Exodus 12 22

Exodus 12:22 kjv

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

Exodus 12:22 nkjv

And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and 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.

Exodus 12:22 niv

Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning.

Exodus 12:22 esv

Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning.

Exodus 12:22 nlt

Drain the blood into a basin. Then take a bundle of hyssop branches and dip it into the blood. Brush the hyssop across the top and sides of the doorframes of your houses. And no one may go out through the door until morning.

Exodus 12 22 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Ex 12:7They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts…Direct command for applying blood to doorposts.
Ex 12:13When I see the blood, I will pass over you…The blood is the sign for protection.
Ex 12:23For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when He sees…Reiteration of God passing over due to the blood.
Lev 14:4-7then the priest shall command to take for him who is to be cleansed…Hyssop used for ritual cleansing in Mosaic law.
Lev 14:49-53to cleanse the house he shall take two birds… and hyssop…Hyssop used for cleansing houses from defilement.
Num 19:6And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet yarn…Hyssop used in the ritual for the water of purification.
Num 19:18-19A clean person shall take hyssop and dip it in the water…Hyssop for purification from defilement by a dead body.
Deut 16:1-6Observe the month of Abib and keep the Passover to the LORD…Instructions for future Passover observance.
Ps 51:7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean…Hyssop as a symbol of spiritual cleansing.
Isa 26:20Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you…Call to find refuge and protection during God's wrath.
Heb 9:19For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to…Hyssop and blood used in the old covenant ratification.
Heb 11:28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he…Moses' obedience to these very instructions, an act of faith.
1 Pet 1:18-19knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things… but with the…Redemption through the precious blood of Christ, like a lamb.
Rom 3:25whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith…Christ's blood as the ultimate propitiation.
Eph 1:7In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins…Forgiveness and redemption through Christ's blood.
Col 1:20and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things…Reconciliation made by the blood of Christ's cross.
Rev 1:5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead…Christ's love frees believers from sin by His blood.
Rev 7:14These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed…Garments washed white in the blood of the Lamb, symbolizing salvation.
1 John 1:7But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship…Cleansing from sin by the blood of Jesus.
1 Cor 5:7Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since…Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed.
John 1:29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The…Jesus identified as the "Lamb of God" who takes away sin.
John 10:9I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved…Jesus as the ultimate means of entry and salvation.
Judg 19:22-26But as they were enjoying themselves, suddenly certain men of the city…Doorways often significant points for protection or threat.
Ezek 9:4Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and…Markings (or lack thereof) for identification during judgment.

Exodus 12 verses

Exodus 12 22 Meaning

Exodus 12:22 provides specific instructions for the Israelite households to secure their protection during the final plague upon Egypt. It details the ritual application of the lamb's blood onto the doorframes and commands the inhabitants to remain inside their homes until morning. This act served as a visible sign of obedience and faith, signifying their belonging to God's chosen people and marking their homes for divine "passing over," thus preserving the firstborn from death.

Exodus 12 22 Context

Exodus chapter 12 details the establishment of the Passover institution in Egypt, initiated by God's instructions to Moses and Aaron. It marks the final, and most devastating, of the ten plagues – the death of the firstborn – which would finally compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites from bondage. This verse, Exodus 12:22, is part of the precise, divinely-given protocol that Israelite families must follow on the night of this judgment. It emphasizes the active, obedient participation required for their deliverance. The entire context reveals God's power over life and death, His faithful covenant with Israel, and His demand for immediate, detailed obedience for salvation from His wrath. Historically, this event fundamentally shaped Israel's identity as a redeemed people and served as a foundational commemorative feast, pointing to God's gracious and powerful intervention.

