Exodus 12:26

KJV

And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?

KJV (with Strong's)

And it shall come to pass, when your children {H1121} shall say {H559} unto you, What mean ye by this service {H5656}?

Complete Jewish Bible

When your children ask you, 'What do you mean by this ceremony?'

Berean Standard Bible

When your children ask you, ‘What does this service mean to you?’

American Standard Version

And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 12:26 anticipates a foundational moment in Israel's history: the divine command for future generations to inquire about the meaning of the Passover "service." This verse highlights God's profound foresight in designing the Passover not merely as a one-time deliverance, but as a perpetual, intergenerational teaching moment, ensuring that the story of His redemptive power and covenant faithfulness would be continually remembered and transmitted through ritual and instruction.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Exodus 12:26 is deeply embedded within God's meticulously detailed instructions for the first Passover, given to Moses and Aaron in [Exodus 12:1-28](/exodus/12 "The Institution of the Passover"). Immediately preceding this verse, God commands the Israelites to perpetually observe the Passover ordinance, stating that upon entering the promised land, they are to "keep this service" ([Exodus 12:25](/exodus/12-25 "The Command to Keep the Passover Ordinance")). Following this verse, the Lord provides the precise answer parents are to give their inquiring children, explaining that the Passover sacrifice 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" ([Exodus 12:27](/exodus/12-27 "The Answer to the Children about the Passover Sacrifice")). This careful sequence reveals God's intentional design for the Passover to be a living, teaching tradition, ensuring its meaning is understood and preserved across generations.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, rituals and festivals served as crucial mechanisms for preserving collective memory, reinforcing communal identity, and transmitting cultural and religious values across generations. For the Israelites, a people newly formed and delivered from centuries of slavery, establishing such practices was paramount for forging a distinct national and theological identity centered on Yahweh. The Passover, therefore, was not merely a historical commemoration but a covenantal act that continually re-enacted their foundational story of liberation from bondage and their establishment as God's chosen people. The emphasis on children asking questions reflects a pedagogical approach common in ancient wisdom traditions, where active inquiry was encouraged to deepen understanding and commitment to the community's heritage. This also underscores the patriarchal structure of Israelite society, where the father or head of the household bore primary responsibility for religious instruction and the transmission of faith.
* **Key Themes:** This verse significantly contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Exodus and the broader Pentateuch. It highlights God's **divine pedagogy**, revealing Him as a God who actively teaches His people and designs their worship to be instructional. It underscores the profound importance of **remembrance (zikkaron)**, ensuring that God's mighty acts of deliverance are never forgotten but continually re-engaged with by each new generation. Furthermore, it emphasizes **intergenerational transmission of faith**, placing a clear mandate on parents and elders to actively educate their children about their spiritual heritage and the meaning of God's covenant. This theme resonates throughout the Law, particularly in passages like [Deuteronomy 6:6-7](/deuteronomy/6-6-7 "Teaching the Law to Your Children"), where parents are commanded to diligently teach God's words to their children, and is exemplified in memorial acts like the stones from the Jordan River in [Joshua 4:6-7](/joshua/4-6-7 "Explaining the Stones of the Jordan").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Children (Hebrew, _bên_ H1121):** Derived from a root meaning "to build," this term refers to a son, or more broadly, offspring or descendants. Its use here emphasizes the generational continuity of the Israelite community and the foundational role of the family unit in transmitting identity and faith. The question from the "children" signifies the natural curiosity of the next generation, eager to understand the customs they observe, thereby prompting the crucial act of intergenerational instruction.
* **Say (Hebrew, _ʼâmar_ H559):** This primitive root means "to say" with great latitude, encompassing speaking, telling, commanding, or declaring. In this context, it denotes an active, verbal inquiry. The children are not merely observing but are expected to articulate their curiosity, initiating a dialogue. God's anticipation of this verbal "saying" underscores the importance of spoken instruction and narrative in the transmission of faith.
* **Service (Hebrew, _ʻăbôdâh_ H5656):** This term, derived from the root "to work" or "to serve," can denote labor, bondage, or, as here, a religious act of worship or sacred duty. While the Israelites were freed from the "service" (bondage) of Egypt, they were called into the "service" (worship) of Yahweh. In this verse, `ʻăbôdâh` refers to the entire complex of the Passover observance—the sacrifice, the meal, the unleavened bread, and the bitter herbs. Its use emphasizes that the Passover was not a casual custom but a divinely ordained, structured act of worship and remembrance, a sacred duty to be performed and explained.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And it shall come to pass,"**: This opening phrase signals a future, divinely ordained event, indicating God's prophetic insight into the ongoing life of His people. It demonstrates that God is not only concerned with the immediate deliverance but with the long-term spiritual formation and covenant faithfulness of Israel through subsequent generations.
* **"when your children shall say unto you,"**: This clause reveals the specific agents of inquiry—the next generation. It places the responsibility of spiritual education squarely on the parents and elders. The question is presented as an expected, natural outcome of the ritual's perpetuation, implying genuine curiosity and a desire for understanding the distinctive practices they observe.
* **"What mean ye by this service?"**: This is the pivotal question, a direct inquiry into the significance and purpose of the Passover ritual. It implies that the children will observe the unique and distinct nature of the `ʻăbôdâh` (service) and be prompted to seek its underlying meaning. This question demands an explanation of the Passover's origin, its purpose, and its ongoing relevance to the life and identity of the Israelite community.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **divine foresight** and **anticipatory dialogue**. God, through Moses, pre-empts a future scenario, framing the Passover ritual as a built-in teaching moment. This structure transforms a command into a pedagogical strategy, ensuring that the historical event of the Exodus would be continually re-narrated and understood by each new generation through an interactive, question-and-answer format. It is a form of **catechesis** embedded within the very fabric of their national identity and worship, designed to foster active engagement rather than passive observance. The rhetorical question posed by the children serves as a **proleptic** device, foreshadowing the ongoing need for instruction and the vitality of the Passover as a living memorial.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 12:26 is profoundly rich in theological implications, primarily emphasizing God's commitment to intergenerational faith and the power of memory in His covenant relationship with Israel. It reveals God as a master teacher who anticipates human curiosity and designs worship practices with built-in educational components. He knows that rituals, without explanation, can become hollow observances. His foresight ensures that the Passover remains a living narrative, not just a rote performance, thereby underscoring the biblical emphasis on remembering God's mighty acts. This act of remembering is not passive recall but an active re-engagement with God's saving work, designed to prevent forgetfulness and ensure that the foundational story of redemption shapes Israel's identity and future. This verse places a clear mandate on parents and elders to actively educate their children about their spiritual heritage, recognizing that the question from the children serves as a divine prompt for parents to recount God's faithfulness and the meaning of His commands, thus ensuring the faithful transmission of faith from one generation to the next.

