Focused Passage

Exodus 12:1-13

Passover, Judgment, and the Exodus from Egypt

The LORD institutes Passover and Unleavened Bread, shelters Israel through the blood of the lamb, strikes Egypt’s firstborn, brings Israel out with provision, and commands the redeemed people to remember and observe this deliverance.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 Now the LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt,

2 “This month is the beginning of months for you; it shall be the first month of your year.

3 Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man must select a lamb for his family, one per household.

4 If the household is too small for a whole lamb, they are to share with the nearest neighbor based on the number of people, and apportion the lamb accordingly.

5 Your lamb must be an unblemished year-old male, and you may take it from the sheep or the goats.

6 You must keep it until the fourteenth day of the month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight.

7 They are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.

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

9 Do not eat any of the meat raw or cooked in boiling water, but only roasted over the fire—its head and legs and inner parts.

10 Do not leave any of it until morning; before the morning you must burn up any part that is left over.

11 This is how you are to eat it: You must be fully dressed for travel, with your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. You are to eat in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover.

12 On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.

13 The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a sign; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Now the LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּ֤אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Moses מֹשֶׁ֣ה H4872 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . וְאֶֽל־ H413 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and Aaron אַהֲרֹ֔ן H175 Noun - proper - masculine singular in the land בְּאֶ֥רֶץ H776 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct of Egypt מִצְרַ֖יִם H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular . . . לֵאמֹֽר׃ H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Verse 2

Original words

This הַזֶּ֛ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular month הַחֹ֧דֶשׁ H2320 Article | Noun - masculine singular is the beginning רֹ֣אשׁ H7218 Noun - masculine singular construct of months חֳדָשִׁ֑ים H2320 Noun - masculine plural for you לָכֶ֖ם Preposition | second person masculine plural it [shall be] הוּא֙ H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular the first רִאשׁ֥וֹן H7223 Adjective - masculine singular month לְחָדְשֵׁ֖י H2320 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct of your לָכֶ֔ם Preposition | second person masculine plural year הַשָּׁנָֽה׃ H8141 Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 3

Original words

Tell דַּבְּר֗וּ H1696 Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural . . . אֶֽל־ H413 Preposition the whole כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct congregation עֲדַ֤ת H5712 Noun - feminine singular construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . לֵאמֹ֔ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct that on the tenth בֶּעָשֹׂ֖ר H6218 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular day of this הַזֶּ֑ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular month לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ H2320 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular each man אִ֛ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular must select וְיִקְח֣וּ H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural a lamb שֶׂ֥ה H7716 Noun - masculine singular for his family אָבֹ֖ת H1 Noun - masculine plural . . . לְבֵית־ H1004 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct one שֶׂ֥ה H7716 Noun - masculine singular per household לַבָּֽיִת׃ H1004 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • The Hebrew word can mean lamb or kid; also in verses 4 and 5.
Verse 4

Original words

If וְאִם־ H518 Conjunction the household הַבַּיִת֮ H1004 Article | Noun - masculine singular . . . מִהְיֹ֣ת H1961 Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct is too small יִמְעַ֣ט H4591 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular for a whole lamb מִשֶּׂה֒ H7716 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular they are to ה֗וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular share with וְלָקַ֣ח H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular the nearest הַקָּרֹ֥ב H7138 Article | Adjective - masculine singular neighbor וּשְׁכֵנ֛וֹ H7934 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition . . . בֵּית֖וֹ H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular based on the number בְּמִכְסַ֣ת H4373 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct of people נְפָשֹׁ֑ת H5315 Noun - feminine plural and apportion תָּכֹ֖סּוּ H3699 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural . . . עַל־ H5921 Preposition the lamb הַשֶּֽׂה׃ H7716 Article | Noun - masculine singular accordingly אִ֚ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular לְפִ֣י לְפִ֣י H6310 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct - אָכְל֔וֹ H400 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 5

