Exodus 12:8

KJV

And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; [and] with bitter [herbs] they shall eat it.

KJV (with Strong's)

And they shall eat {H398} the flesh {H1320} in that night {H3915}, roast {H6748} with fire {H784}, and unleavened bread {H4682}; and with bitter {H4844} herbs they shall eat {H398} it.

Complete Jewish Bible

That night, they are to eat the meat, roasted in the fire; they are to eat it with matzah and maror.

Berean Standard Bible

They are to eat the meat that night, roasted over the fire, along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

American Standard Version

And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; with bitter herbs they shall eat it.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Exodus 12:8 provides the foundational dietary components for the inaugural Passover meal: roasted lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs. These divinely ordained elements were not merely sustenance but deeply symbolic, serving as a perpetual, multi-sensory reminder of God's swift and powerful deliverance of Israel from centuries of Egyptian bondage, the urgency of their departure, and the enduring bitterness of their former enslavement, all pointing forward to a greater, ultimate redemption.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is an indispensable part of God's meticulous instructions to Moses and Aaron for the first Passover observance, detailed in [Exodus 12:1-20](/exodus/12 "Instructions for the Passover"). It immediately follows the crucial command to apply the sacrificial lamb's blood to the doorposts and lintel of Israelite homes ([Exodus 12:7](/exodus/12-7 "The Blood on the Doorposts")), which served as a sign for the Destroyer to "pass over" their dwellings. The instructions for the meal's consumption, including its rapid eating and the prohibition against leaving any leftovers until morning ([Exodus 12:9-11](/exodus/12-9 "Further Instructions for Eating the Passover")), directly follow. The entire chapter meticulously sets the stage for the climactic tenth plague—the death of the firstborn throughout Egypt—and Israel's subsequent, divinely orchestrated exodus from their oppressive captors. This passage, therefore, is not merely a recipe but a foundational ordinance establishing a new national identity rooted in divine deliverance.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The institution of the Passover occurred on the very night of Israel's liberation from over 400 years of brutal Egyptian slavery, a period marked by forced labor and severe oppression ([Exodus 1:11-14](/exodus/1-11-14 "Israel's Oppression in Egypt")). The instructions in [Exodus 12](/exodus/12 "The Institution of the Passover") reflect the profound urgency and immediacy of their impending departure, emphasizing a readiness to leave at a moment's notice. The meal was to be consumed within the family unit, underscoring the communal and familial nature of God's redemptive act and establishing a foundational ordinance that would define Israel's identity as a people redeemed by Yahweh, distinct from the surrounding pagan nations. The specific food choices—roast meat, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs—were not arbitrary culinary preferences but deeply embedded with symbolic meaning, designed to imprint the visceral experience of liberation and the bitter memory of oppression onto the participants, ensuring that future generations would understand the profound cost and miraculous nature of their freedom.
* **Key Themes:** Exodus 12:8 significantly contributes to several overarching theological and narrative themes within the book of Exodus and the broader Pentateuch. Foremost among these is the theme of **Divine Deliverance**, showcasing Yahweh as an active, powerful God who intervenes decisively in history to rescue His people from bondage. The Passover meal itself becomes a **Covenantal Marker**, establishing a perpetual ordinance that binds Israel to God through an act of remembrance and obedience. The inclusion of specific elements like unleavened bread and bitter herbs reinforces the themes of **Remembrance and Gratitude**, ensuring that the Israelites would never forget the bitterness of their past slavery and the urgency of their miraculous freedom. Furthermore, the entire Passover narrative, initiated by this meal, serves as a profound **Typology of Redemption**, foreshadowing a greater, ultimate deliverance from sin and death through a future sacrifice, a theme that resonates throughout the biblical narrative and finds its climax in the New Testament. The meticulous details of the meal underscore God's **Sovereignty and Provision** for His people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Exodus 12:8 precisely details the three core components of the Passover meal, each carrying profound significance in the context of Israel's liberation and their ongoing covenant relationship with God.