* [Deuteronomy 6:6-7](/deuteronomy/6-6-7 "Teaching the Law to Your Children") explicitly commands parents to diligently teach God's words to their children, speaking of them "when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."
* [Joshua 4:6-7](/joshua/4-6-7 "Explaining the Stones of the Jordan") provides another powerful example of a memorial (the stones from the Jordan River) established precisely so that future generations would ask, "What do these stones mean to you?" and receive an explanation of God's miraculous intervention.
* [Psalm 78:5-7](/psalms/78-5-7 "God's Law and Testimony for Future Generations") articulates God's purpose in establishing testimonies and laws in Israel: "that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 12:26 offers timeless principles for believers today, emphasizing the vital role of intentional spiritual education and the value of curiosity within the faith community. Just as the Israelites were commanded to explain the Passover, we are called to articulate the "why" behind our Christian practices and beliefs. Whether it's baptism, communion, church attendance, or personal devotion, our faith should be understood, not just performed. This requires us to know *what* we believe and *why* we believe it, enabling us to give a reason for the hope that is in us ([1 Peter 3:15](/1_peter/3-15 "Always Be Prepared to Give an Answer")). Parents, grandparents, and spiritual leaders have a profound responsibility to disciple the younger generation. This isn't just about sharing stories, but about explaining the significance of God's actions throughout history and in our lives. It means creating environments where questions are welcomed, and the narrative of God's redemptive work, culminating in Christ, is faithfully transmitted. The children's question is presented as a positive, anticipated event. We should foster an environment where questions about faith are not seen as doubt but as opportunities for deeper learning and engagement. A healthy faith is one that can withstand scrutiny and grow through honest inquiry, leading to a deeper, more robust understanding of God's truth.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "service" or spiritual practice in your life might a curious child (or even an adult) ask you to explain today, and how prepared are you to articulate its meaning and significance?**
* **How can you more intentionally create opportunities to share the "why" behind your faith with the next generation, whether in your family, church, or broader community?**
* **In what ways can we, as individuals and communities, better welcome and engage with questions about faith, seeing them as pathways to deeper understanding and spiritual growth rather than challenges to be dismissed?**

