21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.

22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.

23 For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.

25 And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the Lord will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.

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

27 That ye shall say, It 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. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.

28 And the children of Israel went away, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.

30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said.

32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.

33 And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.

34 And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.

35 And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:

36 And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.

37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.

38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.

39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.

40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.

41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.

42 It is a night to be much observed unto the Lord for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.

43 And the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:

44 But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.

45 A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.

46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.

47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.

48 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.

49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.

50 Thus did all the children of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

51 And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

Read full chapter

21 Then (A)Moses called for all the (B)elders of Israel and said to them, (C)“Pick out and take lambs for yourselves according to your families, and kill the Passover lamb. 22 (D)And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and (E)strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. And none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning. 23 (F)For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees the (G)blood on the [a]lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and (H)not allow (I)the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you. 24 And you shall (J)observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever. 25 It will come to pass when you come to the land which the Lord will give you, (K)just as He promised, that you shall keep this service. 26 (L)And it shall be, when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ 27 that you shall say, (M)‘It is the Passover sacrifice of the Lord, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households.’ ” So the people (N)bowed their heads and worshiped. 28 Then the children of Israel went away and (O)did so; just as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

The Tenth Plague: Death of the Firstborn(P)

29 (Q)And it came to pass at midnight that (R)the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was [b]in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of (S)livestock. 30 So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

The Exodus

31 Then he (T)called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise, go out from among my people, (U)both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have (V)said. 32 (W)Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.”

33 (X)And the Egyptians (Y)urged the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.” 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, having their kneading bowls bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. 35 Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians (Z)articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. 36 (AA)And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus (AB)they plundered the Egyptians.

37 Then (AC)the children of Israel journeyed from (AD)Rameses to Succoth, about (AE)six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. 38 A (AF)mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds—a great deal of (AG)livestock. 39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they had brought out of Egypt; for it was not leavened, because (AH)they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared provisions for themselves.

40 Now the [c]sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in [d]Egypt was (AI)four hundred and thirty years. 41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years—on that very same day—it came to pass that (AJ)all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It is (AK)a [e]night of solemn observance to the Lord for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that night of the Lord, a solemn observance for all the children of Israel throughout their generations.

Passover Regulations(AL)

43 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is (AM)the ordinance of the Passover: No foreigner shall eat it. 44 But every man’s servant who is bought for money, when you have (AN)circumcised him, then he may eat it. 45 (AO)A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat it. 46 In one house it shall be eaten; you shall not carry any of the flesh outside the house, (AP)nor shall you break one of its bones. 47 (AQ)All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. 48 And (AR)when a stranger [f]dwells with you and wants to 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 a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it. 49 (AS)One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.”

50 Thus all the children of Israel did; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. 51 (AT)And it came to pass, on that very same day, that the Lord brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt (AU)according to their armies.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 12:23 Crosspiece at top of door
  2. Exodus 12:29 in prison
  3. Exodus 12:40 Length of the stay
  4. Exodus 12:40 Sam., LXX Egypt and Canaan
  5. Exodus 12:42 night of vigil
  6. Exodus 12:48 As a resident alien