Exodus 12:28 kjv
And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
Exodus 12:28 nkjv
Then the children of Israel went away and did so; just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.
Exodus 12:28 niv
The Israelites did just what the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron.
Exodus 12:28 esv
Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.
Exodus 12:28 nlt
So the people of Israel did just as the LORD had commanded through Moses and Aaron.
Exodus 12 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 6:22 | Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did. | Noah's prior example of obedience to God's precise instructions. |
| Exod 7:6 | So Moses and Aaron did; as the LORD commanded them, so they did. | Moses and Aaron's obedience to God in the plague narrative. |
| Exod 12:50 | Thus all the children of Israel did; as the LORD commanded Moses... | Repetition of Israel's collective obedience for Passover. |
| Lev 8:36 | So Aaron and his sons did all the things that the LORD commanded... | Priestly obedience to divine ordination commands. |
| Num 9:5 | And they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month... | Subsequent Passover observance following original commands. |
| Num 27:23 | And he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the LORD... | Joshua's commission illustrating faithful execution of divine instruction. |
| Deut 4:6 | Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom... | Emphasizes "doing" God's statutes as wisdom. |
| Deut 5:32-33 | You shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God has commanded... | Exhortation to obey God's commands precisely in the Promised Land. |
| Josh 1:7 | Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do... | Joshua exhorted to observe and do all the Law. |
| Josh 11:15 | As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua... | Echoes chain of command and faithful execution from Moses to Joshua. |
| Josh 24:31 | Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua and the days of the elders | Israel's obedience under faithful leadership. |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | To obey is better than sacrifice... | Prioritizes obedience over ritual sacrifice alone. |
| Psa 119:60 | I hastened and did not delay to keep Your commandments. | Desire for immediate obedience to God's law. |
| Prov 13:13 | Whoever despises the word brings destruction, but he who respects... | Contrasts results of disrespecting vs. respecting commands. |
| Isa 1:19 | If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land. | Promises blessing for willingness and obedience. |
| Jer 7:23 | But this command I gave them: 'Obey My voice... | God's desire for obedience from His people. |
| Matt 7:24-27 | Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them... | Jesus' teaching on hearing and doing the word. |
| Luke 11:28 | Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it! | Blessing pronounced on those who hear and obey. |
| Heb 11:28 | By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood... | Connects Israel's obedience to faith in the context of Passover. |
| Jas 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | Exhortation for believers to act on God's word, not just listen. |
| Jas 2:17 | So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. | Emphasizes faith evidenced by corresponding action. |
| Rev 22:14 | Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the... | Blessing for those who do God's commands in the New Testament vision. |
Exodus 12 verses
Exodus 12 28 Meaning
Exodus 12:28 records the immediate and complete obedience of the children of Israel to every instruction given by the LORD through Moses and Aaron regarding the Passover. This verse highlights their precise adherence to divine commands, which was crucial for their protection and deliverance from the tenth plague and bondage in Egypt.
Exodus 12 28 Context
Exodus 12:28 is situated immediately after the LORD has delivered the detailed instructions for the Passover sacrifice and meal (Exod 12:1-27). These commands include specifics like selecting an unblemished lamb, applying its blood to the doorposts, eating it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, and the urgency of their preparations. This verse serves as the narrator's confirmation that the people perfectly executed these life-saving divine decrees on the night before the tenth and final plague, the slaying of the firstborn throughout Egypt. It highlights the pivotal moment when the obedience of Israel secured their deliverance and initiated their Exodus from bondage.
Exodus 12 28 Word analysis
- And the children of Israel: (וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, uvenei Yisrael) - Refers to the entire Israelite community, indicating a unified, collective response to the divine command. It signifies a national act of faith and obedience, not just individual compliance.
- went away: (וַיֵּלְכוּ, vayyelḵū) - A verb signifying active movement or departure. It suggests they dispersed from where Moses and Aaron delivered the commands to their homes or designated places to implement the instructions, emphasizing prompt execution.
- and did: (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ, vayyaʿaśū) - From the verb עָשָׂה (‘asah), meaning "to do, to make, to perform, to accomplish." It stresses the practical, immediate, and full execution of the commands. This is not passive listening, but active, compliant action.
- as the LORD: (כַּאֲשֶׁר יְהוָה, kaʾasher YHWH) - "As" (כַּאֲשֶׁר, kaʾasher) denotes exact correspondence. The actions were precisely aligned with the divine instruction from God (יהוה, YHWH), emphasizing the ultimate source of authority. YHWH underscores God's personal, covenantal name, signifying His power and faithfulness in this act of redemption.
- had commanded: (צִוָּה, ṣiwwâ) - From the verb צָוָה (ṣawah), meaning "to command, to appoint, to charge." This verb indicates an authoritative, binding directive, not merely a suggestion. It signifies a clear, unyielding instruction from God.
- Moses and Aaron: (מֹשֶׁה וְאֶת־אַהֲרֹן, Moshe wəʾet-Aharon) - God's appointed mediators. This highlights the channel through which divine will was communicated to the people. Obedience to Moses and Aaron was understood as obedience to God Himself.
- so did they: (כֵּן עָשׂוּ, ken ʿāśū) - This repetition powerfully emphasizes the absolute and complete conformity of the Israelites' actions to the divine command. The adverbial ken ("so, thus, exactly") reinforces the precise nature of their compliance, leaving no room for partiality or deviation. It affirms the perfection of their obedience.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And the children of Israel went away, and did": This phrase encapsulates the core action: the entire nation responded unitedly and immediately engaged in the required actions. It highlights the transformation from passive recipients of instructions to active doers.
- "as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they": This section verifies the source and quality of their obedience. It underscores that their actions were not self-initiated but a direct, precise, and complete response to God's authoritative commands delivered through His chosen leaders. The parallelism as...so confirms their perfect adherence.
Exodus 12 28 Bonus section
The perfection of Israel's obedience in this specific instance (Exod 12:28) sets an ideal precedent for the covenant relationship that would be formally established at Sinai. While the nation would later struggle with disobedience, this verse reminds us that their redemption began with an exemplary act of faith-filled submission. This also foreshadows the importance of New Covenant obedience to Christ's commands, linking salvation not just to belief but to the responsive action that faith naturally produces (Jas 2:17). The Passover narrative, culminating in this verse, provides a foundational understanding of divine grace being met by human responsibility and action. It highlights the reality that salvation is freely given by God but often involves a commanded response from humanity.
Exodus 12 28 Commentary
Exodus 12:28 is a concise yet profoundly significant statement of Israel's initial and complete corporate obedience to God. On the very cusp of their national birth, their first collective act was precise submission to YHWH’s instruction. This verse acts as an immediate confirmation following the lengthy and specific Passover commands (Exod 12:1-27). Their compliance was not partial or delayed but immediate and exact ("so did they"), establishing a crucial pattern of relationship with God based on faithful doing of His word.
This obedience, particularly in applying the blood to the doorposts, was an act of faith, trusting that God's warning of judgment and promise of salvation would be fulfilled. Their doing of the commanded act provided a physical and spiritual barrier against the Destroyer, demonstrating that their salvation was contingent on actively following God's appointed means. The emphasis on "doing" (עָשָׂה, ‘asah) throughout this narrative is paramount, portraying a foundational principle for Israel’s relationship with YHWH: faith expressed through tangible obedience to His revealed will. This moment contrasts sharply with Israel's later disobedience, making this early act a profound ideal for subsequent generations.