Exodus 12:3 kjv
Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
Exodus 12:3 nkjv
Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: 'On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household.
Exodus 12:3 niv
Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.
Exodus 12:3 esv
Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household.
Exodus 12:3 nlt
Announce to the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice, one animal for each household.
Exodus 12 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 12:1 | The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, "This month..." | Sets the context for the Passover instructions. |
| Exod 12:5 | Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old... | Specifies the quality of the selected lamb. |
| Exod 12:6 | You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month... | Defines the four-day holding period. |
| Exod 12:7 | Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts... | Describes the blood application for protection. |
| Exod 12:21 | Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go and select..." | Moses re-iterates the instruction to elders. |
| Exod 12:26 | When your children say to you, 'What do you mean by this service?' | Highlights the teaching of Passover to future generations. |
| Lev 1:10 | If his offering for a burnt offering is from the flock... | Connects to the general principle of animal sacrifice. |
| Lev 23:5 | In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight... | Reinforces the precise timing of the Passover. |
| Deut 16:1 | Observe the month of Abib and keep the Passover to the LORD your God... | Reminds Israel to continue observing Passover in the land. |
| Isa 53:7 | He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb... | Prophesies the quiet suffering of the coming Messiah. |
| Jer 11:19 | I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter... | Foresees the fate of the Messiah as a sacrifice. |
| John 1:29 | The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" | Identifies Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover Lamb. |
| John 1:36 | And he looked at Jesus as He walked by, and said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" | Reiteration of Jesus as the Lamb, emphasis on His divine role. |
| 1 Cor 5:7 | Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump... For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. | Explains how Christ is the New Testament Passover Lamb. |
| 1 Pet 1:18 | ...not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. | Compares Christ's blood to the perfect sacrificial lamb, highlighting redemption. |
| Heb 9:22 | Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. | Underlines the necessity of blood sacrifice for atonement. |
| Heb 10:1 | For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities... | The Passover lamb served as a shadow pointing to Christ's perfect sacrifice. |
| Rev 5:6 | And between the throne and the four living creatures... I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain... | Pictures Christ in glory as the triumphant yet slain Lamb. |
| Rev 7:14 | These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. | Highlights the atoning power of Christ's blood for salvation. |
| Gal 3:13 | Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us... | Jesus fulfilled the curse of the law through His sacrifice. |
| Rom 5:19 | For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one Man's obedience the many will be made righteous. | Jesus' perfect obedience parallels the lamb's unblemished nature. |
| Eph 1:7 | In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. | Atonement and forgiveness are achieved through Christ's shed blood. |
Exodus 12 verses
Exodus 12 3 Meaning
Exodus 12:3 presents God's specific instruction to Moses regarding the initial preparations for the Passover in Egypt. It commands Moses to relay to all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of the month, each household is to select a lamb, to be kept and inspected before its sacrifice. This verse underscores the communal and familial nature of the redemption God was providing, highlighting individual household responsibility in following God's divine command for their salvation.
Exodus 12 3 Context
Exodus 12:3 is embedded in the narrative of God instituting the Passover feast just prior to the final, devastating plague upon Egypt – the death of the firstborn. Chapters 7-11 describe the nine preceding plagues that had incrementally revealed God's power and hardened Pharaoh's heart. God, through Moses and Aaron, is now giving precise instructions for the protection and liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. This specific verse, delivered before the actual plague, highlights God's pre-emptive provision and His meticulous planning for His people's redemption. Historically, Israel was an enslaved nation without military power, relying entirely on divine intervention for their freedom. The instructions for the Passover provided both immediate salvation from the tenth plague and a lasting memorial for future generations of their deliverance. This also served as a polemic against Egyptian worship of animal deities (such as rams or certain sacred cattle), demonstrating God's ultimate authority over all life and power, including those animals considered divine or symbolic in Egyptian culture.
Exodus 12 3 Word analysis
- Speak ye (דַּבְּרוּ, dabberu): This is an imperative verb, emphasizing a direct and immediate command from God through Moses. It indicates the divine authority behind the instruction and its urgency for all of Israel.
- unto all the congregation (אֶל-כָּל-עֲדַת, el-kol-`adat): The word "`edah" (congregation/assembly) denotes the entire organized body of Israel, signifying a communal and corporate responsibility. God's instruction was not just for leaders but for every individual within the nation. This stresses inclusivity and universal participation in the commanded action.
- of Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל, Yisra'el): Refers to the collective descendants of Jacob, God's chosen covenant people. This command uniquely applies to them as recipients of God's redemptive grace.
- saying: Connects Moses' role as God's spokesperson to the people.
- In the tenth day (בַּעֲשֹׂר, ba`asor): Specifies the precise date for this action. This pre-determined timing allowed for a period of inspection (Exo 12:6), ensuring the lamb’s perfection, mirroring the scrutiny and testing of the Lamb of God.
- of this month (בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה, baḥodesh hazzeh): Refers to the month later called Abib (Exo 13:4) or Nisan, which was established as the first month of their sacred calendar (Exo 12:2). This signified a new beginning for Israel.
- they shall take (וְיִקְחוּ, v'yiqeḥu): Another imperative, indicating an active taking or acquiring. This was not a passive reception but a deliberate, obedient action required of each family.
- to them (לָהֶם, lahem): Emphasizes that each household was to secure a lamb for themselves, implying personal ownership and direct involvement in the redemptive act.
- every man a lamb (אִישׁ שֶׂה, ish seh): "Ish" (man) here means "each one" or "every individual." "Seh" refers to a young sheep or goat (Exo 12:5). This underscores individual responsibility and access to the protective provision of the lamb’s sacrifice for each family unit.
- according to the house of their fathers (לְבֵית אָבֹת, l'veit 'avot): Highlights the patriarchal family unit as the fundamental entity participating in the Passover. Redemption and the Passover meal were inherently familial.
- a lamb for an house (שֶׂה לְבֵית, seh l'veit): Reiteration and clarification, emphasizing one lamb per household, establishing the practical unit for the Passover observance.
Words-group analysis:
- "Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel": This phrase establishes the broad scope of the divine command, covering every Israelite without exception, signifying that redemption from the plague was available to all who obeyed. It highlights corporate unity and collective responsibility under God's instruction.
- "In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them": The specific timing coupled with the action of taking emphasizes divine intentionality and human preparation. The four-day interval before the sacrifice suggests a period of identification with the chosen lamb, leading to a deeper understanding of its purpose, and foreshadows Christ's unblemished life leading up to His sacrificial death.
- "every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house": This repeated emphasis on "a lamb" for "every man" and "every house" clearly outlines the scale and distribution of the requirement. It affirms that the Passover provision was designed to cover every familial unit, securing the protection and blessing for each one through a single, perfect sacrifice. This collective participation reinforces the unity and common experience of liberation for the Israelite community.
Exodus 12 3 Bonus section
The Hebrew word `adah (congregation) used in this verse is also foundational to understanding Israel as God's called-out assembly, emphasizing their distinct identity and unity under divine instruction. The act of "taking" the lamb meant literally drawing it into the home, making it part of the family for a few days before its substitutionary sacrifice. This cultivated a deep, personal understanding of the cost of redemption, making the Passover far more than a simple ritual. This instruction establishes a precedent for understanding the covenant relationship between God and His people, where obedience to His specific commands leads to divine protection and blessing. It is a powerful example of how God intertwines human responsibility with His sovereign act of deliverance.
Exodus 12 3 Commentary
Exodus 12:3 provides the critical command that initiated the very first Passover, a central event in Israelite history and foundational to their identity. This verse is not just a logistical detail but carries profound theological weight. The directive for "every man" and "every house" to "take" a lamb signifies both personal and familial participation in God's redemptive plan. The choice of the "tenth day" implies a four-day period of living with the lamb within the home (until the fourteenth, Exod 12:6). This allowed for close inspection of the animal, ensuring it was "without blemish," but also fostered an intimate, personal connection with the soon-to-be sacrifice. This act prefigures Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God (John 1:29), who was likewise "taken" by humanity and scrutinized during His earthly ministry, yet found faultless, before He became the ultimate sacrifice for sin (1 Pet 1:19). The communal aspect, with "all the congregation of Israel" involved, emphasizes that God's salvation is for His people as a whole, requiring the obedient participation of each part. The detailed instruction highlights God's meticulous nature in providing salvation, showing that His grace is orderly and complete.