Exodus 12:22

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And ye shall take {H3947} a bunch {H92} of hyssop {H231}, and dip {H2881} it in the blood {H1818} that is in the bason {H5592}, and strike {H5060} the lintel {H4947} and the two {H8147} side posts {H4201} with the blood {H1818} that is in the bason {H5592}; and none {H376} of you shall go out {H3318} at the door {H6607} of his house {H1004} until the morning {H1242}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Take a bunch of hyssop leaves and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and smear it on the two sides and top of the door-frame. Then, none of you is to go out the door of his house until morning.

Berean Standard Bible

Take a cluster of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin, and brush the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out the door of his house until morning.

American Standard Version

And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side-posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 12:22 delivers precise, life-preserving instructions for the inaugural Passover, mandating that each Israelite household apply the blood of a sacrificed lamb to their doorframes using hyssop and remain securely indoors until morning. This act of meticulous obedience, rooted in divine command, served as the visual sign for God to "pass over" their homes, sparing their firstborn from the climactic tenth plague against Egypt. It powerfully demonstrated God's sovereign power to protect and redeem His people through a marked sign of faith, establishing a foundational covenant ritual.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an indispensable part of God's detailed directives to Moses and Aaron concerning the institution of the first Passover, meticulously outlined in [Exodus 12:1-28](/exodus/12 "Instructions for the Passover"). Prior to this specific command, God had already specified the selection of an unblemished lamb, its sacrifice, and the collection of its blood, as detailed in [Exodus 12:3-7](/exodus/12-3-7 "Passover Lamb Selection and Sacrifice"). [Exodus 12:22](/exodus/12-22 "The Application of Blood to Doorposts") provides the crucial action of applying this blood. Immediately following, [Exodus 12:23](/exodus/12-23 "God's Promise to Pass Over") articulates God's solemn promise of protection for those under the blood, alongside the dire consequence for those without this mark. The entire narrative arc of [Exodus 12](/exodus/12 "The Passover and the Tenth Plague") culminates in the devastating execution of the tenth plague and the subsequent exodus of Israel from Egypt in [Exodus 12:29-42](/exodus/12-29-42 "The Death of the Firstborn and the Exodus").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of [Exodus 12](/exodus/12 "The Passover Narrative") are set against the oppressive backdrop of Israel's brutal enslavement in ancient Egypt. God, through Moses, had already demonstrated His unparalleled power through nine escalating plagues, each designed to dismantle the authority of Pharaoh and expose the impotence of Egypt's pantheon of gods. The tenth plague, the death of the firstborn, represented the ultimate, decisive judgment. While blood rituals were present in ancient Near Eastern cultures, often for purification, covenant sealing, or appeasement, the Passover ritual was uniquely commanded by Yahweh, directly linking a specific blood application to salvation from an imminent, divine judgment. The act of applying blood to the doorframe was not merely a private act but a visible, public declaration of allegiance to Yahweh, distinguishing Israelite households from the Egyptians. Remaining inside the house underscored the absolute necessity of divine protection and the peril of being exposed to God's judgment outside His prescribed covering. This pivotal event laid the theological and historical foundation for the annual Passover feast, a perpetual reminder of God's mighty deliverance and covenant faithfulness.
* **Key Themes:** [Exodus 12](/exodus/12 "The Passover Chapter") is rich with foundational theological themes that resonate throughout the biblical narrative. **Divine Sovereignty and Judgment** are paramount, as God meticulously orchestrates the plagues and the Passover, demonstrating His absolute control over life and death. The theme of **Redemption and Deliverance** is central, with the Passover serving as the quintessential act of God freeing His people from bondage. **Substitutionary Atonement** is powerfully introduced, as the life of an unblemished lamb is sacrificed in place of the firstborn, foreshadowing greater realities. The necessity of **Obedience and Faith** is highlighted, as the Israelites' salvation is contingent upon their meticulous adherence to God's specific commands, not their own merit. Finally, the establishment of a **Covenant Relationship** is reinforced, as the Passover becomes a perpetual ordinance, binding God and His people in a sacred bond, marking them as distinct and chosen, as seen in the broader narrative of [Exodus](/exodus "The Book of Exodus").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Exodus 12:22 meticulously details the precise actions required for the Israelites to secure divine protection during the final, devastating plague. Each element carries profound meaning, emphasizing the ritual's sacred nature and the necessity of obedience.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hyssop (Hebrew, _ʼêzôwb'_):** This common plant, likely a variety of marjoram or oregano, was chosen for its small, brush-like leaves, making it an ideal tool for sprinkling liquids. Its significance extends beyond practicality, as hyssop was frequently employed in ancient Israelite purification rituals, often in conjunction with blood or water, to cleanse from defilement, such as leprosy ([Leviticus 14:4](/leviticus/14-4 "Hyssop in Purification for Leprosy")) or sin ([Psalm 51:7](/psalms/51-7 "Cleansing with Hyssop in Psalm 51")). Its inclusion here underscores the ritualistic, cleansing, and sanctifying nature of the act, preparing the household for divine protection.
* **Blood (Hebrew, _dâm'_):** In the Old Testament, blood is intrinsically linked to life ([Leviticus 17:11](/leviticus/17-11 "Life is in the Blood")). It is the primary means by which atonement is made for sin and reconciliation with God is achieved. Here, the blood of an unblemished lamb, sacrificed in place of the firstborn, serves as a substitute—a life for a life. The basin collected this precious, life-giving fluid, ready for its application, signifying the gravity of the impending judgment and the sanctity of the means of escape.
* **Strike (Hebrew, _nâgaʻ'_):** This word implies a deliberate, forceful, and active application, rather than a mere passive anointing or gentle touch. It suggests a decisive act of obedience and a public declaration. The act of "striking" the blood onto the doorframe was a powerful, visible sign, indicating that the household within was definitively set apart and under the protective covering of the blood, a clear signal for the "destroyer" to pass over.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip [it] in the blood that [is] in the bason":** The instruction begins with the specific instrument—a bunch of hyssop—and the substance—the collected blood of the sacrificed lamb. The act of "dipping" signifies the saturation of the hyssop with the life-giving, atoning blood, preparing it for application. This highlights the intentionality and precision required in the ritual.
* **"and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that [is] in the bason":** This is the core command for applying the blood. The "lintel" (the horizontal beam above the door) and the "two side posts" (the vertical doorframes) together form the complete entrance. Applying the blood to these three points effectively "sealed" the doorway, signifying that the entire household within was under the blood's protective covering. This created a visible, unmistakable sign for the "destroyer" to pass over, emphasizing that salvation was tied to God's specific, visible mark.
* **"and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning":** This final, crucial instruction underscores the necessity of remaining under the blood's protection. To step outside the marked doorway would be to forfeit the divine covering and expose oneself to the judgment sweeping through Egypt. This command highlights the principle of abiding within God's appointed place of safety and obedience, emphasizing that the protection was conditional upon remaining within the bounds of God's covenant provision.