Word Analysis

  • And ye shall take: U’lekaḥtem (Hebrew: וּלְקַחְתֶּם). A direct, imperative command requiring active participation from each household. It signifies human responsibility in responding to divine instruction.
  • a bunch of hyssop: Agunath Ezov (Hebrew: אֲגֻדַּת אֵזֹב). Hyssop (Ezov) is a common, small plant, easily accessible. Its usage in this critical moment is notable; it is also specified in later purification rites (e.g., Lev 14:4, Num 19:6), indicating a divine principle of using simple means for sacred acts. It symbolizes humility and cleansing.
  • and dip it: A specific action. Not merely staining, but immersion, ensuring the hyssop is fully saturated with the blood.
  • in the blood: Ba-dam (Hebrew: בַדָּם). "Blood" is central. In biblical understanding, "the life of the flesh is in the blood" (Lev 17:11). Here, it signifies life given in place of life, a substitutionary element. It is the sign for deliverance, an atoning, protective mark. It also functions polemically against Egyptian animal cults, as the Israelites were to sacrifice animals revered by Egyptians, displaying the superiority of the Israelite God.
  • that is in the basin: Asher Ba-sap (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר־בַּסַּף). The "basin" (sap) is a collection vessel. This detail highlights that the blood was purposefully collected from the sacrifice and contained, not haphazardly spilled. It was preserved for its specific, life-saving application.
  • and strike: Ve-hinga`tem (Hebrew: וְהִגַּעְתֶּם). Literally, "and you shall cause to touch" or "strike lightly." This implies a deliberate, firm application of the blood. It is an active deed, not a passive awaiting of divine intervention.
  • the lintel: Ha-mashqof (Hebrew: הַמַּשְׁקוֹף). The horizontal beam above the doorway. This, along with the two side posts, forms a visible frame.
  • and the two side posts: U-shtei ha-mezuzoth (Hebrew: וּשְׁתֵּי הַמְּזוּזוֹת). The vertical doorframes on either side. Together with the lintel, the applied blood forms a complete, visual sign for the "pass over." This 'U' shape for the blood, forming an "identifying mark" at the entrance, distinctly set apart the faithful.
  • with the blood that is in the basin: Repetition emphasizes that the specific blood from the lamb's sacrifice, and none other, collected in the basin, is to be used for the marking.
  • and none of you shall go out: Ve-Ish Mikem Lo Yetze` (Hebrew: וְאִישׁ מִכֶּם לֹא יֵצֵא). A strict, emphatic prohibition. The Hebrew construction highlights absolute restriction. Going outside would negate the protection provided. It symbolizes remaining under God's designated place of safety.
  • at the door of his house: The threshold served as a critical boundary between safety within God's protection and danger from His judgment outside. It highlights the house as a sanctuary.
  • until the morning: A specific, temporary duration. The immediate threat would pass with the night. This teaches reliance on God for a designated period, looking forward to the dawn of deliverance.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike...": This sequence of actions emphasizes the ritualistic precision and physical act of faith. It transforms ordinary items (hyssop, basin) and a common animal's blood into sacred instruments of deliverance by divine command. The entire process signifies obedience as the conduit for grace.
  • "the lintel and the two side posts with the blood": This highlights the visual aspect of the sign. The specific marking on the entryway makes the dwelling visibly identifiable to the Destroyer. It's a clear public declaration of their faith and adherence to God's decree.
  • "none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning": This absolute injunction tests faith and obedience. The safety is conditional upon remaining within the designated place of refuge. It symbolizes remaining "under the blood," secured by God's provision. It also prefigures the ultimate safety found only "in Christ."

Exodus 12 22 Bonus section

  • Divine Revelation and Human Agency: This verse perfectly illustrates God's initiative in revealing His specific will for salvation, coupled with the mandatory human response of obedient action. Salvation is initiated by God, but appropriated by specific, faith-filled acts commanded by Him.
  • Sign for the Destroyer: The blood mark was primarily for the Destroyer (mašḥiṯ, as in Ex 12:23), acting as an instruction to bypass homes bearing the divinely appointed sign. This emphasizes God's sovereign control over His agents of judgment.
  • Anticipation of Covenant and Atonement: The blood applied to the doorframe foreshadows later blood rituals for covenant ratification (Ex 24) and atonement for sin (Lev 16), ultimately fulfilled in the new covenant established by the blood of Christ.
  • Practical Simplicity: The tools (hyssop, basin) and actions (dipping, striking) were simple and accessible, emphasizing that God's plan for salvation is not complex or exclusive to the learned, but available through straightforward obedience.

Exodus 12 22 Commentary

Exodus 12:22 provides critical detail to the Passover ordinance, articulating the active, physical step required for Israel's salvation from the tenth plague. The ritual application of the blood to the doorframe, using a humble hyssop branch, was not mere superstition but an act of obedient faith in God's specific instructions. This blood served as a tangible sign, not for God (who knows all things), but for His appointed "destroyer" to "pass over" those homes, ensuring protection for the firstborn within. The command to remain indoors further underscores the absolute necessity of resting entirely within God's protective decree, symbolizing reliance on His provision alone and demonstrating complete submission to His will. This Passover ceremony serves as a profound prefigurement of the salvific work of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, whose shed blood cleanses and redeems those who, by faith, remain "in Him," shielded from the judgment due for sin. It exemplifies God providing salvation through an unblemished substitute and the obedient application of its life-giving sacrifice.