Original words

Your לָכֶ֑ם Preposition | second person masculine plural lamb שֶׂ֥ה H7716 Noun - masculine singular must be יִהְיֶ֣ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular an unblemished תָמִ֛ים H8549 Adjective - masculine singular year-old בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct . . . שָׁנָ֖ה H8141 Noun - feminine singular male זָכָ֥ר H2145 Noun - masculine singular [and] you may take תִּקָּֽחוּ׃ H3947 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural it from מִן־ H4480 Preposition the sheep הַכְּבָשִׂ֥ים H3532 Article | Noun - masculine plural . . . וּמִן־ H4480 Conjunctive waw | Preposition or the goats הָעִזִּ֖ים H5795 Article | Noun - feminine plural
Verse 6

Original words

You must וְהָיָ֤ה H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular keep לְמִשְׁמֶ֔רֶת H4931 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular it לָכֶם֙ Preposition | second person masculine plural until עַ֣ד H5704 Preposition the fourteenth אַרְבָּעָ֥ה H702 Number - masculine singular . . . עָשָׂ֛ר H6240 Number - masculine singular day י֖וֹם H3117 Noun - masculine singular of the הַזֶּ֑ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular month לַחֹ֣דֶשׁ H2320 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular when the whole כֹּ֛ל H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct assembly קְהַ֥ל H6951 Noun - masculine singular construct of the congregation עֲדַֽת־ H5712 Noun - feminine singular construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular will slaughter וְשָׁחֲט֣וּ H7819 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural [the animals] אֹת֗וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular at בֵּ֥ין H996 Preposition twilight הָעַרְבָּֽיִם׃ H6153 Article | Noun - md

BSB notes

  • Hebrew between the two evenings
Verse 7

Original words

They are to take וְלָֽקְחוּ֙ H3947 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural some of מִן־ H4480 Preposition the blood הַדָּ֔ם H1818 Article | Noun - masculine singular and put וְנָֽתְנ֛וּ H5414 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural it on עַל־ H5921 Preposition vvv שְׁתֵּ֥י H8147 Number - feminine dual construct the sides הַמְּזוּזֹ֖ת H4201 Article | Noun - feminine plural and וְעַל־ H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition tops of the doorframes הַמַּשְׁק֑וֹף H4947 Article | Noun - masculine singular of עַ֚ל H5921 Preposition the houses הַבָּ֣תִּ֔ים H1004 Article | Noun - masculine plural where אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative they eat [the lambs] יֹאכְל֥וּ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural - אֹת֖וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Literally on the two doorposts and on the lintel; similarly in verses 22 and 23
Verse 8

Original words

They are to eat וְאָכְל֥וּ H398 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the meat הַבָּשָׂ֖ר H1320 Article | Noun - masculine singular that הַזֶּ֑ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular night בַּלַּ֣יְלָה H3915 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular roasted צְלִי־ H6748 Noun - masculine singular construct over the fire אֵ֣שׁ H784 Noun - common singular along with unleavened bread וּמַצּ֔וֹת H4682 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural . . . עַל־ H5921 Preposition and bitter herbs מְרֹרִ֖ים H4844 Noun - masculine plural - יֹאכְלֻֽהוּ׃ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine singular
Verse 9

Original words

Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb eat תֹּאכְל֤וּ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural any of מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ H4480 Preposition | third person masculine singular [the meat] raw נָ֔א H4995 Adjective - masculine singular or cooked מְבֻשָּׁ֖ל H1310 Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular in boiling וּבָשֵׁ֥ל H1311 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular water בַּמָּ֑יִם H4325 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural but only כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction . . . אִם־ H518 Conjunction roasted צְלִי־ H6748 Noun - masculine singular construct over the fire אֵ֔שׁ H784 Noun - common singular its head רֹאשׁ֥וֹ H7218 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular and עַל־ H5921 Preposition legs כְּרָעָ֖יו H3767 Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular . . . וְעַל־ H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and inner parts קִרְבּֽוֹ׃ H7130 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 10