#### Literary Devices
Exodus 12:22 is rich with **symbolism**, where various elements represent deeper theological truths. The lamb itself is a potent symbol of **substitutionary sacrifice**, its innocent life given to spare another. The **blood** is the ultimate symbol of atonement, life, and protection, marking the boundary between judgment and salvation. The **doorframe** serves as a symbolic threshold, a visible boundary separating those under God's grace from those exposed to His wrath. The entire Passover ritual functions as a powerful **type** or **foreshadowing**, pointing forward to greater spiritual realities, particularly the ultimate redemptive work of Jesus Christ, the true Passover Lamb, whose blood provides eternal deliverance. The detailed instructions also convey **divine precision**, emphasizing that God's plan for salvation is not arbitrary but meticulously designed.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 12:22 unveils profound theological truths about God's character, His justice, and His gracious provision for humanity's salvation. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty over life and death, demonstrating His power to execute righteous judgment against sin and injustice, while simultaneously providing a divinely appointed way of escape for His chosen people. The Israelites were not saved by their own merit or works, but by God's gracious provision of a means of escape. Their part was to respond in faith through precise obedience to His command. The blood itself was the sign, but the act of applying it was the required response of faith, highlighting the efficacy of God's prescribed atonement. The central role of blood emphasizes its sacred nature in biblical theology: it is the life-giving essence, and its shedding in sacrifice is the means by which atonement is made and protection is secured. This points forward to the ultimate, perfect sacrifice. Furthermore, the blood on the doorposts marked a clear distinction between those under God's protection and those exposed to His judgment, signifying a divine act of setting apart, consecrating, and preserving His people.

This theme of salvation through a blood sacrifice and obedient faith resonates throughout the biblical narrative:
* [Leviticus 17:11](/leviticus/17-11 "Life is in the Blood"):"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." This verse explicitly states the atoning power of blood, which is powerfully demonstrated in the Passover.
* [Hebrews 11:28](/hebrews/11-28 "Faith of Moses in Hebrews"):"Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them." This New Testament verse affirms that the Israelites' actions at the first Passover were an act of faith, highlighting the connection between belief and obedience.
* [1 Peter 1:18-19](/1_peter/1-18-19 "Redemption by Christ's Precious Blood"):"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." This passage directly connects the Old Testament sacrificial system, including the Passover lamb, to the ultimate redemptive work of Christ, whose blood provides true and lasting salvation.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 12:22 offers profound spiritual lessons for believers today, transcending its historical context to speak to our universal need for salvation and security in God. Just as the Israelites' physical lives were preserved by the blood of the lamb and their meticulous obedience to God's specific instructions, our spiritual lives are eternally secured by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, our ultimate Passover Lamb. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that salvation is not a reward earned by our own merits or good works, but is a sovereign gift, freely offered by God's grace and received through faith in His divinely prescribed method of atonement. Our vital part is to trust fully in that provision and to abide in its protective embrace. Furthermore, the command for the Israelites to remain indoors until morning profoundly underscores the necessity of continually abiding "in Christ" for spiritual protection, sustenance, and identity. To step outside of His covering, to rely on our own strength or wisdom, is to expose ourselves to spiritual danger and the ongoing consequences of sin in a fallen world. This passage calls us to a deep, abiding trust in the finished work of Christ and a faithful adherence to His commands, recognizing that true safety and life are found only within Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What does the detailed nature of God's instructions in [Exodus 12:22](/exodus/12-22 "Passover Instructions") teach us about the importance of precise obedience and faithfulness in our walk with God today?**
* **How does the "blood on the doorposts" ritual illuminate your understanding of being "covered by the blood of Christ" and the concept of spiritual protection in your personal faith journey?**
* **The Israelites were commanded to stay inside until morning. In what ways does the world tempt us to step outside of God's spiritual protection, and what does it mean practically for us to "abide in Christ" ([John 15:4](/john/15-4 "Abiding in Christ")) in our daily lives?**

