act of judgment against their oppressors. It also powerfully introduces the theme of Covenant and Obedience, demonstrating that God's salvation is offered on the basis of His covenant promises, but requires a specific, obedient response from His people. The precise instructions for the lamb and its sacrifice underscore the theme of Substitutionary Atonement, where an innocent life is given to spare the guilty, laying foundational theological groundwork for future sacrificial systems and ultimately, for Christ. Furthermore, this verse initiates the theme of Remembrance and Liturgy, establishing the Passover as an annual, perpetual ordinance designed to ensure that future generations would remember God's mighty acts of salvation (Exodus 12:26-27). The role of the elders highlights the importance of Leadership and Community Responsibility in faithfully transmitting and enacting God's commands.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Key Word Analysis

  • Elders (Hebrew, zâqên', H2205): Meaning "old; aged, ancient (man), elder(-est), old (man, men and...women), senator." In this context, "elders" refers to the respected, experienced, and authoritative leaders of the Israelite families and tribes. Moses' calling for them signifies the importance of proper leadership and communication channels in disseminating God's critical commands throughout the entire community, ensuring widespread understanding and compliance.
  • Lamb (Hebrew, tsôʼn', H6629): A collective name for "a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men); (small) cattle, flock ([phrase] -s), lamb ([phrase] -s), sheep(-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds)." While often translated as "lamb," this term broadly refers to a small animal from the flock, typically a sheep or goat, specifically chosen for the Passover sacrifice. The choice of a young, unblemished animal (specified in earlier verses) highlights its purity and suitability as a substitutionary offering.
  • Passover (Hebrew, peçach', H6453): Meaning "a pretermission, i.e. exemption; used only technically of the Jewish Passover (the festival or the victim)." This word encapsulates the central act of God's judgment "passing over" or "skipping over" the homes of the Israelites marked by the blood of the sacrificed lamb. It refers both to the event itself and, by metonymy, to the sacrificial victim that enables the "passing over."

Verse Breakdown

  • "Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them,": This opening clause establishes Moses' pivotal role as God's mediator and the elders' function as the immediate recipients and disseminators of divine commands. It underscores the structured and communal nature of Israel's response to God's directives, emphasizing that the message was delivered through established leadership for collective action.
  • "Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families,": This is a double imperative, emphasizing both the selection ("draw out," mâshak) and acquisition ("take," lâqach) of the lamb. The instruction to "draw out" implies a careful, deliberate choice from the flock, consistent with the requirements for an unblemished lamb. The phrase "according to your families" highlights that the Passover was a household-centric event, with each family unit responsible for its own lamb, signifying both individual and communal participation in God's covenant and deliverance.
  • "and kill the passover.": This concise and potent command uses the Hebrew verb shâchaṭ (H7819), which specifically denotes the ritual slaughter of an animal for sacrifice or consumption. The direct pairing of "kill" with "the passover" (the noun peçach) signifies that the act of sacrificing the lamb is the central and defining action of the Passover itself, not merely a preliminary step. The lamb is the Passover sacrifice, making the act of its slaughter synonymous with the execution of the Passover ritual.

Literary Devices

The language in Exodus 12:21 is characterized by its directness and Imperative Mood, reflecting the urgency and the life-or-death stakes of the moment. Moses' commands are unequivocal, demanding immediate and precise action. The phrase "kill the passover" functions as a powerful Metonymy, where the act of killing the lamb stands in for the entire Passover ritual, highlighting the central, sacrificial nature of the event. This linguistic shorthand emphasizes that the lamb's sacrifice is the indispensable core of the deliverance. Furthermore, the selection of the lamb and its blood on the doorposts serve as potent Symbolism, representing God's provision for atonement and protection, a visible sign of faith that secures exemption from divine judgment.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Exodus 12:21 profoundly articulates several core theological truths that resonate throughout biblical history. It vividly demonstrates God's Sovereign Judgment and Redemptive Provision, showcasing His absolute authority over life and death, His righteous judgment against the hardened defiance of Pharaoh and Egypt, and His gracious, specific provision for His people's salvation. The command for the Israelites to act underscores the Necessity of Obedience; their deliverance was not automatic but contingent upon precise and immediate adherence to God's instructions. Their faith was not merely intellectual assent but was tangibly demonstrated through their obedient actions. Most significantly, this verse introduces and establishes the foundational principle of Substitutionary Atonement, where the life of an innocent lamb is taken as a substitute for the firstborn of the household. This act of sacrifice, where an innocent party suffers on behalf of the guilty, is central to the biblical narrative of salvation and forms the bedrock for understanding future sacrificial systems and ultimately, the work of Christ. This event is foundational to Israel's identity, establishing the Passover as an annual memorial of God's mighty deliverance and His unwavering covenant faithfulness, prefiguring the broader biblical theme of salvation through sacrificial blood.

