12 1 The Lord instituteth the passover. 26 The fathers must teach their children the mystery thereof.  29 The firstborn are slain. 31 The Israelites are driven out of the land. 35 The Egyptians are spoiled. 37 The number that departeth out of Egypt.

Then the Lord spake to Moses and to Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,

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

Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth of this month let every man take unto him a lamb, according to the house of the [c]fathers, a lamb for an house.

And if the household be too little for the lamb, he shall take his neighbor, which is next unto his house, according to the number of the persons: every one of you, according to his [d]eating shall make your count for the lamb.

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of a year old: ye shall take it of the lambs, or of the kids.

And ye shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month: then [e]all the multitude of the congregation of Israel shall kill it [f]at even.

After, they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two posts, and on the upper doorpost of the houses where they shall eat it.

And they shall eat the flesh that same night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread: with sour herbs they shall eat it.

Eat not thereof raw, boiled nor sodden in water, but roast with fire, both his [g]head, his feet, and his purtenance.

10 And ye shall reserve nothing of it unto the morning: but that, which remaineth of it unto the morrow shall ye burn with fire.

11 ¶ And thus shall ye eat it, Your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staves in your hands, and ye shall eat it in haste: for [h]it is the Lord’s Passover.

12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt the same night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment upon all the [i]gods of Egypt, I am the Lord.

13 And the blood shall be a token for you upon the houses where ye are: so when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destruction, when I smite the land of Egypt.

14 And this day shall be unto you a [j]remembrance: and ye shall keep it an holy feast unto the Lord, throughout your generations: ye shall keep it holy by an ordinance [k]forever.

15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread, and in any case ye shall put away leaven the first day out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.

16 And in the first day shall be an holy [l]assembly: also in the seventh day shall be an holy assembly unto you: no work shall be done in them, save about that which every man must eat: that only may ye do.

17 Ye shall keep also the feast of unleavened bread: for that same day I will bring your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore ye shall observe this day, throughout your posterity, by an ordinance forever.

18 (A)In the first month and the fourteenth day of the month at [m]even, ye shall eat unleavened bread unto the one and twentieth day of the month at even.

19 Seven days shall no leaven be found in your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread, that person shall be cut off from the Congregation of Israel: whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.

20 Ye shall eat no leavened bread: but in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

21 ¶ Then Moses called all the Elders of Israel, and said unto them, Choose out and take you for every of your households a lamb, and kill the Passover.

22 And take (B)a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the [n]lintel, and the [o]door cheeks with the blood that is in the basin, and let none of you go out at the door of the house, until the morning.

23 For the Lord will pass by to smite the Egyptians: and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel and on the two door cheeks, the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the [p]destroyer to come into your houses to plague you.

24 Therefore shall ye observe this thing as an ordinance, both for thee and thy sons forever.

25 And when ye shall come into the [q]land, which the Lord will give you, as he hath promised, then ye shall keep this [r]service.

26 (C)And when your children ask you, What service is this ye keep?

27 Then ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, which passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and preserved our houses. Then the people [s]bowed themselves and worshipped.

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

29 ¶ Now at (D)midnight, the Lord [t]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 prison, and all the firstborn of beasts.

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 [u]no house where there was not one dead.

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

32 Take also your sheep and your cattle as ye have said, and depart, and [v]bless me also.

33 And the Egyptians did force the people, because they would send them out of the land in haste: for they said, We die all.

34 Therefore the people took their dough before it was leavened, even their dough bound in clothes upon their shoulders.

35 And the children of Israel did according to the saying of Moses, and they asked of the Egyptians (E)jewels of silver and jewels of gold, and raiment.

36 And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians: and they [w]granted their request: so they spoiled the Egyptians.

37 Then the (F)children of Israel took their journey from [x]Rameses to Succoth about six hundred thousand men of foot, besides children.

38 And [y]a great multitude of sundry sorts of people went out with them, and sheep, and beeves, and cattle in great abundance.

39 And they baked the dough which they brought out of Egypt, and made unleavened cakes: for it was not leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt, neither could they tarry, nor yet prepare themselves vittles.

40 ¶ So the dwelling of the children of Israel, while they dwelled in Egypt, was (G)four hundred and thirty years.

41 And when the [z]four hundred and thirty years were expired, even the selfsame day departed all the hosts of the Lord out of the land of Egypt.

42 It is a night to be kept holy to the Lord, because he brought them out of the land of Egypt: this is that night of the Lord, which all the children of Israel must keep throughout their generations.

43 Also the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the Law of the Passover: [aa]no stranger shall eat thereof.

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

45 A stranger or an hired servant shall not eat thereof.

46 (H)In one house shall it be eaten: thou shalt carry none of the flesh out of the house, (I)neither shall ye break a bone thereof.