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Flesh (Hebrew, _bâsâr'_):** Derived from a root suggesting freshness, _bâsâr_ refers to the physical body or meat. In this context, it specifically denotes the lamb's flesh, which was the central and most substantial component of the Passover meal. Its consumption signified partaking in the sacrificial offering and sharing in the covenant established by the blood. The emphasis on "flesh" highlights the physicality and reality of the sacrifice and the sustenance it provided for the journey ahead.
* **Unleavened Bread (Hebrew, _matstsâh'_):** From a root conveying sweetness or the act of greedily devouring, _matstsâh_ specifically refers to bread made without yeast. Its inclusion in the Passover meal was a direct command reflecting the haste of the Exodus; there was no time for the dough to rise. Theologically, _matstsâh_ came to symbolize purity and sincerity, as leaven often represents corruption or sin in biblical thought, signifying a new, uncorrupted beginning for the redeemed nation.
* **Bitter (Hebrew, _mᵉrôr'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to be bitter," _mᵉrôr_ refers to the bitter herbs. These herbs were a tangible, taste-based reminder of the "bitterness" and harshness of the Israelites' enslavement and affliction under Egyptian rule. Their consumption ensured that the memory of their past suffering would remain vivid, fostering profound gratitude for the freedom God had granted them and serving as a stark contrast to the sweetness of divine deliverance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire":** This clause emphasizes the primary component of the meal—the lamb's flesh—and its specific method of preparation. Roasting with fire ensured rapid cooking, crucial for a people on the verge of immediate departure. It also ensured the thorough cooking of the meat, preventing the consumption of blood, which was sacred and reserved for atonement. The phrase "in that night" underscores the urgency and immediacy of the divine command and the impending deliverance, highlighting that this was a meal consumed in anticipation of a miraculous, life-altering event.
* **"and unleavened bread;":** The inclusion of _matstsâh_ (unleavened bread) served as a powerful, perpetual mnemonic. Its flat, quickly baked nature visually and practically represented the haste of their departure from Egypt; there was no time for the dough to ferment. Spiritually, the absence of leaven, often a symbol of corruption or sin in Scripture, also pointed to the purity required for a people entering into a new covenant relationship with God, leaving behind the "leaven" of their past bondage.
* **"[and] with bitter [herbs] they shall eat it.":** The _mᵉrôr_ (bitter herbs) provided a sensory, taste-based link to the Israelites' recent history of suffering. By consuming these bitter herbs, they would viscerally recall the "bitterness" of their harsh bondage and affliction under Egyptian rule ([Exodus 1:14](/exodus/1-14 "The Hard Bondage in Egypt")). This element ensured that the memory of their past oppression would remain vivid, fostering deep gratitude for the freedom God had granted them and serving as a stark reminder of what they were delivered *from*.

#### Literary Devices
The entire passage, particularly Exodus 12:8, employs **Symbolism** extensively, where each physical element of the meal—the lamb, the unleavened bread, the bitter herbs, and even the method of preparation—serves as a powerful mnemonic device and a profound theological teaching tool. The meal itself functions as a **Type** or **Typology**, foreshadowing future redemptive acts and ultimately pointing to the person and work of Jesus Christ. The specific instructions also create a **Ritual**, a repeated act designed to embed historical and theological truths into the communal memory and practice of the people of Israel across generations. The vivid sensory details (taste, sight, smell of fire) contribute to the meal's effectiveness as a **Mnemonic Device**, ensuring the lessons of the Exodus are not forgotten.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 12:8 teaches profound theological truths about God's character and humanity's redemption. It reveals God as a sovereign, active deliverer who acts decisively to rescue His people from bondage, establishing a covenant relationship founded on His grace and their obedience. The emphasis on the lamb's flesh, consumed after its blood provided protection, highlights the foundational biblical principle of substitutionary atonement—life for life, where an innocent substitute bears the consequence to save others. The meal serves as a perpetual act of remembrance, ensuring that Israel would never forget the cost of their freedom and God's unwavering faithfulness. This pattern of divine deliverance, involving sacrifice and a call to remember, resonates throughout the biblical narrative, setting the stage for all subsequent redemptive acts.

This theme of divine deliverance and remembrance is deeply woven into the fabric of biblical theology:
* The significance of the lamb's blood for protection and atonement is a recurring theme, later codified in the Mosaic Law ([Leviticus 17:11](/leviticus/17-11 "The Significance of Blood for Atonement")).
* The unleavened bread's symbolism of purity and the removal of "leaven" (sin) is explicitly applied to the Christian life in the New Testament ([1 Corinthians 5:7-8](/1_corinthians/5-7 "Christ Our Passover Lamb")).
* The entire Passover narrative, initiated by this meal, foreshadows the ultimate deliverance from sin and death through a greater sacrifice ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 12:8 calls us to a profound act of remembrance and reflection on God's redemptive work, both corporately and individually. Just as the Israelites were commanded to vividly recall their deliverance from physical slavery, we, as believers, are called to remember our spiritual liberation from the bondage of sin and death through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The elements of the Passover meal provide a timeless template for understanding and living out our own spiritual journey:
* **The Lamb:** The roasted lamb, central to the Passover, points unequivocally to the necessity of Christ's sacrifice as the foundation of our freedom. This prompts us to examine: Are we truly living in the freedom purchased by His precious blood, or are we still subtly bound by old habits, fears, or the weight of past failures?
* **Unleavened Bread:** The unleavened bread challenges us to live a life of purity, sincerity, and integrity, free from the "leaven" of malice, hypocrisy, and sin. This calls for introspection: What "leaven"—be it pride, bitterness, deceit, or complacency—do we need to actively purge from our lives to truly live out our new identity in Christ?
* **Bitter Herbs:** The bitter herbs remind us not to forget the bitterness of sin and its devastating consequences, fostering deep and abiding gratitude for the grace that has delivered us. This leads to a crucial question: Do we genuinely appreciate the profound depth of our redemption, or have we grown complacent about the suffering from which Christ rescued us, losing the awe of His saving power?

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What specific "bitterness" (past struggles, sins, or forms of spiritual bondage) has God delivered you from, and how do you regularly remember and give thanks for that deliverance in a tangible way?**
* **In what areas of your life might "leaven" (sin, impurity, or old habits) still be present, hindering your spiritual growth and your intimate walk with God?**
* **How can the intentional remembrance of Christ's ultimate sacrifice, as exemplified by the Passover meal and the Lord's Supper, deepen your gratitude, commitment, and obedience to Him daily?**

### FAQ
**Why was the lamb to be roasted with fire, not boiled or raw?**

Answer: The divine command to roast the lamb quickly and thoroughly ("roast with fire") served several practical and symbolic purposes critical to the Passover's meaning. Practically, it ensured rapid preparation, essential for a people on the verge of a hasty departure, leaving no time for slower cooking methods like boiling. It also prevented the consumption of blood, which was sacred and reserved for atonement, as roasting would cause the blood to drain or be consumed by the fire. Symbolically, fire often represents purification, judgment, and the consuming holiness of God in the Bible, suggesting a complete, pure, and acceptable offering. This method ensured the meal was consumed entirely and expediently, reflecting the urgency of God's deliverance and the need for Israel to be ready to move at a moment's notice.

**Why was unleavened bread (matstsâh) required for the Passover meal?**

Answer: The unleavened bread (_matstsâh_) was required primarily to symbolize the urgency and haste of the Exodus. The Israelites left Egypt so quickly that they had no time for their bread dough to rise ([Exodus 12:34](/exodus/12-34 "Israelites Leave Egypt Hastily")). Spiritually, leaven often represents corruption, sin, or hypocrisy in biblical thought (e.g., [Matthew 16:6](/matthew/16-6 "Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees"); [1 Corinthians 5:6-8](/1_corinthians/5-6-8 "Purge Out the Old Leaven")). Thus, unleavened bread also came to symbolize purity, sincerity, and a new, clean start for a people redeemed by God, leaving behind the "leaven" of their past life in bondage. It was a tangible reminder of the suddenness and purity of God's intervention.

**What was the purpose of the bitter herbs in the Passover meal?**

Answer: The bitter herbs (_mᵉrôr_) served as a tangible and sensory reminder of the harshness and bitterness of the Israelites' slavery and severe affliction under Egyptian rule ([Exodus 1:14](/exodus/1-14 "The Hard Bondage in Egypt")). By tasting the bitterness, the participants would vividly recall the suffering from which God had miraculously delivered them. This element was crucial for fostering profound gratitude for their newfound freedom and for God's powerful, redemptive intervention. It ensured that the memory of their oppression would remain sharp, highlighting the stark contrast between their former bondage and their divinely granted liberation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 12:8, detailing the essential components of the Passover meal, finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The Passover lamb, whose blood provided protection from death for Israel, is a profound and direct type of Jesus, whom John the Baptist declared to be "the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God"), who takes away the sin of the world!" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Just as the lamb was sacrificed to deliver Israel from physical bondage and the angel of death, Jesus, the perfect and sinless Lamb, offered Himself as the ultimate, once-for-all sacrifice to deliver humanity from the spiritual bondage of sin and eternal death ([1 Peter 1:18-19](/1_peter/1-18-19 "Redemption Through Christ's Precious Blood")). The unleavened bread, symbolizing purity and the haste of deliverance, points to Christ's sinless nature and the call for believers to live a life free from the "leaven" of sin and malice, reflecting the new creation they are in Him ([1 Corinthians 5:7-8](/1_corinthians/5-7-8 "Christ Our Passover Lamb")). The bitter herbs, reminding Israel of their past suffering, connect profoundly to the bitterness of sin and its devastating consequences, from which Christ delivers us, prompting ongoing and profound gratitude for His grace and the freedom He purchased. The Passover meal itself is reinterpreted and transformed into the Lord's Supper (Communion) in the New Testament, where Jesus Himself institutes this new covenant meal on the night He was betrayed, inviting His followers to remember His body broken and His blood shed for the forgiveness of sins, and to anticipate His glorious return ([1 Corinthians 11:23-26](/1_corinthians/11-23-26 "The Institution of the Lord's Supper")). Thus, the ancient Passover meal becomes a powerful, prophetic lens through which to understand the core gospel message of Jesus's life, atoning death, and resurrection, which brings true and eternal freedom to all who believe.

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 34:25

Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left unto the morning.

John 6:52

The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?

John 6:57

As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

Deuteronomy 16:7

And thou shalt roast and eat [it] in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents.

Exodus 13:7

Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.

Isaiah 53:10

¶ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Deuteronomy 16:3

Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, [even] the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.