  • The critical role of blood for atonement is further elucidated in Leviticus 17:11, which states, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul."
  • The specific instruction to apply the blood on the doorposts, as commanded in Exodus 12:7, served as the visible sign of faith and obedience, ensuring God's "passing over" their homes.
  • The faith of Moses and the Israelites in observing the Passover is commended in Hebrews 11:28, highlighting that their deliverance was not a magical act but a direct result of their obedient faith in God's specific provision.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Exodus 12:21 powerfully calls us to recognize God's active, personal, and decisive involvement in human history, both in His righteous judgment and in His boundless salvation. Just as the Israelites were saved by trusting and obeying God's specific provision through the lamb, we are similarly called to trust in God's ultimate provision for our salvation. This verse serves as a profound reminder that true deliverance, whether from external oppression or internal spiritual bondage, often requires a specific, obedient response to God's revealed will. It teaches us that God's grace is not a passive concept but is actively extended through sacrifice, and our part is to receive it by faith, demonstrated through our obedience. The Passover, initiated here, stands as an enduring testament to God's faithfulness to deliver His people from bondage, whether physical, spiritual, or existential. It challenges us to consider what specific commands God might be giving us today that require our immediate and faithful obedience, trusting in His provision for our deliverance.

Questions for Reflection

  • In what areas of my life might God be calling for specific, obedient action as a demonstration of my faith, even when the outcome is uncertain?
  • How does the concept of a substitutionary sacrifice, so vividly portrayed in the Passover, deepen my understanding of God's justice, mercy, and the cost of my own salvation?
  • What "bondage" or "judgment" in my life or in the world today am I trusting God to "pass over" or deliver from, and what is my role in that deliverance?

FAQ

Why did Moses call the elders, not all the people directly?

Answer: In ancient Israelite society, elders (Hebrew: zēqēnîm) functioned as the recognized, authoritative leaders and representatives of their respective families and tribes. Calling the elders was the most efficient, effective, and authoritative way to disseminate critical information and ensure widespread understanding and compliance throughout the entire community. They were entrusted with the responsibility of communicating God's commands to their specific households and overseeing their faithful implementation, thereby ensuring the unified and timely action required for the Passover.

Does "kill the passover" mean they literally killed the feast?

Answer: No, "kill the passover" is a concise and powerful figure of speech. It means "kill the lamb for the Passover." The lamb is the Passover sacrifice, the central element of the ritual. This phrasing emphasizes that the act of sacrificing the lamb is the defining and indispensable action of the entire Passover ritual, making the lamb synonymous with the feast itself. It highlights the sacrificial nature of the event, where the death of the lamb enables the "passing over" and deliverance.

Why was a lamb specifically chosen for this sacrifice?

Answer: The lamb (or goat) was a common, valuable, and ritually clean animal in ancient Israelite culture, frequently used for sacrificial purposes. Its inherent innocence and vulnerability made it a powerful symbol of the substitutionary sacrifice required. Furthermore, the specific requirements for the Passover lamb—male, one year old, without blemish (Exodus 12:5)—underscored its purity, perfection, and suitability as an unblemished offering to a holy God. This choice also set it apart as a unique and divinely appointed means of salvation.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Exodus 12:21, in its institution of the Passover, stands as one of the most profound Old Testament types that finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Passover lamb, whose innocent shed blood protected Israel from God's righteous judgment and delivered them from the bondage of slavery, is a direct and powerful foreshadowing of Jesus. Just as the lamb was required to be "without blemish" (Exodus 12:5), Jesus is the sinless Son of God, the perfect and unblemished sacrifice, uniquely qualified to bear the sin of humanity. His sacrificial death on the cross is the ultimate "Passover" event, where His shed blood provides complete atonement and eternal deliverance from the judgment of sin and spiritual death for all who place their faith in Him. The New Testament explicitly identifies Jesus as "our Passover lamb" (1 Corinthians 5:7), emphasizing His once-for-all sacrifice. John the Baptist prophetically declared Him to be "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29). Through His death and resurrection, Jesus fulfills the Passover not merely as a historical act of physical deliverance, but as the cosmic act of redemption, inaugurating a new covenant where all who trust in His shed blood are "passed over" from spiritual death to eternal life. The Passover feast, therefore, points forward to the Lord's Supper, which commemorates Christ's singular sacrifice and our participation in the new covenant established by His blood (Luke 22:19-20). The slain Lamb is now exalted in heaven (Revelation 5:6-10), forever worthy of all worship for His redemptive work.

