Exodus 12 44

Exodus 12:44 kjv

But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.

Exodus 12:44 nkjv

But every man's servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then he may eat it.

Exodus 12:44 niv

Any slave you have bought may eat it after you have circumcised him,

Exodus 12:44 esv

but every slave that is bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him.

Exodus 12:44 nlt

But any slave who has been purchased may eat it if he has been circumcised.

Exodus 12 verses

Exodus 12 44 Meaning

Exodus 12:44 stipulates that any male servant or slave, acquired through purchase, must be circumcised before he is permitted to eat of the Passover lamb. This divine command established a vital link between the physical sign of the covenant—circumcision—and participation in the sacred Passover ritual, signifying the servant's full integration into the Abrahamic covenant community and the household's religious life, making them eligible for its redemptive benefits.

Exodus 12 44 Context

Exodus chapter 12 details the instructions for the first Passover, a pivotal event preceding Israel's liberation from Egypt. The verses leading up to verse 44 establish the preparations for the lamb, its eating, and the regulations for the participating household (vv. 1-13, 21-28). Importantly, previous verses (Ex 12:43, 45) delineate who cannot partake (no stranger, foreigner, or hired servant), making verse 44's inclusion of a specific category of servant significant. This divine mandate is part of establishing the distinct identity and religious practices of the emerging nation, laying down the criteria for inclusion in their foundational redemptive meal. Historically, the directive also functions to distinguish the Israelites' practice from surrounding pagan cultures, whose religious rituals were typically restricted to ethnic members, emphasizing the unique blend of divine law and a regulated form of inclusion.

Exodus 12 44 Word analysis

• But every man's servant:

  • "But": Connects back to the exclusions in the previous verses (43, 45). It marks a crucial contrast and exception.
  • "every man's servant" (כָּל־עֶבֶד, kol-‘eved): Refers to any male slave. The term 'eved (עֶבֶד) signifies a bondservant, someone fully under the authority of a master. This is distinct from a ger (resident alien) or śāḵîr (hired servant) mentioned elsewhere. It implies a long-term, possibly lifelong, attachment to the household.

• that is bought for money:

  • (מִקְנַת־כֶּסֶף, miqnat-kesef): Specifies the method of acquisition—purchase. This differentiates them from "born in the house" servants (who are implicitly already part of the circumcised covenant household, as per Gen 17:12-13) or those obtained through other means (e.g., debt slavery, captive from war), although the principle often extended. It signifies legal ownership and a permanent status within the master's household, more integrated than temporary employees. This phrase highlights the slave's new legal and relational position within the master's family unit, requiring conformity to the household's covenant obligations.

• when thou hast circumcised him:

  • (וּמַלְתָּ אֹתוֹ, u-malta oto): Literally, "and you have circumcised him." This is a direct command to the master to perform or arrange the circumcision. Circumcision (milah) is the physical sign of the covenant God made with Abraham (Gen 17). It was not just a surgical procedure but a spiritual identifier marking a male as part of the covenant community, a symbol of consecration and purification. Its inclusion here means that participation in Passover is conditional on entering this covenant.

• then shall he eat thereof:

  • (אָז יֹאכַל בּוֹ, az yokhal bo): "Then he may eat of it." "Thereof" refers specifically to the Passover lamb. This phrase conveys permission and entitlement, but only after the required condition is met. Eating the Passover lamb was not merely a meal; it was a commemorative act, a sacred ritual signifying redemption, identity, and shared participation in God's covenant with Israel. It represented partaking in the blessings and remembrance of God's mighty acts of deliverance.

Exodus 12 44 Bonus section

The directive in Exodus 12:44 reinforces an important theological principle that would later be expanded upon: God's covenant is inclusive but structured. While the initial Abrahamic covenant in Genesis 17 already included "those bought with money" as part of the circumcised covenant community, Exodus 12:44 applies this specifically to the central redemptive meal of the nation. This demonstrates a tension between ethnic purity and covenantal assimilation. The emphasis on "circumcision" indicates that the identity markers for divine blessings and participation were divinely instituted and not purely based on socio-economic status or temporary association. It set Israel apart from pagan cults that often strictly forbade any outsiders from their sacred rites, highlighting Yahweh's unique approach to membership. This foreshadows a wider, New Covenant inclusion, where Gentiles become "fellow heirs" through Christ's "circumcision made without hands" (Col 2:11), not by physical lineage but by spiritual identification and transformation, fulfilling the broader principle of divine welcome through divine requirements.

Exodus 12 44 Commentary

Exodus 12:44 underscores a crucial aspect of Israel's early covenant identity: the boundary of sacred participation. While strict about who could partake in the Passover, God's law also provided an avenue for inclusion. The key distinction lay between temporary or loose affiliation (like a foreigner or hired servant, Ex 12:45) and a permanent integration into the Israelite household and covenant. A slave "bought for money" was not a mere employee; he became a part of the family unit, though in a subordinate role. Consequently, God required that such a servant be circumcised, thereby receiving the physical sign of the Abrahamic covenant. This act was not merely ceremonial; it fundamentally altered his religious status, granting him eligibility to share in the communal worship and sacred benefits of the household. This demonstrated that covenant inclusion was not solely about biological descent, but about identification and adherence to divine ordinances. This inclusion also implies the master's responsibility for the spiritual well-being of his household members, even servants, ensuring their path to participating in the redemptive event. This established a precedent where participation in God's saving acts was open, yet always through God's prescribed means.