Exodus 12 16

Exodus 12:16 kjv

And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.

Exodus 12:16 nkjv

On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat?that only may be prepared by you.

Exodus 12:16 niv

On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat; that is all you may do.

Exodus 12:16 esv

On the first day you shall hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you.

Exodus 12:16 nlt

On the first day of the festival and again on the seventh day, all the people must observe an official day for holy assembly. No work of any kind may be done on these days except in the preparation of food.

Exodus 12 verses

Exodus 12 16 Meaning

This verse delineates the sacredness of the first and seventh days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, designating them as "holy convocations"— divinely appointed times for community assembly and worship. On these days, all forms of creative or gainful work are prohibited, with the singular exception of preparing food essential for sustenance. This provision highlights God's demand for consecrated rest and communal gathering while still acknowledging basic human needs.

Exodus 12 16 Context

Exodus 12:16 is nestled within the intricate divine instructions for the first Passover and the subsequent Feast of Unleavened Bread (Pesach and Matzot), delivered to Moses and Aaron by God just prior to the Israelites' miraculous deliverance from Egypt. This chapter details not only the blood on the doorposts for protection from the tenth plague but also the lasting observances commanded to remember God's salvific act. Verse 16 specifically lays down the regulations for the solemnity and conduct during the beginning and end of the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread, emphasizing its sacred character. Historically and culturally, these instructions set Israel apart from surrounding nations, whose religious festivals often involved intense revelry and labor for idol worship or harvest; instead, Israel's festivals called for dedicated rest and worship of the one true God, establishing a calendar of holy days as part of their national identity and covenant relationship with Yahweh.

Exodus 12 16 Word analysis

• And in the first day (וּבַיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן - u'vayyom ha'rishon):

  • "first day" (הָרִאשׁוֹן - ha'rishon): Signifies the start of the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread, immediately following the Passover sacrifice on the 14th of Aviv (Ex 12:18). It is the 15th of Aviv.
  • Significance: Establishes a distinct holy day marking the initiation of this commanded week of remembrance and cleansing (removing leaven).

• there shall be an holy convocation (מִקְרָא־קֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם - miqra-qodesh yihyeh lakhem):

  • "holy convocation" (מִקְרָא־קֹדֶשׁ - miqra-qodesh): A crucial theological term.
    • "convocation" (מִקְרָא - miqra): Derived from the verb 'קרא' (qara'), "to call" or "to summon." It means "a calling out," "an assembly," or "a designated appointed time/place for meeting." It denotes a formal, required gathering.
    • "holy" (קֹדֶשׁ - kodesh): Means "sacred," "set apart," "consecrated" for divine use.
  • Significance: This is not merely a holiday but a divine summons for the community to assemble for worship, instruction, and remembrance of God's acts. It distinguishes these days from ordinary weekdays, elevating them to a spiritual purpose, contrasting with mere secular days off or self-initiated gatherings.

• and in the seventh day (וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי - u'vayyom ha'shevi'i):

  • "seventh day" (הַשְּׁבִיעִי - ha'shevi'i): The concluding day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (the 21st of Aviv).
  • Significance: Bookends the festival with another day of specific sacred rest, paralleling the creation Sabbath principle and reinforcing the completeness of the dedicated week.

• there shall be an holy convocation to you (מִקְרָא־קֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם - miqra-qodesh yihyeh lakhem): (Repeated)

  • Significance: Reaffirms the identical sacred nature and requirements for the concluding day of the feast, reinforcing its importance as a day of worship and communal gathering.

• no manner of work shall be done in them (כָּל־מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה לֹא יֵעָשֶׂה בָהֶם - kol-melekhet avodah lo ye'aseh bahem):

  • "no manner of work" (כָּל־מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה - kol-melekhet avodah):
    • "work" (מְלֶאכֶת - melekhet): Specifically 'melakha,' referring to skilled labor, purposeful activity, gainful employment, or creative acts that modify the natural world. It generally prohibits productive or livelihood-generating activity, unlike the broader sense of "activity."
    • "of labor" (עֲבֹדָה - avodah): Further qualifies 'melakha' as servile or occupational work.
  • Significance: This command establishes a strong boundary. The sanctity of these days demands cessation of ordinary human striving and focused attention on God. This anticipates the fuller Sabbath laws.

