Exodus 12:48

Translation
King James Version
And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
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KJV (with Strong's)
And when a stranger H1616 shall sojourn H1481 with thee, and will keep H6213 the passover H6453 to the LORD H3068, let all his males H2145 be circumcised H4135, and then let him come near H7126 and keep H6213 it; and he shall be as one that is born H249 in the land H776: for no uncircumcised person H6189 shall eat H398 thereof.
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Complete Jewish Bible
If a foreigner staying with you wants to observe ADONAI's Pesach, all his males must be circumcised. Then he may take part and observe it; he will be like a citizen of the land. But no uncircumcised person is to eat it.
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Berean Standard Bible
If a foreigner resides with you and wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover, all the males in the household must be circumcised; then he may come near to celebrate it, and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised man may eat of it.
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American Standard Version
And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to Jehovah, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: but no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
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World English Bible Messianic
When a stranger shall live as a foreigner with you, and will keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one who is born in the land: but no uncircumcised person shall eat of it.
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Geneva Bible (1599)
But if a stranger dwell with thee, and will obserue the Passeouer of the Lord, let him circumcise all the males, that belong vnto him, and then let him come and obserue it, and he shall be as one that is borne in the land: for none vncircumcised person shall eate thereof.
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Young's Literal Translation
`And when a sojourner sojourneth with thee, and hath made a passover to Jehovah, every male of his is to be circumcised, and then he doth come near to keep it, and he hath been as a native of the land, but any uncircumcised one doth not eat of it;
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See also
Numbers 9:14Colossians 3:11Galatians 3:28Ezekiel 47:22Exodus 12:19Exodus 12:43Numbers 15:15
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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 1,865 of 31,102

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SUMMARY

Exodus 12:48 meticulously details the conditions under which a resident alien, or sojourner, could participate in the sacred Passover observance. It mandates that all males within the sojourner's household must undergo circumcision, thereby granting them the status of "one that is born in the land" and permitting their full participation in this foundational act of worship and remembrance. This divine directive profoundly illustrates God's desire for inclusivity within His covenant community, yet unequivocally on His precise terms, underscoring the non-negotiable nature of the covenant sign for partaking in Israel's defining moment of deliverance.

CONTEXT

  • Literary Context: This verse is intricately woven into the fabric of God's detailed instructions for the inaugural Passover, delivered to Moses and Aaron just prior to the devastating tenth plague upon Egypt. The preceding verses, Exodus 12:1-28, outline the meticulous preparation of the Passover lamb, its consumption, and the crucial application of its blood to the doorposts. Specifically, Exodus 12:43-47 establishes the initial parameters for who may and may not partake in the Passover meal, setting the immediate stage for the inclusion of the "stranger" in Exodus 12:48. The verses immediately following, Exodus 12:49-51, solidify the principle of "one law" for both native-born and sojourner, culminating in the triumphant departure of Israel from Egypt. This strategic placement within the narrative underscores that even at the very genesis of Israel's national identity and deliverance, God's covenant boundaries were paramount, yet graciously extended to those who fully embraced them.
  • Historical & Cultural Context: In the ancient Near East, the presence of "strangers" or "resident aliens" (Hebrew: gerim) was a common societal feature, often comprising economic migrants, refugees, or merchants. While they resided within a host community, their legal rights and social status could vary significantly, often being precarious. Uniquely, Israel's Mosaic Law consistently provided for the ger, frequently commanding compassion, justice, and protection for them (Deuteronomy 10:19). However, participation in core religious rituals was typically restricted to the native-born members of a community. The requirement of circumcision for Passover participation in Exodus 12:48 explicitly connects this pivotal national covenant event back to the foundational Abrahamic covenant, where circumcision was divinely instituted as the physical, indelible sign of belonging to God's chosen people (Genesis 17:9-14). This stipulation profoundly demonstrated that for the most sacred acts of worship and covenant remembrance, there was indeed "one law" for both the native-born and the sojourner, provided the sojourner fully assimilated into the covenant community through its foundational and non-negotiable sign.
  • Key Themes: Exodus 12:48 contributes significantly to several major theological and narrative themes within the book of Exodus and the broader Pentateuch. Foremost is the theme of Covenant Inclusivity and Exclusivity. While the Passover is a defining moment for Israel's national identity, God's provision for the ger demonstrates His expansive heart, extending His covenant blessings beyond ethnic lines, albeit on His terms. This foreshadows a broader inclusion of the nations in God's redemptive plan. Another crucial theme is the Supremacy and Non-Negotiability of God's Covenant Terms. Circumcision, as the sign of the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 17), is elevated here as the prerequisite for participation in the Mosaic covenant's most sacred ritual. This emphasizes that drawing near to God requires adherence to His established will and signs. Furthermore, the verse highlights the theme of Unity and Equality within the Covenant Community. The declaration that a circumcised stranger "shall be as one that is born in the land" (Exodus 12:48) establishes a remarkable principle of equality before God for all who genuinely commit to Him, transcending ethnic origin for the purpose of worship. This principle of "one law" for native and sojourner is reiterated elsewhere in the Law (Numbers 15:15-16), laying groundwork for a unified people of God.

EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

Exodus 12:48 articulates a critical stipulation for non-Israelites desiring to partake in the Passover, a pivotal moment in Israel's history and a foundational act of worship.

Key Word Analysis

  • Stranger (Hebrew, gêr', H1616): This term (H1616) refers to a "resident alien" or "sojourner," someone who has left their native land and settled among another people. It implies a degree of integration into the host community, signifying more than a mere transient visitor. The use of gêr here suggests that the individual desires to align themselves with Israel's life, laws, and faith, rather than just observing from a detached position.
  • Circumcised (Hebrew, mûwl', H4135): This verb (H4135) means "to cut short," specifically referring to the act of circumcision. Circumcision was the physical, indelible mark of the Abrahamic covenant, signifying a male's inclusion in God's chosen people and their commitment to the covenant relationship (Genesis 17:10). Its requirement here underscores that participation in the Passover was not merely a cultural or national event but a deeply covenantal act, accessible only through adherence to God's established sign of belonging.
  • Born in the land (Hebrew, ʼezrâch', H249): This term (H249) refers to a "native" or "home-born" person. The phrase "as one that is born in the land" signifies full equality in terms of covenant rights and responsibilities concerning the Passover. Once circumcised, the gêr was no longer treated as an outsider for this specific ritual but enjoyed the same privileges and obligations as a native-born Israelite. This highlights a remarkable inclusivity within the covenant, contingent upon adherence to its terms, demonstrating that spiritual status could transcend ethnic origin.

Verse Breakdown

  • "And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD,": This introductory clause identifies the specific subject: a resident alien living among the Israelites who expresses a genuine desire to observe the Passover. The phrase "will keep the passover to the LORD" indicates a spiritual inclination and a willingness to worship the God of Israel, not merely participate in a cultural festival.
  • "let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it;": This is the non-negotiable, divinely imposed condition. It's not just the individual "stranger" but "all his males" – encompassing his entire household – who must undergo circumcision. This stipulation emphasizes that covenant participation was a communal and familial affair, requiring a complete embrace of the covenant sign. Only after this physical sign of commitment, which marked them as part of the covenant people, could they "come near" and legitimately participate in the sacred meal.
  • "and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.": The profound consequence of fulfilling the condition is full integration and equal standing regarding the Passover ritual. The circumcised gêr attains the legal and spiritual status of a native-born Israelite for this specific purpose. The concluding phrase serves as a strict and absolute prohibition, emphasizing the non-negotiable necessity of circumcision for partaking in the Passover. It reinforces the sanctity and exclusivity of the meal to the circumcised covenant community, highlighting that God's blessings and sacred acts are offered on His terms and demand covenant fidelity.

Literary Devices

Exodus 12:48 employs a clear conditional structure ("And when... then let him...") to precisely delineate the prerequisites for inclusion in the Passover. This structure emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship between obedience to God's covenant terms and the privilege of participation. The phrase "and he shall be as one that is born in the land" utilizes a powerful simile, drawing a direct comparison to convey the full equality and integration granted to the circumcised sojourner, underscoring that covenant fidelity transcends ethnic origin. Furthermore, the concluding declaration, "for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof," functions as a strong exclusionary statement or negative reinforcement, unequivocally stating the absolute nature of the requirement and safeguarding the purity and sanctity of the ritual. This reinforces the seriousness of God's commands and the boundaries of His holy covenant.

THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS

Exodus 12:48 reveals profound theological truths about God's character, His covenant, and the nature of His people. It demonstrates God's remarkable balance between covenant exclusivity and His underlying heart for the nations. While the Old Covenant was specifically established with Israel, this verse illustrates that God's redemptive plan always encompassed a broader vision, allowing for the inclusion of those from outside the ethnic nation who would fully commit to His terms. This highlights that God's covenant blessings are not merely a matter of birthright but of obedient faith and identification with His people through His prescribed signs.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Exodus 12:48, though rooted in ancient covenant practices, offers timeless and profound principles for our contemporary walk with God. It teaches us that God's gracious invitation to partake in His blessings and His covenant community is expansive, yet it is invariably accompanied by a call to genuine, wholehearted commitment and obedience to His established terms. This passage challenges us to examine the depth of our own spiritual commitment and to consider what it truly means to draw near to a holy God.

  • Commitment Over Casual Affiliation: Just as the "stranger" had to embrace the physical sign of circumcision to partake in the Passover, God still calls for a genuine, transformative commitment from those who desire to enter into His New Covenant. There is no such thing as a "casual" Christianity; true participation in God's redemptive work requires a wholehearted embrace of His terms, which are now faith in Jesus Christ and spiritual transformation. Our belonging is contingent on our surrender to His Lordship.
  • Equality and Unity in Christ: The profound principle that the circumcised stranger becomes "as one that is born in the land" beautifully foreshadows the New Testament truth that in Christ, all artificial distinctions – whether of ethnicity, social status, or gender – are abolished (Galatians 3:28). All who come to Christ by faith are equally children of God, co-heirs with Him, and members of His one body. Our identity in Christ transcends our earthly background, forging a unified spiritual family.
  • The Cost of Discipleship: The requirement of circumcision was a significant, even painful, step for the sojourner, symbolizing a decisive break with their past and a full embrace of a new identity. Similarly, following Christ often involves a "cost" – surrendering our will, repenting of sin, embracing a new way of life, and sometimes facing societal opposition. This verse reminds us that true spiritual participation requires a willingness to submit to God's ways, even when they are challenging or demand personal sacrifice.

Questions for Reflection

  • What "terms" does God set for participation in His blessings and covenant community today, and how fully have I embraced them in my life?
  • In what areas of my life might I be seeking to "partake" in God's blessings without full commitment or obedience to His revealed will and the leading of His Spirit?
  • How does the principle of "one law for the native-born and for the stranger" encourage me about God's impartiality and the profound unity of believers in Christ, regardless of their background?

FAQ

Why was circumcision so important for participating in the Passover?

Answer: Circumcision was the physical, indelible sign of the Abrahamic covenant, established centuries before the Exodus (Genesis 17:10-14). It symbolized a male's belonging to God's chosen people and their commitment to the covenant relationship. For a non-Israelite to partake in the Passover, a ritual commemorating God's covenant faithfulness and deliverance from bondage, they had to visibly embrace this foundational sign. This act signified their full identification with the covenant community and its God, demonstrating a willingness to submit to His terms and become truly "one" with His people. It was a visible declaration of allegiance.

Does this verse imply that God is exclusive or that only certain people can truly worship Him?

Answer: On the contrary, this verse profoundly demonstrates God's remarkable inclusivity within His covenant framework. While the Old Covenant was specifically with Israel, God's underlying desire was for all peoples to know Him and worship Him. This passage shows that even a "stranger" (a non-Israelite) could join the most sacred ritual of Israel, provided they fully committed to the covenant's terms. It highlights that God's blessings and covenant participation are open to anyone who is willing to come on His terms, rather than being limited by birthright or ethnicity alone. It underscores that God values a surrendered heart and obedient faith over mere lineage.

CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT

Exodus 12:48, with its emphasis on covenant inclusion through a physical sign, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment and reinterpretation in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ, who is the very essence of our New Covenant Passover Lamb. The Old Testament requirement for the "stranger" to be circumcised to partake in the Passover foreshadows the spiritual transformation necessary for all, Jew and Gentile alike, to enter into God's new covenant community. First, Christ is our ultimate Passover Lamb: The Passover lamb, whose shed blood protected Israel from the angel of death and secured their liberation, points directly and powerfully to Jesus Christ. As 1 Corinthians 5:7 declares, "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." Just as the Israelites were saved by the blood of the lamb, believers in the New Covenant are saved from spiritual death and the bondage of sin by the precious, atoning blood of Jesus. Partaking in the spiritual "Passover" of salvation now means trusting in Christ's finished work on the cross. Second, we see spiritual circumcision of the heart: The physical circumcision required in the Old Covenant is superseded by a spiritual circumcision of the heart in the New Covenant. Colossians 2:11-12 explains that believers "were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God." Similarly, Romans 2:28-29 teaches that "true circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter." The requirement for participation in God's covenant community is no longer a physical mark but a spiritual transformation wrought by the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus, signifying a cutting away of the old sinful nature. Finally, there is radical inclusion of Gentiles in God's family: The "stranger" of Exodus 12:48 who could become "as one that is born in the land" beautifully foreshadows the radical and universal inclusion of Gentiles into God's family through Christ. In the New Testament, Gentiles are no longer "strangers and aliens" but "fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God" (Ephesians 2:19). They are brought near to God, not by physical lineage or a physical sign, but by the blood of Christ, which has broken down the dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:13-14). The terms for inclusion are no longer physical circumcision but repentance and faith in Jesus, leading to spiritual new birth and participation in the new covenant. Thus, the principle of inclusivity on God's terms is amplified and universally applied in Christ, inviting all people to partake in the ultimate deliverance He offers.

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Commentary on Exodus 12 verses 43–51

Some further precepts are here given concerning the passover, as it should be observed in times to come.

I. All the congregation of Israel must keep it, Exo 12:47. All that share in God's mercies should join in thankful praises for them. Though it was observed in families apart, yet it is looked upon as the act of the whole congregation; for the smaller communities constituted the greater. The New Testament passover, the Lord's supper, ought not to be neglected by any who are capable of celebrating it. He is unworthy the name of an Israelite that can contentedly neglect the commemoration of so great a deliverance. 1. No stranger that was uncircumcised might be admitted to eat of it, Exo 12:43, Exo 12:45, Exo 12:48. None might sit at the table but those that came in by the door; nor may any now approach to the improving ordinance of the Lord's supper who have not first submitted to the initiating ordinance of baptism. We must be born again by the word ere we can be nourished by it. Nor shall any partake of the benefit of Christ's sacrifice, or feast upon it, who are not first circumcised in heart, Col 2:11. 2. Any stranger that was circumcised might be welcome to eat of the passover, even servants, Exo 12:44. If, by circumcision, they would make themselves debtors to the law in its burdens, they were welcome to share in the joy of its solemn feasts, and not otherwise. Only it is intimated (Exo 12:48) that those who were masters of families must not only be circumcised themselves, but have all their males circumcised too. If in sincerity, and with that zeal which the thing required and deserves, we give up ourselves to God, we shall, with ourselves, give up all we have to him, and do our utmost that all ours may be his too. Here is an early indication of favour to the poor Gentiles, that the stranger, if circumcised, stands upon the same level with the home-born Israelite. One law for both, Exo 12:49. This was a mortification to the Jews, and taught them that it was their dedication to God, not their descent from Abraham, that entitled them to their privileges. A sincere proselyte was as welcome to the passover as a native Israelite, Isa 56:6, Isa 56:7.

II. In one house shall it be eaten (Exo 12:46), for good-fellowship sake, that they might rejoice together, and edify one another in the eating of it. None of it must be carried to another place, nor left to another time; for God would not have them so taken up with care about their departure as to be indisposed to take the comfort of it, but to leave Egypt, and enter upon a wilderness, with cheerfulness, and, in token of that, to eat a good hearty meal. The papists' carrying their consecrated host from house to house is not only superstitious in itself, but contrary to this typical law of the passover, which directed that no part of the lamb should be carried abroad.

The chapter concludes with a repetition of the whole matter, that the children of Israel did as they were bidden, and God did for them as he promised (Exo 12:50, Exo 12:51); for he will certainly be the author of salvation to those that obey him.

Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 43–51. Public domain.
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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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