47 All the Congregation of Israel shall observe it.

48 But if a stranger dwell with thee, and will observe the passover of the Lord, let him circumcise all the males, that belong unto him, and then let him come and observe it, and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for none uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

49 One [ab]law shall be to him that is born in the land, and to the stranger that dwelleth among you.

50 Then all the children of Israel did as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron: so did they.

51 And the selfsame day did the Lord bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 12:2 Called Nisan, containing part of March, and part of April.
  2. Exodus 12:2 As touching the observation of feasts: as for other policies, they reckoned from September.
  3. Exodus 12:3 As the fathers of the household had great or small families.
  4. Exodus 12:4 He shall take so many as are sufficient to eat the lamb.
  5. Exodus 12:6 Everyone his house.
  6. Exodus 12:6 Hebrew, between the two evenings, or twilight.
  7. Exodus 12:9 That is, all that may be eaten.
  8. Exodus 12:11 The lamb was not the Passover, but signified it, as sacraments are not the thing itself, which they do represent, but signify it.
  9. Exodus 12:12 Or, princes, or Idols.
  10. Exodus 12:14 Of the benefit received for your deliverance.
  11. Exodus 12:14 That is, until Christ’s coming: for then ceremonies had an end.
  12. Exodus 12:16 Or, calling together of the people to serve God.
  13. Exodus 12:18 For in old time so they counted, beginning the day at Sunset till the next day at the same time.
  14. Exodus 12:22 Or, transom, or upper door post.
  15. Exodus 12:22 Or, two side posts.
  16. Exodus 12:23 The Angel sent of God to kill the firstborn.
  17. Exodus 12:25 The land of Canaan.
  18. Exodus 12:25 Or, ceremony.
  19. Exodus 12:27 They gave God thanks for so great a benefit.
  20. Exodus 12:29 The tenth plague.
  21. Exodus 12:30 Of those houses, wherein any firstborn was, either of men or beasts.
  22. Exodus 12:32 Pray for me.
  23. Exodus 12:36 Or, lent them.
  24. Exodus 12:37 Which was a city in Goshen, Gen. 47:11.
  25. Exodus 12:38 Which were strangers, and not born of the Israelites.
  26. Exodus 12:41 From Abraham’s departing from Ur in Chaldea unto the departing of the children of Israel from Egypt are 430 years.
  27. Exodus 12:43 Except he be circumcised, and only profess your religion.
  28. Exodus 12:49 They that are of the household of God, must be all joined in one faith and religion.

The Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread(A)

12 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, “This month is to be for you the first month,(B) the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb[a](C) for his family, one for each household.(D) If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect,(E) and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month,(F) when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.(G) Then they are to take some of the blood(H) and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. That same night(I) they are to eat the meat roasted(J) over the fire, along with bitter herbs,(K) and bread made without yeast.(L) Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs.(M) 10 Do not leave any of it till morning;(N) if some is left till morning, you must burn it. 11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste;(O) it is the Lord’s Passover.(P)

12 “On that same night I will pass through(Q) Egypt and strike down(R) every firstborn(S) of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods(T) of Egypt. I am the Lord.(U) 13 The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over(V) you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.(W)

14 “This is a day you are to commemorate;(X) for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.(Y) 15 For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast.(Z) On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off(AA) from Israel. 16 On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work(AB) at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat; that is all you may do.

17 “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread,(AC) because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt.(AD) Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.(AE) 18 In the first month(AF) you are to eat bread made without yeast, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day. 19 For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And anyone, whether foreigner(AG) or native-born, who eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off(AH) from the community of Israel. 20 Eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live,(AI) you must eat unleavened bread.”(AJ)

21 Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover(AK) lamb. 22 Take a bunch of hyssop,(AL) dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood(AM) on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning. 23 When the Lord goes through the land to strike(AN) down the Egyptians, he will see the blood(AO) on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over(AP) that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer(AQ) to enter your houses and strike you down.

24 “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance(AR) for you and your descendants. 25 When you enter the land(AS) that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. 26 And when your children(AT) ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ 27 then tell them, ‘It is the Passover(AU) sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’”(AV) Then the people bowed down and worshiped.(AW) 28 The Israelites did just what the Lord commanded(AX) Moses and Aaron.

29 At midnight(AY) the Lord(AZ) struck down all the firstborn(BA) in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock(BB) as well. 30 Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing(BC) in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.

The Exodus

31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship(BD) the Lord as you have requested. 32 Take your flocks and herds,(BE) as you have said, and go. And also bless(BF) me.”

33 The Egyptians urged the people to hurry(BG) and leave(BH) the country. “For otherwise,” they said, “we will all die!”(BI) 34 So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs(BJ) wrapped in clothing. 35 The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold(BK) and for clothing.(BL) 36 The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed(BM) toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered(BN) the Egyptians.

37 The Israelites journeyed from Rameses(BO) to Sukkoth.(BP) There were about six hundred thousand men(BQ) on foot, besides women and children. 38 Many other people(BR) went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. 39 With the dough the Israelites had brought from Egypt, they baked loaves of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out(BS) of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves.

40 Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt[b] was 430 years.(BT) 41 At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord’s divisions(BU) left Egypt.(BV) 42 Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the Lord for the generations to come.(BW)

Passover Restrictions

43 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “These are the regulations for the Passover meal:(BX)

“No foreigner(BY) may eat it. 44 Any slave you have bought may eat it after you have circumcised(BZ) him, 45 but a temporary resident or a hired worker(CA) may not eat it.

46 “It must be eaten inside the house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones.(CB) 47 The whole community of Israel must celebrate it.

48 “A foreigner residing among you who wants to celebrate the Lord’s Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land.(CC) No uncircumcised(CD) male may eat it. 49 The same law applies both to the native-born and to the foreigner(CE) residing among you.”

50 All the Israelites did just what the Lord had commanded(CF) Moses and Aaron. 51 And on that very day the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt(CG) by their divisions.(CH)

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 12:3 The Hebrew word can mean lamb or kid; also in verse 4.
  2. Exodus 12:40 Masoretic Text; Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint Egypt and Canaan