Exodus 12:45

KJV

A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.

KJV (with Strong's)

A foreigner {H8453} and an hired servant {H7916} shall not eat {H398} thereof.

Complete Jewish Bible

Neither a traveler nor a hired servant may eat it.

Berean Standard Bible

A temporary resident or hired hand shall not eat the Passover.

American Standard Version

A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat thereof.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 12:45 establishes a crucial boundary for participation in the foundational Passover meal, explicitly stating, "A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof." This directive underscores the Passover's profound significance as a covenantal ordinance, restricting its observance to those fully integrated into the Israelite community through circumcision and familial belonging, thereby distinguishing between casual association and committed membership within God's chosen people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within God's meticulously detailed instructions for the inaugural Passover observance, delivered to Moses and Aaron in [Exodus 12:1-28](/exodus/12-1-28 "Instructions for the First Passover"). Specifically, it follows a series of regulations concerning who may partake of the lamb. [Exodus 12:43](/exodus/12-43 "Ordinance of the Passover") introduces the "ordinance of the Passover," a general principle. This is immediately followed by [Exodus 12:44](/exodus/12-44 "Circumcised Servants May Eat"), which clarifies that a circumcised male servant *may* eat of it, setting up a contrast with the uncircumcised "foreigner" and "hired servant" in our verse. The subsequent verse, [Exodus 12:46](/exodus/12-46 "Rules for Eating the Lamb"), continues with further directives regarding the preparation and consumption of the lamb. This precise placement within the legislative framework highlights a deep concern for the ritual purity and covenantal integrity of the Passover celebration.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Passover was not merely a ceremonial meal but the defining historical event that forged Israel's identity as a nation delivered by Yahweh from Egyptian bondage. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, communal meals were potent symbols of shared identity, kinship, and covenant. To be excluded from such a meal was a powerful declaration of one's outsider status. The distinctions between a "foreigner" (Hebrew: *ger* or *tôwshâb*) and a "hired servant" (Hebrew: *sâkîyr*) were critical in a society where household membership, often sealed by the covenant sign of circumcision, determined one's rights, responsibilities, and access to sacred rituals within the community. The Passover was a perpetual memorial of God's redemptive act, and participation signified one's inclusion in that redemptive history.

* **Key Themes:** Exodus 12:45 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Exodus and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it emphasizes the **sacredness and exclusivity of the covenant**. The Passover was a unique, holy ordinance marking Israel's special relationship with Yahweh, requiring specific identification with this covenant, primarily through circumcision, the sign established in [Genesis 17:9-14](/genesis/17-9-14 "The Covenant of Circumcision"). Secondly, it highlights the theme of **belonging and commitment**. Eating the Passover lamb was an act of communal identification, signifying one's shared heritage, destiny, and allegiance with God's people. It was not for those with only a superficial or temporary connection, reinforcing the idea that God's people were to be "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" ([Exodus 19:6](/exodus/19-6 "A Kingdom of Priests")). This verse also subtly introduces the theme of **inclusion by assimilation**, as other passages (e.g., [Numbers 9:14](/numbers/9-14 "Passover for Sojourners")) later show that foreigners could participate if they fully embraced the covenant, including circumcision.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **foreigner (Hebrew, _tôwshâb'_):** This term (H8453) refers to a resident alien or sojourner who dwells among the Israelites but is not a native citizen (as distinguished from a *nokhri* which is a more outlandish foreigner, or a *ger* which is a temporary inmate). While the *tôwshâb* might live long-term in Israel, their exclusion from the Passover implies they had not fully integrated into the covenant community, specifically by undergoing circumcision. This highlights that mere residence or proximity was insufficient for participation in this sacred, covenantal meal.
* **hired servant (Hebrew, _sâkîyr'_):** This term (H7916) denotes a temporary wage-earner, someone employed for a set period, typically by the day or year. Unlike a permanent slave who might be circumcised and adopted into the household (as per [Exodus 12:44](/exodus/12-44 "Circumcised Servants May Eat")), a *sâkîyr* had no lasting commitment or familial bond to the household or the covenant community. Their relationship was purely transactional and temporary, thus precluding their participation in a meal that signified deep, enduring covenantal ties.
* **eat (Hebrew, _ʼâkal'_):** The verb (H398) signifies the literal act of consuming food. In this context, "shall not eat thereof" is an absolute prohibition, underscoring the sacred and exclusive nature of the Passover meal. The act of eating the Passover lamb was not merely sustenance but a profound spiritual and communal act of identifying with God's redemptive work and His covenant people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"A foreigner":** This refers to the *tôwshâb*, the resident alien. Despite living among the Israelites, their status as non-covenant members (lacking circumcision) meant they were excluded from this central ritual. This emphasizes that participation in the Passover was not a matter of geographical proximity but of covenantal identity.
* **"and an hired servant":** This refers to the *sâkîyr*, the temporary wage-earner. Their transient and purely contractual relationship with an Israelite household meant they lacked the permanent, familial, and covenantal ties necessary for partaking in the Passover. This distinction reinforces the idea that the Passover was for those with deep, enduring commitment to the community.
* **"shall not eat thereof":** This is a clear and unequivocal prohibition. "Thereof" explicitly refers to the Passover lamb. The absolute nature of this exclusion underscores that the Passover was not a general feast for anyone residing in Israel, but a sacred, covenant-specific observance requiring a profound level of identification and commitment to Yahweh and His chosen people.

