Numbers 28:16

KJV

¶ And in the fourteenth day of the first month [is] the passover of the LORD.

KJV (with Strong's)

And in the fourteenth {H702}{H6240} day {H3117} of the first {H7223} month {H2320} is the passover {H6453} of the LORD {H3068}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"'In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, is ADONAI's Pesach.

Berean Standard Bible

The fourteenth day of the first month is the LORD’s Passover.

American Standard Version

And in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, is Jehovah’s passover.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 28:16 introduces the annual observance of the Passover, a foundational festival for the Israelite calendar, by precisely dating its celebration to "the fourteenth day of the first month." This verse is an integral part of a larger section (Numbers 28-29) that meticulously details Israel's sacrificial calendar, underscoring God's demand for ordered, obedient, and regular communal worship. The Passover itself serves as a perpetual memorial of God's miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, powerfully highlighting His redemptive power, covenant faithfulness, and His sovereign authority over His people's history and worship.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 28:16 is strategically positioned within a comprehensive exposition of Israel's sacrificial calendar, which spans chapters 28 and 29. These chapters provide a meticulous liturgical schedule, outlining the daily, weekly, monthly, and annual offerings required of the community. This specific verse, introducing the Passover, immediately follows instructions regarding vows and precedes detailed regulations for other annual feasts such as the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles. By placing the Passover at the very forefront of this calendrical sequence, the text emphatically underscores its foundational importance as the pivotal event that initiated Israel's identity as a redeemed nation. The meticulous nature of these divine instructions throughout Numbers 28-29 reflects God's demand for order, precision, and holiness in worship, ensuring that Israel's communal and spiritual life revolved entirely around His appointed times and sacrifices.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Passover, first divinely instituted in [Exodus 12](/exodus/12 "Exodus 12 - The First Passover"), was the singular, pivotal event marking Israel's miraculous liberation from Egyptian bondage. Historically, it was observed on the eve of their departure, signifying God's miraculous "passing over" the homes of the Israelites, whose doorposts were marked with the blood of a lamb, while judgment fell upon Egypt's firstborn. The "first month" refers to Abib, later known as Nisan, which marked the beginning of the religious year for Israel, symbolizing new beginnings, redemption, and the birth of their nationhood. Culturally, annual feasts like Passover served as crucial markers in the Israelite calendar, acting as powerful mnemonic devices that reinforced their collective memory, solidified their national identity, and deepened their covenant relationship with Yahweh. These feasts were not merely historical commemorations but living, communal rituals that re-enacted their redemption story, binding the community together under God's divine law and purpose.

* **Key Themes:** This verse, and the broader context of Numbers 28-29, illuminates several profound key themes. Firstly, **Divine Order and Obedience** are paramount, as God meticulously prescribes the exact dates and offerings, emphasizing His desire for an ordered, precise, and obedient worship life from His people. The specificity of "the fourteenth day of the first month" is a powerful testament to this divine demand for exactitude. Secondly, **Remembrance and Redemption** are central, as the Passover serves as a perpetual memorial of God's powerful, sovereign act of delivering Israel from slavery, celebrating their liberation and the beginning of their journey as a free nation under God's covenant, as detailed in [Exodus 12:13](/exodus/12-13 "Exodus 12:13 - The Blood as a Sign of Protection"). Thirdly, the theme of **Foreshadowing of Christ** is profoundly evident. The spotless lamb sacrificed at Passover, whose blood protected those under its covering, points directly and unequivocally to Jesus Christ, the ultimate [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). His crucifixion, occurring precisely during the Passover season, makes Him the perfect fulfillment of this ancient feast, as [1 Corinthians 5:7](/1_corinthians/5-7 "1 Corinthians 5:7 - Christ Our Passover") declares, "For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us."