### FAQ
**Why is it important for children to ask questions about religious rituals?**

Answer: The act of children asking questions signifies active engagement and a desire for understanding, moving beyond mere rote observance. God designed the Passover this way to ensure that the meaning and historical significance of His deliverance would be consciously transmitted and internalized by each new generation, fostering a living faith rather than a stagnant tradition. It transforms a ritual into a powerful teaching moment, ensuring the story of God's mighty acts continues to shape the identity and faith of His people.

**Does this verse imply that rituals are more important than personal faith?**

Answer: Not at all. The verse highlights that rituals, when properly understood and explained, serve as powerful vehicles for transmitting the narrative of God's faithfulness and fostering personal faith. The "service" is a tangible expression of a spiritual reality. The question "What mean ye by this service?" reveals that the *meaning* behind the ritual is paramount, connecting the outward action to an inward understanding and a personal relationship with God. It emphasizes that rituals are meant to be understood and to lead to deeper faith, not to be ends in themselves.

**Is this command only for Jewish families observing Passover, or does it apply to Christians today?**

Answer: While the immediate context is the Israelite Passover, the underlying principle of intergenerational spiritual education is universally applicable and deeply resonant throughout the entire biblical narrative. Christians are called to "make disciples of all nations" ([Matthew 28:19](/matthew/28-19 "The Great Commission")), which inherently includes teaching and explaining the truths of the Gospel to the next generation. The specific ritual changes, but the divine imperative to transmit faith and its meaning endures. The spirit of this verse calls believers today to faithfully pass on the truths of the Gospel and the significance of Christian practices to those who come after them.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 12:26, with its emphasis on the Passover "service" and its intergenerational explanation, finds its ultimate fulfillment and profound reinterpretation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Passover, which commemorated Israel's deliverance from Egyptian bondage through the blood of a lamb, powerfully prefigured the greater redemption accomplished by Jesus. The New Testament explicitly identifies Jesus as "our Passover lamb" ([1 Corinthians 5:7](/1_corinthians/5-7 "Christ, Our Passover Lamb")), whose sacrificial death on the cross, shedding His blood, accomplishes a far greater deliverance—liberation from the bondage of sin and death. Just as the blood on the doorposts protected Israel from the angel of death, Christ's blood provides eternal salvation for all who believe, fulfilling the shadow of the Old Testament Passover. Furthermore, Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper (Communion) during a Passover meal ([Luke 22:19-20](/luke/22-19-20 "Institution of the Lord's Supper")), establishing this new "service" or ritual as the central memorial for believers in the New Covenant. Just as the children in Exodus were to ask about the Passover, Christians are commanded to remember and proclaim the Lord's death "until he comes" ([1 Corinthians 11:26](/1_corinthians/11-26 "Proclaim the Lord's Death Until He Comes")). The elements of bread and wine become tangible symbols that prompt remembrance and explanation of Christ's body broken and blood shed for the forgiveness of sins, ensuring the story of His redemptive work is continually retold. Thus, the spirit of [Exodus 12:26](/exodus/12-26 "The Children's Question about the Passover Service") is fulfilled in the church's ongoing mission to proclaim the Gospel across generations. The story of Christ's redemption is the ultimate "service" whose meaning must be continually explained and transmitted. Parents and the church are called to disciple new believers and children, ensuring that the saving work of Jesus is understood, believed, and lived out, just as the Passover story was to be passed down through Israel. The question, "What mean ye by this service?" transforms into, "What mean ye by this Gospel?" and "What mean ye by this communion?" with Christ's life, death, and resurrection as the definitive, glorious answer.

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 13:14

And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What [is] this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:

Exodus 13:15

And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.

Deuteronomy 32:7

¶ Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.

Psalms 145:4

One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.

Psalms 78:3

Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

Psalms 78:6

That the generation to come might know [them, even] the children [which] should be born; [who] should arise and declare [them] to their children:

Joshua 4:21

And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What [mean] these stones?