Exodus 12 18

Exodus 12:18 kjv

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.

Exodus 12:18 nkjv

In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening.

Exodus 12:18 niv

In the first month you are to eat bread made without yeast, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day.

Exodus 12:18 esv

In the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening.

Exodus 12:18 nlt

The bread you eat must be made without yeast from the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month until the evening of the twenty-first day of that month.

Exodus 12 verses

Exodus 12 18 Meaning

Exodus 12:18 establishes the precise timeframe for observing the Feast of Unleavened Bread, commencing on the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month and concluding on the evening of the twenty-first day, thereby defining a seven-day period during which only unleavened bread was to be consumed. This perpetual command serves as a perpetual memorial of Israel's hasty deliverance from Egyptian bondage.

Exodus 12 18 Context

Exodus chapter 12 details the establishment of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread as perpetual ordinances for Israel, occurring just before their liberation from Egypt. Verses 1-13 introduce the Passover lamb and its protective blood. Verses 14-17 specify the Feast of Unleavened Bread, emphasizing its commemorative nature and the strict requirement to remove leaven. Verse 18 then precisely defines the calendar dates and times for this seven-day festival, immediately following the Passover meal on the 14th. This ensures the continuous observance of the memorial of their hurried departure, reinforcing God's detailed instructions for covenant faithfulness.

Exodus 12 18 Word analysis

• In the first month: This refers to the month of Abib (later called Nisan), which God designated as the "first month" for Israel's religious calendar (Exod 12:2). This signified a new spiritual beginning and independence from other nations' calendars.

• on the fourteenth day: This specific day marks the slaughter of the Passover lamb (Exod 12:6) and the evening on which the Passover meal was to be eaten. It ties the Feast of Unleavened Bread directly to the liberation event.

• of the month at evening: In ancient Israelite reckoning, the new day began at sunset. The phrase בֵּין הָעַרְבָּיִם (bein ha-ʿarbayim), "between the two evenings" or "at twilight," refers to the period from sunset until complete darkness. Eating unleavened bread began precisely with the Passover meal, at the start of the 15th day according to Israelite custom, following the Passover on the 14th evening.

• you shall eat: This is a direct command, underscoring the mandatory nature of this observance for all Israelites. The verb אָכַל (akhal) conveys a regular and sustained consumption.

• unleavened bread: Hebrew מַצָּה (matzah). This bread, made without yeast, symbolizes haste (no time for dough to rise) and purity (leaven often represents sin or corruption in the Bible). Its consumption was central to remembering their rapid deliverance.

• until the twenty-first day: This defines the full duration of the festival as seven days (from the evening of the 14th to the evening of the 21st covers 7 days starting from the evening of the 14th, meaning the 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, and part of the 21st, which begins at sunset the day before, is 7 complete 24-hour days). This period ensured the memorial's significance was ingrained.

• of the month at evening: This marks the precise end of the seven-day period. Just as it began at evening, it concludes at evening, maintaining the continuous daily cycle.

• "In the first month, on the fourteenth day... until the twenty-first day": This seven-day span establishes the precise calendar duration for the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This adherence to specific dates emphasizes divine order and the perpetuation of the memorial.

• "at evening... at evening": The repetition of "at evening" (בֵּין הָעַרְבָּיִם, bein ha-ʿarbayim or בָּעֶרֶב, ba-ʿerev) signifies that the festival's commencement and conclusion strictly align with the Hebrew day, beginning and ending at sunset. This precision highlights the sacredness and strict adherence required for the ordinance.

• "you shall eat unleavened bread": This phrase directly states the core command of the festival – the continuous consumption of unleavened bread. It reiterates the act of remembrance and symbolizes the pure, new walk initiated by God's deliverance.

Exodus 12 18 Bonus section

• The specified duration of "seven days" for the Feast of Unleavened Bread (often interchangeable with Passover as the entire festival period) is numerically significant in the Bible, frequently denoting completeness, perfection, or a divine cycle. This duration emphasizes the full and perfect nature of God's deliverance and the thoroughness required in remembrance.
• This instruction reinforced a foundational principle of the covenant: strict obedience to God's calendar and instructions, distinct from the surrounding pagan nations. It asserts YHWH's sovereignty over time and creation, demonstrating His unique power in orchestrating Israel's deliverance.
• The transition from the lamb's blood (Passover, protection from death) to the eating of unleavened bread (Feast of Unleavened Bread, symbolizing a new and pure life) encapsulates the full journey of redemption – from propitiation to sanctification. This is echoed in the New Testament's understanding of Christ as the Passover Lamb and the call for believers to live "unleavened" lives of sincerity and truth (1 Cor 5:7-8).

Exodus 12 18 Commentary

Exodus 12:18 meticulously outlines the timeframe for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, defining a seven-day observance crucial to Israel's identity and spiritual formation. This command, given even before the Exodus, underscores its foundational importance. The "fourteenth day at evening" signifies the start of the 15th, making it precisely seven full days, mirroring the period of liberation itself. The strict mandate to consume only unleavened bread was not merely dietary but deeply symbolic. It commemorated the haste of their departure, when there was no time for bread to rise (Deut 16:3), thus reminding generations of their desperate dependence on God's immediate action. Beyond historical remembrance, the unleavened bread also represents purity and the removal of "leaven," which Biblically often symbolizes sin, corruption, or false doctrine (1 Cor 5:7-8, Matt 16:6). For Israel, observing this festival meant actively embracing a purified life in communion with their Redeemer. This commandment prepares them for their journey by sanctifying their beginning in freedom, establishing a pattern of remembrance, obedience, and spiritual consecration for future generations.