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **month (Hebrew, _chôdesh'_):** This term (H2320) derives from a root meaning "to be new," and refers to the "new moon," by implication, a "month." Its usage here, "the first month," highlights the calendrical precision God demands for His worship. The new moon marked the beginning of each lunar month, and the "first month" (Abib/Nisan) was not just chronological but symbolic, representing the new beginning of Israel's national identity forged in the Exodus. This emphasizes that God's redemptive acts are tied to specific, divinely appointed times.
* **passover (Hebrew, _peçach'_):** This term (H6453) means "a pretermission" or "exemption," stemming from the verb "to pass over" or "to skip." It directly references the pivotal act of Yahweh's judgment "passing over" the homes of the Israelites in Egypt, which were marked by the blood of the lamb, thus sparing their firstborn. The word encapsulates the core redemptive act of the Exodus, establishing the foundational meaning of the festival as a perpetual memorial of divine deliverance, protection, and substitutionary atonement. Its usage here emphasizes the continuity of this foundational event as a perpetual ordinance for Israel.
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** The use of the sacred covenant name of God (H3068), "Yᵉhôvâh," emphasizes that this festival is not a human invention or cultural tradition but a divine institution. It underscores God's personal involvement in the deliverance of His people and His sovereign authority over their worship, calendar, and destiny. The Passover is emphatically "of the LORD" because He commanded it, He performed the mighty saving act it commemorates, and He is its ultimate object of worship, praise, and remembrance. This highlights the profound theological weight and divine origin of the feast, establishing it as an act of worship directed to God alone.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And in the fourteenth day of the first month":** This precise chronological marker highlights the divine demand for order, punctuality, and exactitude in Israelite worship. The "first month" (later called Nisan or Abib) was profoundly significant as it marked the beginning of the religious calendar, symbolizing new beginnings and the foundational act of redemption that initiated Israel's nationhood. The exact date, the 14th, emphasizes the specific, divinely orchestrated timing of God's redemptive intervention in Egypt, ensuring that the remembrance was tied to the historical reality of His mighty acts.
* **"[is] the passover":** This clause declares the institution of the Passover festival itself, establishing it as a perpetual, annual ordinance for Israel. It refers to the annual commemoration of God's miraculous "passing over" the Israelite homes during the tenth plague in Egypt, a pivotal event that secured their liberation from slavery and marked the birth of their nation. The Passover was not merely a historical remembrance but a living, communal re-enactment of their identity as a redeemed people, a constant reminder of their miraculous deliverance and God's unwavering covenant faithfulness.
* **"of the LORD":** This crucial phrase attributes the origin, purpose, and ultimate authority of the Passover directly to Yahweh. It signifies that the festival is not a human tradition or a cultural practice but a divine command, designed by God Himself for His glory and for the perpetual remembrance of His mighty acts of salvation. This divine ownership imbues the Passover with profound theological weight and spiritual significance, making it an act of worship and obedience directed to God alone, emphasizing His sovereignty over all aspects of Israel's life.

#### Literary Devices
Numbers 28:16 employs **Precision** in its dating ("the fourteenth day of the first month"), which is a hallmark of God's commands throughout the Pentateuch, reflecting the meticulous nature of divine law and the importance of exact adherence in Israelite worship. This precision is characteristic of the entire liturgical calendar detailed in Numbers 28-29, emphasizing divine order and the sacredness of God's appointed times. The verse also functions as a form of **Anticipation**, setting the stage for the detailed regulations of the Passover offerings and the subsequent Feast of Unleavened Bread that follow in [Numbers 28:17-25](/numbers/28-17-25 "Numbers 28:17-25 - Offerings for the Feast of Unleavened Bread"). Furthermore, the very mention of "the passover of the LORD" is deeply laden with **Symbolism**, recalling the sacrificial lamb whose blood protected Israel from judgment, a profound type pointing to the ultimate, sin-atoning sacrifice of Christ. The **Repetition** of the Passover command throughout the Pentateuch (e.g., [Exodus 12](/exodus/12 "Exodus 12 - The First Passover"), [Leviticus 23](/leviticus/23 "Leviticus 23 - The Feasts of the Lord")) underscores its central and foundational importance in Israel's theological and national framework.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 28:16 stands as a powerful testament to God's meticulous nature, His sovereign control over time and history, and His unwavering commitment to His covenant people. The Passover, explicitly designated as "of the LORD," is not merely a historical commemoration but a divinely ordained ritual that continually reminds Israel of their identity as a redeemed nation. Theologically, it highlights profound concepts such as substitutionary atonement (the lamb's life for the firstborn), divine judgment against sin, and miraculous deliverance by God's mighty hand. It underscores that salvation is always initiated by God's grace and power, requiring a response of obedient faith, powerfully symbolized by the application of the blood. This feast serves as a perpetual reminder that God is both perfectly just in His judgment of sin and infinitely merciful in providing a way of escape and salvation for those who are under His covering.