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Commentary on Exodus 12 verses 21–28

I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points(1.) (2.) Details

I. Moses is here, as a faithful steward in God's house, teaching the children of Israel to observe all things which God had commanded him; and no doubt he gave the instructions as largely as he received them, though they are not so largely recorded. It is here added,

1.That this night, when the first-born were to be destroyed, no Israelite must stir out of doors till morning, that is, till towards morning, when they would be called to march out of Egypt, Exo 12:22. Not but that the destroying angel could have known an Israelite from an Egyptian in the street; but God would intimate to them that their safety was owing to the blood of sprinkling; if they put themselves from under the protection of that, it was at their peril. Those whom God has marked for himself must not mingle with evil doers: see Isa 26:20, Isa 26:21. They must not go out of the doors, lest they should straggle and be out of the way when they should be summoned to depart: they must stay within, to wait for the salvation of the Lord, and it is good to do so.

2.That hereafter they should carefully teach their children the meaning of this service, Exo 12:26, Exo 12:27. Observe,

(1.)The question which the children would ask concerning this solemnity (which they would soon take notice of in the family): "What mean you by this service? What is he meaning of all this care and exactness about eating this lamb, and this unleavened bread, more than about common food? Why such a difference between this meal and other meals?" Note, [1.] It is a good thing to see children inquisitive about the things of God; it is to be hoped that those who are careful to ask for the way will find it. Christ himself, when a child, heard and asked questions, Luk 2:46. [2.] It concerns us all rightly to understand the meaning of those holy ordinances wherein we worship God, what is the nature and what the end of them, what is signified and what intended, what is the duty expected from us in them and what are the advantages to be expected by us. Every ordinance has a meaning; some ordinances, as sacraments, have not their meaning so plain and obvious as others have; therefore we are concerned to search, that we may not offer the blind for sacrifice, but may do a reasonable service. If either we are ignorant of, or mistake about, the meaning of holy ordinances, we can neither please God nor profit ourselves.

(2.)The answer which the parents were to return to this question (Exo 12:27): You shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover, that is, "By the killing and sacrificing of this lamb, we keep in remembrance the work of wonder and grace which God did for our fathers, when," [1.] "To make way for our deliverance out of bondage, he slew the firstborn of the Egyptians, so compelling them to sign our discharge;" and, [2.] "Though there were with us, even with us, sins against the Lord our God, for which the destroying angel, when he was abroad doing execution, might justly have destroyed our first-born too, yet God graciously appointed and accepted the family-sacrifice of a lamb, instead of the first-born, as, of old, the ram instead of Isaac, and in every house where the lamb was slain the first-born were saved." The repetition of this solemnity in the return of every year was designed, First, To look backward as a memorial, that in it they might remember what great things God had done for them and their fathers. The word pesach signifies a leap, or transition; it is a passing over; for the destroying angel passed over the houses of the Israelites, and did not destroy their first-born. When God brings utter ruin upon his people he says, I will not pass by them any more (Amo 7:8; Amo 8:2), intimating how often he had passed by them, as now when the destroying angel passed over their houses. Note, 1. Distinguishing mercies lay under peculiar obligations. When a thousand fall at our side, and ten thousand at our right hand, and yet we are preserved, and have our lives given us for a prey, this should greatly affect us, Psa 91:7. In war or pestilence, if the arrow of death have passed by us, passed over us, hit the next to us and just missed us, we must not say it was by chance that we were preserved but by the special providence of our God. 2. Old mercies to ourselves, or to our fathers, must not be forgotten, but be had in everlasting remembrance, that God may be praised, our faith in him encouraged, and our hearts enlarged in his service. Secondly, It was designed to look forward as an earnest of the great sacrifice of the Lamb of God in the fulness of time, instead of us and our first-born. We were obnoxious to the sword of the destroying angel, but Christ our passover was sacrificed for us, his death was our life, and thus he was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, from the foundation of the Jewish church: Moses kept the passover by faith in Christ, for Christ was the end of the law for righteousness.

II. The people received these instructions with reverence and ready obedience. 1. They bowed the head and worshipped (Exo 12:27): they hereby signified their submission to this institution as a law, and their thankfulness for it as a favour and privilege. Note, When God gives law to us, we must give honour to him; when he speaks, we must bow our heads and worship. 2. They went away and did as they were commanded, Exo 12:23. Here was none of that discontent and murmuring among them which we read of, Exo 5:20, Exo 5:21. The plagues of Egypt had done them good, and raised their expectations of a glorious deliverance, which before they despaired of; and now they went forth to meet it in the way appointed. Note, The perfecting of God's mercies to us must be waited for in a humble observance of his institutions.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 21–28. Public domain.
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John ChrysostomAD 407
BAPTISMAL INSTRUCTIONS 3.14
What then did Moses do? “Sacrifice an unblemished lamb,” he said, “and smear your doors with its blood.” What do you mean? Can the blood of an irrational animal save one who expresses reason? “Yes,” he says. “Not because it is blood but because it prefigures the Master’s blood.” Although statues of the emperor have neither life nor perception, they can save the men endowed with perception and life who flee to them for refuge, not because they are bronze but because they are images of the emperor. So too that blood which lacked life and perception saved the men who had life, not because it was blood but because it was an anticipatory type of the Master’s blood.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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