Original words

Do not וְלֹא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle leave תוֹתִ֥ירוּ H3498 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural any of it מִמֶּ֖נּוּ H4480 Preposition | third person masculine singular until עַד־ H5704 Preposition morning בֹּ֑קֶר H1242 Noun - masculine singular before עַד־ H5704 Preposition the morning בֹּ֖קֶר H1242 Noun - masculine singular you must burn up בָּאֵ֥שׁ H784 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular . . . תִּשְׂרֹֽפוּ׃ H8313 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural any part מִמֶּ֛נּוּ H4480 Preposition | third person masculine singular that is left over וְהַנֹּתָ֥ר H3498 Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Verse 11

Original words

This is how וְכָכָה֮ H3602 Conjunctive waw | Adverb you are to eat it תֹּאכְל֣וּ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural - אֹתוֹ֒ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular You must be fully dressed for travel מָתְנֵיכֶ֣ם H4975 Noun - masculine dual construct | second person masculine plural . . . חֲגֻרִ֔ים H2296 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine plural with your sandals נַֽעֲלֵיכֶם֙ H5275 Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural on your feet בְּרַגְלֵיכֶ֔ם H7272 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual construct | second person masculine plural and your staff וּמַקֶּלְכֶ֖ם H4731 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural in your hand בְּיֶדְכֶ֑ם H3027 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural You are to eat וַאֲכַלְתֶּ֤ם H398 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural - אֹתוֹ֙ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular in haste בְּחִפָּז֔וֹן H2649 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular it ה֖וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular is the LORD’s לַיהוָֽה׃ H3068 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Passover פֶּ֥סַח H6453 Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Literally Gird up your loins
Verse 12

Original words

On that הַזֶּה֒ H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular night בַּלַּ֣יְלָה H3915 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular I will pass וְעָבַרְתִּ֣י H5674 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular through the land בְאֶֽרֶץ־ H776 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct of Egypt מִצְרַיִם֮ H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular and strike down וְהִכֵּיתִ֤י H5221 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular every כָל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct firstborn male בְּכוֹר֙ H1060 Noun - masculine singular - בְּאֶ֣רֶץ H776 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct - מִצְרַ֔יִם H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular both man מֵאָדָ֖ם H120 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular and וְעַד־ H5704 Conjunctive waw | Preposition beast בְּהֵמָ֑ה H929 Noun - feminine singular and I will execute אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֥ה H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular judgment שְׁפָטִ֖ים H8201 Noun - masculine plural against all וּבְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct the gods אֱלֹהֵ֥י H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of Egypt מִצְרַ֛יִם H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular I אֲנִ֥י H589 Pronoun - first person common singular am the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 13

Original words

The blood הַדָּ֨ם H1818 Article | Noun - masculine singular on עַ֤ל H5921 Preposition the houses הַבָּתִּים֙ H1004 Article | Noun - masculine plural where אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative you אַתֶּ֣ם H859 Pronoun - second person masculine plural are staying שָׁ֔ם H8033 Adverb will be וְהָיָה֩ H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular a sign לְאֹ֗ת H226 Preposition-l | Noun - common singular when I see וְרָאִ֙יתִי֙ H7200 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the blood הַדָּ֔ם H1818 Article | Noun - masculine singular I will pass וּפָסַחְתִּ֖י H6452 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular over you עֲלֵכֶ֑ם H5921 Preposition | second person masculine plural No וְלֹֽא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle plague נֶ֙גֶף֙ H5063 Noun - masculine singular will fall יִֽהְיֶ֨ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular on you בָכֶ֥ם Preposition | second person masculine plural to destroy you לְמַשְׁחִ֔ית H4889 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular when I strike בְּהַכֹּתִ֖י H5221 Preposition-b | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | first person common singular the land בְּאֶ֥רֶץ H776 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct of Egypt מִצְרָֽיִם׃ H4714 Noun - proper - feminine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.