* [Exodus 12:1-14](/exodus/12-1-14 "Exodus 12:1-14 - Institution of the Passover")
* [Leviticus 23:5](/leviticus/23-5 "Leviticus 23:5 - Passover in the Feasts of the Lord")
* [Deuteronomy 16:1-8](/deuteronomy/16-1-8 "Deuteronomy 16:1-8 - The Passover in Deuteronomy")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 28:16, though seemingly a simple calendrical instruction, carries profound spiritual weight and enduring relevance for believers today. It powerfully reminds us that God is a God of order, purpose, and divine precision in all His dealings. Just as the Israelites were commanded to remember their miraculous deliverance from Egypt with exactitude and regularity, believers today are called to remember and celebrate our far greater deliverance from the bondage of sin and death through the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The precision of God's instructions in the Old Testament highlights His unchanging character of order and purpose, encouraging us to approach God with profound reverence and to seek to understand and obey His revealed will in every aspect of our lives, from our personal devotions to our communal worship. This verse challenges us to consider whether our worship, spiritual disciplines, and daily walk are marked by intentionality, faithfulness, and obedience to God's revealed will, or if we approach spiritual matters haphazardly. Ultimately, this verse draws our attention from the historical event to its glorious spiritual fulfillment in Christ, deepening our appreciation for God's enduring love, His perfect plan of redemption, and the complete salvation offered through His Son.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the precision of God's instructions for the Passover challenge my own approach to worship and spiritual disciplines?**
* **In what ways do I actively remember and celebrate God's redemptive work in my life, both personally and communally, as a response to His grace?**
* **How does understanding the Old Testament Passover, with its historical and theological depth, deepen my appreciation for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross?**

### FAQ
**Why is the date "the fourteenth day of the first month" so specific?**

Answer: The specificity of the date, "the fourteenth day of the first month," underscores God's meticulous nature and His demand for precise adherence to His commands regarding worship and covenant remembrance. This exact timing was crucial for the original Passover in [Exodus 12](/exodus/12 "Exodus 12 - The First Passover"), marking the precise moment of divine intervention and deliverance from Egyptian bondage. It also ensured uniformity across all Israelite households in their observance, fostering communal identity, obedience, and a shared memory of God's saving acts. This divine precision profoundly foreshadows the perfect timing of Christ's sacrifice, which providentially occurred on this very day, fulfilling the Passover's deepest meaning.

**How does Numbers 28:16 relate to the original Passover account in Exodus?**

Answer: Numbers 28:16 serves as a powerful reiteration and a command for the ongoing, perpetual observance of the Passover, which was originally instituted in [Exodus 12](/exodus/12 "Exodus 12 - The Institution of the Passover"). While Exodus describes the historical event of the first Passover and the initial instructions for its observance, Numbers 28 places the Passover within the broader, comprehensive context of Israel's annual sacrificial calendar. This re-contextualization emphasizes its perpetual nature as a foundational feast for the nation, highlighting that the redemptive event was not a one-time occurrence but a foundational pillar of their covenant relationship with God, to be remembered, re-enacted, and celebrated annually by every generation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 28:16, by precisely dating "the passover of the LORD," profoundly foreshadows the ultimate redemptive act of God in Jesus Christ. The Passover lamb, whose innocent blood protected Israel from divine judgment and secured their liberation, serves as a powerful and unmistakable type of Christ, our perfect, spotless [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Just as the original Passover marked Israel's liberation from physical bondage to Pharaoh, Christ's sacrifice on the cross, occurring precisely during the Passover season, secured our liberation from the spiritual bondage of sin and death. He is the true Passover, as [1 Corinthians 5:7](/1_corinthians/5-7 "1 Corinthians 5:7 - Christ Our Passover") unequivocally declares, "For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us." His precious blood, shed once for all, provides the ultimate and eternal covering, allowing God's righteous judgment to "pass over" all who are united to Him by faith. The divine precision of the date in Numbers 28:16 points to the meticulous orchestration of salvation history, where Christ's death was not a random event but the perfectly timed fulfillment of God's eternal plan, the Lamb "slain from the foundation of the world" ([Revelation 13:8](/revelation/13-8 "Revelation 13:8 - The Lamb Slain Before Time")). Through Him, the ancient shadow finds its glorious and complete reality, and we are brought into a new covenant of grace, freedom, and eternal life through His superior sacrifice ([Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11-14 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")).

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

Deuteronomy 16:1

¶ Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.

Deuteronomy 16:8

Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day [shall be] a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work [therein].

Exodus 12:18

In the first [month], on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.

Numbers 9:3

In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.

Numbers 9:5

And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.

Exodus 12:2

This month [shall be] unto you the beginning of months: it [shall be] the first month of the year to you.

Exodus 12:11

And thus shall ye eat it; [with] your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it [is] the LORD'S passover.