• save that which every man must eat (אֶת אֲשֶׁר יֵאָכֵל לְכָל־נֶפֶשׁ הוּא לְבַדּוֹ יֵעָשֶׂה לָכֶם - et asher ye'akhel lekhol-nefesh hu levaddo ye'aseh lakhem):

  • "save that which every man must eat" (אֶת אֲשֶׁר יֵאָכֵל לְכָל־נֶפֶשׁ - et asher ye'akhel lekhol-nefesh): Lit. "that which will be eaten for every person/soul."
  • Significance: This critical exemption clarifies the scope of the prohibition. God's laws are for human flourishing, not for inflicting hardship. Essential life-sustaining activity, specifically food preparation, is permitted. This distinguishes divine command from potentially extreme interpretations and underscores God's compassion and practicality within His holiness.

• that only may be done of you (הוּא לְבַדּוֹ יֵעָשֶׂה לָכֶם - hu levaddo ye'aseh lakhem):

  • "that only" (הוּא לְבַדּוֹ - hu levaddo): Emphasizes the sole exception.
  • Significance: Limits the permitted "work" strictly to necessary food preparation, preventing any expansion of the loophole to other forms of labor. It sets a precise boundary on permissible activities.

• Word Groups/Phrases:

  • "First day...seventh day...holy convocation...holy convocation": This repetition underlines the symmetrical importance of the start and end of the festival week. It frames the entire week, where leaven is forbidden, with days of sacred assembly and rest. These "holy convocations" were not simply 'rest days' but designated times for assembly, teaching, and communal worship, vital for fostering Israel's corporate identity and spiritual life.
  • "No manner of work shall be done... save that which every man must eat": This contrast illustrates God's principle of sanctified time combined with practical wisdom. It prevents the law from becoming a rigid burden leading to starvation, allowing for basic sustenance. This sets a precedent for how divine commands concerning rest are to be interpreted—emphasizing cessation of gainful labor while permitting essential life-sustaining activities. It subtly counters a worldview that sees holiness as requiring an impractical detachment from physical needs.

Exodus 12 16 Bonus section

The concept of "holy convocation" (miqra kodesh) is central to the entire levitical calendar, recurring for nearly all major feasts (Lev 23). It implies a mandatory, communal, God-centered assembly, deeply impacting the social and spiritual life of Israel. These gatherings served as times of teaching, ritual observance, and reinforcing national identity under God's covenant. The specific exception for food preparation differentiates this feast day from the weekly Sabbath, where even food preparation was limited on the Sabbath itself, though permissible on the preceding day (Ex 16:23). This nuance reveals a progressive revelation and application of the rest principle based on the nature of the day. This early command is given even before Israel enters the Promised Land or receives the full Law at Sinai, highlighting its fundamental importance to God's relationship with His newly freed people, teaching them order, discipline, and the value of setting aside time for Him from the very beginning of their journey.

Exodus 12 16 Commentary

Exodus 12:16 provides a foundational instruction for observing the Feast of Unleavened Bread, stressing the spiritual significance of its bookend days. The declaration of "holy convocation" signifies God's personal invitation and command for His people to gather as a consecrated assembly, fostering corporate worship and remembrance of the Exodus. The general prohibition of "no manner of work" enforces a dedicated rest, allowing the Israelites to fully engage in the spiritual meaning of the festival without the distraction of mundane toil or commercial activity. However, the explicit permission for preparing essential food demonstrates God's benevolent practicality; His commands are meant for life and holiness, not for a legalism that would deny basic sustenance. This verse establishes a pattern of God-ordained holy days that balances spiritual devotion with practical human need, underscoring that rest from labor facilitates, rather than hinders, a deeper communion with the Lord. It serves as an early template for Sabbath observance and the larger calendar of feasts, preparing the people for a life structured around divine appointments and separation.