#### Literary Devices
Exodus 12:45 is a **prescriptive legal statement**, characteristic of the Mosaic Law's detailed regulations. Its directness and brevity convey an unambiguous command, establishing a clear boundary for participation. The verse employs **antithesis** or **contrast** by implicitly setting the "foreigner" and "hired servant" against the "circumcised male servant" of [Exodus 12:44](/exodus/12-44 "Circumcised Servants May Eat"), thereby highlighting the critical role of covenantal identification (circumcision) for inclusion. The use of two distinct categories of non-Israelites ("foreigner" and "hired servant") further specifies the various forms of non-integrated status that precluded participation, demonstrating the meticulous nature of the divine instructions.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 12:45 reveals profound theological truths about the nature of God's covenant and the requirements for participation in His redemptive acts. Primarily, it underscores the sacredness and exclusivity of God's covenant with Israel. The Passover was not a casual event but a holy ordinance marking Israel's unique relationship with Yahweh. Participation required identification with this covenant, signified by circumcision, the sign of the Abrahamic covenant. Secondly, it highlights the principle of belonging and commitment. Eating the Passover lamb was an act of communal identification, signifying one's shared heritage, destiny, and allegiance with God's people. It was not for those with only a superficial or temporary connection. While God's ultimate plan includes all nations, He first established a unique covenant people through whom His blessings would flow. The boundaries of the Old Covenant, though seemingly exclusive, served to preserve the purity of the lineage and the distinctiveness of the people through whom the Messiah would come. This foreshadows the New Covenant, where the terms of inclusion shift from physical lineage and ritual to spiritual transformation and faith.

* [Numbers 9:14](/numbers/9-14 "Passover for Sojourners")
* [Ephesians 2:11-13](/ephesians/2-11-13 "Gentiles Included in Christ")
* [Hebrews 10:26-29](/hebrews/10-26-29 "Consequences of Rejecting the Covenant")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the specific regulations of Exodus 12:45 applied to ancient Israel, the underlying principles of commitment, identification, and the sacredness of God's covenant remain profoundly relevant today. In the New Covenant, the emphasis shifts from physical lineage and ritual (like circumcision) to spiritual rebirth and faith in Jesus Christ, our Passover Lamb. Just as ancient Israelites had to genuinely belong to the covenant community to partake in the Passover, so too does true participation in the blessings of the New Covenant require a genuine, personal commitment to Christ and identification with His body, the church. This verse challenges us to move beyond being "casual observers" or "hired servants" of faith, merely engaging with Christianity for temporary benefit, and instead to embrace full, committed discipleship and belonging within God's family. It calls us to examine the depth of our commitment to Christ and His Church, ensuring that our participation is rooted in genuine covenant relationship rather than superficial association.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the principle of "identification" with God's people, as seen in Exodus 12:45, translate into our commitment to the local church and the global body of Christ today?**
* **In what ways might we, like the "hired servant," approach our faith with a temporary or transactional mindset, rather than with deep, covenantal commitment?**
* **What does it mean to truly "eat" of Christ, our Passover Lamb, in a way that signifies genuine belonging and not just casual observation?**

