Exodus 12 41

Exodus 12:41 kjv

And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.

Exodus 12:41 nkjv

And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years?on that very same day?it came to pass that all the armies of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.

Exodus 12:41 niv

At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD's divisions left Egypt.

Exodus 12:41 esv

At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.

Exodus 12:41 nlt

In fact, it was on the last day of the 430th year that all the LORD's forces left the land.

Exodus 12 verses

Exodus 12 41 Meaning

Exodus 12:41 declares the precise fulfillment of God's prophetic word to Abraham concerning the duration of Israel's sojourning and their ultimate liberation from Egypt. It underscores God's unfailing faithfulness and perfect timing, marking the very day the Children of Israel, envisioned as God's "hosts" or army, departed from the land of their oppression, moving from slavery into freedom under divine command. This verse signifies a pivotal moment in salvation history, establishing God as the sovereign controller of time and human destiny, who brings His covenant promises to pass exactly as decreed.

Exodus 12 41 Context

Exodus 12 is the narrative climax of the plagues against Egypt and the institution of the Passover. The chapter meticulously details God's command for the Israelites to observe the Passover ritual on the 14th day of the first month, instructing them to apply lamb's blood to their doorposts as protection from the tenth and final plague: the death of the firstborn throughout Egypt. The plague strikes, causing a cry of anguish across the land, and Pharaoh, along with all his officials, urges Moses and Aaron to take the Israelites and depart immediately.

Verse 41 immediately follows the decree for immediate departure (Exod 12:31-33) and the Israelites' hasty preparation (Exod 12:34-39). It highlights the precision of their departure, explicitly stating it occurred "at the end of the four hundred and thirty years," affirming God's unfailing adherence to His long-standing covenant with Abraham (Gen 15:13-16). This departure marks not only their physical liberation from slavery but also the definitive fulfillment of a divine promise. It sets the stage for the rest of Israel's journey in the wilderness and the subsequent giving of the Law, underscoring God's meticulous planning and faithfulness from Abraham's time to their exodus.

Exodus 12 41 Word analysis

• And it came to pass (ויהי - vay'hi): A common narrative opening in the Hebrew Bible, often introducing significant events that are part of God's divine plan. Here, its use emphasizes that the event was not accidental but divinely orchestrated and brought to fruition.
• at the end of (מקץ - miqetz): Literally "from the end of" or "at the close of." This stresses the exact culmination point of a predefined period, leaving no room for approximation or delay. It highlights God's punctuality in fulfilling His prophecies.
• the four hundred and thirty years (שלשים שנה וארבע מאות שנה - shloshim shanah v'arba me'ot shanah): This precise numerical statement connects directly to the Abrahamic covenant. While Gen 15:13 mentions "400 years," Exod 12:40 and Gal 3:17 confirm "430 years." This period is understood as commencing from the specific time of God's covenant promise to Abraham (when the "seed" was first explicitly designated, before Isaac's birth) and encompasses the sojourning of Abraham's descendants, partly in Canaan and partly in Egypt, until the Exodus. It showcases the precise working out of God's redemptive timeline.
• even the selfsame day (בעצם היום הזה - b'etzem hayom ha'zeh): "Selfsame" (עצם - etzem) literally means "bone," "substance," or "essence." When used with "day," it emphasizes the exact, precise, very substance of that particular day. There was no day more or less; the departure happened on that specific, pre-appointed day, highlighting divine exactness and removing any human influence or delay. This phrase is used elsewhere in the Bible for other divinely significant occurrences, like the very day Noah entered the ark or Abraham was circumcised.
• it came to pass (ויהי - vay'hi): This repetition, immediately after "selfsame day," creates a powerful emphasis. It reiterates the certainty and the divine origin of the event, reaffirming that the Exodus was not a human escape but a divinely appointed deliverance.
• that all the hosts of the LORD (כל צבאות יהוה - kol tziv'ot Yahweh):
  • hosts (tzava'ot): This term, often translated "armies" or "companies," typically refers to heavenly armies (e.g., "Lord of hosts," referring to angelic beings). Applying it to the Israelites on their departure transforms them from a mere scattered band of slaves into an organized, disciplined, divinely appointed multitude, marching out under God's command. This designation signifies God's sovereign ownership and control over His people and elevates the Exodus to a military-like divine campaign.
  • of the LORD (יהוה - Yahweh): Specifies that these "hosts" belong to and operate under the authority and direction of God Himself, highlighting their sacred mission and divine protection.
• went out from the land of Egypt (יצאו מארץ מצרים - yatz'u me'eretz Mitzrayim): The climax of the long narrative of oppression. This physical act of "going out" signifies liberation, fulfillment of promise, and the initiation of Israel's journey towards nationhood and the Promised Land.

Exodus 12 41 Bonus section

• The divine punctuality observed in Exodus 12:41 reinforces a core biblical theme: God is a God of order, purpose, and exactitude, not chaos or randomness. This theological principle extends throughout the biblical narrative, culminating in Christ's death and resurrection occurring at God's appointed time (Gal 4:4; Rom 5:6).
• The phrase "hosts of the LORD" for the Israelites foreshadows their future role as a warrior nation under divine guidance (e.g., God fighting for them in the Red Sea, and in their conquest of Canaan). It established their identity not as mere former slaves, but as Yahweh's consecrated legion.
• This verse provides crucial chronological data that connects the Exodus event back to the Patriarchal era, specifically to the Abrahamic covenant. This precise fulfillment enhances the reliability and authority of all Scripture, demonstrating that God’s Word is reliable across generations.
• The emphasis on "the selfsame day" links this departure inextricably to the Passover. It underscores that God's deliverance is intimately tied to the sacrifice and atonement, making the historical liberation from Egypt a profound shadow of spiritual liberation through Christ's perfect sacrifice, occurring precisely on God's chosen day.

Exodus 12 41 Commentary

Exodus 12:41 serves as a profound theological statement, anchoring the Exodus in God's immutable faithfulness and sovereign control over time. It transforms a historical event into an explicit demonstration of God keeping His Word to Abraham, meticulously fulfilled to the very day. The 430-year span, culminating precisely on "the selfsame day," testifies to a God who orchestrates history with divine precision, honoring promises made centuries before. The depiction of Israel as "all the hosts of the LORD" elevates their departure from a chaotic flight of slaves to an orderly, divinely-marshaled army, marching out under their supreme commander, Yahweh. This precision in timing and purposeful execution underpins the entire narrative of redemption. It tells us that God's plans are infallible, His timing is perfect, and His covenant promises will never fail, no matter the duration or the intervening challenges. This foundational truth instills confidence in His ongoing work in believers' lives.