### FAQ
**Why was hyssop specifically chosen for this ritual?**

Answer: Hyssop was chosen for both practical and symbolic reasons. Practically, it was a common plant with small, brush-like branches, making it an ideal tool for sprinkling liquids, ensuring the blood could be effectively applied to the doorframe. Symbolically, hyssop held significant ritualistic associations in ancient Israel, frequently used in purification ceremonies, such as cleansing from leprosy ([Leviticus 14:4](/leviticus/14-4 "Hyssop in Purification Rites")) and for spiritual cleansing, as seen in the plea for purification in [Psalm 51:7](/psalms/51-7 "Cleansing with Hyssop"). Its inclusion in the Passover ritual underscored the sacred, cleansing, and sanctifying nature of the act, emphasizing that the blood was not merely a physical barrier but a divine agent of purification and separation from judgment.

**Was the act of applying the blood a magical charm, or something else?**

Answer: The application of the blood was emphatically not a magical charm or a superstitious act. It was a direct, obedient response of faith to God's explicit command. The power to save was not inherent in the blood itself, nor in the physical act, but solely in God's sovereign promise to "pass over" those houses marked precisely according to His instructions. It served as a visible sign of an invisible covenant relationship and trust in God's word, distinguishing those who believed and obeyed from those who did not. The efficacy lay in God's faithfulness to His word, not in any intrinsic power of the ritual apart from Him.

**What would have happened if an Israelite household did not follow these instructions precisely?**

Answer: The biblical text strongly implies that precise obedience was critical for protection. [Exodus 12:23](/exodus/12-23 "God's Promise of Protection") states, "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." Without the blood applied as commanded, there would have been no distinguishing mark for the "destroyer" to "pass over." The consequence would have been the death of the firstborn in that household, just as with the Egyptians, because salvation and protection were contingent on following God's prescribed method and abiding within His covenant provision.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 12:22, with its vivid imagery of the Passover lamb's blood providing protection from death, serves as a profound Old Testament **type** pointing directly and powerfully to the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The unblemished Passover lamb, whose blood was shed to save the firstborn, perfectly foreshadows Jesus, the **"Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John the Baptist's Testimony about Jesus"))**. Just as the blood of the lamb was shed and applied to the doorposts to avert physical death and judgment, so Jesus's precious and sinless blood was shed on the cross, not merely to avert physical death, but to provide eternal deliverance from the penalty, power, and ultimately the presence of sin and spiritual death. The act of "striking" the doorframe with hyssop and blood finds its ultimate fulfillment in our active faith in Christ's atoning sacrifice. We are called to "apply" His blood, not physically, but spiritually, by believing in His finished work on the cross, confessing Him as Lord, and yielding our lives to Him ([Romans 10:9-10](/romans/10-9-10 "Confession and Belief for Salvation")). The command to remain inside the house until morning prefigures the New Testament call to **"abide in Christ" ([John 15:4](/john/15-4 "Abiding in Christ"))**, finding our security, identity, and eternal salvation solely within His divine covering and union with Him. Through Jesus, the ultimate Passover Lamb, the righteous judgment of God "passes over" all who are "in Him" ([Romans 8:1](/romans/8-1 "No Condemnation in Christ Jesus")), marked by His atoning blood, granting them eternal life, freedom from spiritual slavery, and adoption into God's family ([Galatians 4:4-7](/galatians/4-4-7 "Adoption as Sons and Daughters")).

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

Hebrews 11:28

Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

Psalms 51:7

¶ Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Numbers 19:18

And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip [it] in the water, and sprinkle [it] upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave:

Hebrews 9:1

¶ Then verily the first [covenant] had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

Hebrews 9:19

For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

Exodus 12:7

And they shall take of the blood, and strike [it] on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

Hebrews 9:14

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?