### FAQ
**Why were foreigners and hired servants specifically excluded from the Passover meal?**

Answer: The exclusion was not based on ethnicity alone, but on covenant status and the nature of their relationship to the Israelite household. The "foreigner" (Hebrew: *tôwshâb*) and "hired servant" (Hebrew: *sâkîyr*) mentioned in [Exodus 12:45](/exodus/12-45 "Passover Restrictions for Foreigners") were those who had not undergone circumcision, the physical sign of the Abrahamic covenant, and thus were not fully integrated into an Israelite household as covenant members. [Exodus 12:44](/exodus/12-44 "Circumcised Servants May Eat") explicitly states that circumcised male servants *could* eat the Passover. Therefore, the restriction was about covenant identification and commitment, not an inherent prejudice against non-Israelites, but rather a safeguarding of the sacred covenant meal.

**Does this verse contradict God's universal love or invitation to all people?**

Answer: No, it does not. This verse defines the boundaries of a specific covenant meal for a specific people at a specific time. While God's ultimate plan of salvation is indeed for all humanity, He chose to work through a particular people (Israel) to bring about that salvation. The Old Covenant had distinct boundaries to preserve the identity and purity of the people through whom the Messiah would come. It was not a permanent exclusion but a condition for participation in *that specific covenant ritual*. In the New Covenant, the invitation is indeed universal, but it still requires a specific act of commitment: faith in Jesus Christ and spiritual rebirth, which are the new "terms" of covenant participation.

**How does this Old Testament regulation apply to Christians today, especially regarding communion or church membership?**

Answer: While we are no longer bound by the literal command of [Exodus 12:45](/exodus/12-45 "Passover Restrictions for Foreigners"), the underlying principle of committed identification with God's covenant people remains. Just as the Passover was a meal for those within the Old Covenant, the Lord's Supper (Communion or Eucharist) is a meal for those within the New Covenant, signifying their faith in Christ and their unity with His body, the Church. It is generally understood that only those who have placed their faith in Jesus and been baptized (a public sign of identification with Christ and His Church) should partake, reflecting the seriousness of the covenant and the need for genuine commitment, rather than mere casual attendance or observation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 12:45, like the entire Passover narrative, finds its ultimate fulfillment and radical reinterpretation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Passover lamb, whose blood protected Israel from death, is a powerful type of Christ, who is explicitly declared "our Passover Lamb" in [1 Corinthians 5:7](/1_corinthians/5-7 "Christ Our Passover"). His shed blood on the cross provides the true and ultimate atonement, delivering all who believe from the penalty of sin and spiritual death, establishing a new and better covenant.

In the New Covenant inaugurated by Christ, the terms of inclusion are fundamentally transformed. Physical circumcision, the sign of the Old Covenant, is replaced by spiritual "circumcision of the heart" through faith in Christ ([Romans 2:29](/romans/2-29 "Circumcision of the Heart")). The "foreigner" and "hired servant" who were excluded from the physical Passover in the Old Covenant now find full inclusion in God's family through Christ. As [Galatians 3:28](/galatians/3-28 "Unity in Christ") profoundly proclaims, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Gentiles, once "foreigners and strangers" to the covenants of promise, are now, through Christ's atoning work, "fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household" ([Ephesians 2:19](/ephesians/2-19 "No Longer Strangers")). The Lord's Supper, the New Covenant meal, is open to all who have put their faith in Jesus, regardless of their ethnic or social background, signifying a genuine, spiritual belonging to Christ's body, the Church, and a personal embrace of the new covenant established through His sacrifice. It is not for the spiritually uncommitted or those who merely observe from a distance, but for those who have truly entered into a covenant relationship with God through Jesus.

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

Leviticus 22:10

¶ There shall no stranger eat [of] the holy thing: a sojourner of the priest, or an hired servant, shall not eat [of] the holy thing.

Ephesians 2:12

That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: