Exodus 12 48

Exodus 12:48 kjv

And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

Exodus 12:48 nkjv

And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it.

Exodus 12:48 niv

"A foreigner residing among you who wants to celebrate the LORD's Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised male may eat it.

Exodus 12:48 esv

If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it.

Exodus 12:48 nlt

"If there are foreigners living among you who want to celebrate the LORD's Passover, let all their males be circumcised. Only then may they celebrate the Passover with you like any native-born Israelite. But no uncircumcised male may ever eat the Passover meal.

Exodus 12 verses

Exodus 12 48 Meaning

Exodus 12:48 details the requirements for a non-Israelite resident alien (stranger) to participate in the Passover. It stipulates that if a stranger wishes to observe the Passover feast with the Israelites, all the males in his household must first undergo circumcision. Upon fulfilling this condition, he is then permitted to approach and keep the Passover, being granted the same status and privilege as an Israelite born in the land regarding this ritual. The verse concludes with an absolute prohibition: no uncircumcised person, whether Israelite or stranger, shall partake of the Passover.

Exodus 12 48 Context

Exodus 12:48 is part of the extensive and specific instructions given to Moses by the LORD regarding the institution of the Passover feast, immediately preceding the Exodus from Egypt. Chapters 11-13 detail the final plague upon Egypt (death of the firstborn) and the instructions for the Passover lamb, its consumption, and the unleavened bread. This verse, therefore, establishes a foundational legal precedent for the nascent nation of Israel concerning the inclusion of non-native individuals in their most sacred annual ritual. It ensures that the holy observance remains distinct and reserved for those committed to God's covenant, marked by circumcision, thereby safeguarding the covenant community's integrity as they embarked on their journey to becoming God's unique people.

Exodus 12 48 Word analysis

• And when a stranger (גֵּר, ger): This Hebrew term denotes a resident alien or sojourner, distinct from a fleeting visitor (נָכְרִי, nokri). A ger resided permanently within Israelite territory, often retaining some foreign identity, yet subject to Israelite laws and benefiting from its protections. Their welfare was a recurrent theme in Mosaic law (Deut 10:19, Lev 19:33-34), indicating God's concern for the vulnerable.
• shall sojourn with thee (גּוּר, gur): To dwell temporarily or reside as an alien. It describes the condition of a non-Israelite living amongst the Israelites, often in dependence.
• and will keep the Passover to the LORD: To "keep the Passover" (עָשָׂה פֶסַח, asah Pesach) means to perform or observe the prescribed ritual. It signifies an intentional desire by the stranger to partake in this core event, which celebrates God's deliverance and established Israel's unique relationship with Him. The phrase "to the LORD" emphasizes that this is a divine ordinance, not merely a cultural tradition.
• let all his males be circumcised (וְנָמֹל לוֹ כָל זָכָר, venamol lo kol zakhar): Circumcision (מול, mul - to cut or incise) was the foundational sign of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen 17:10-14). It was a physical mark identifying individuals as part of God's covenant people. Requiring all males, including servants and sons, demonstrated household headship and commitment, bringing the entire family unit under the covenant's visible mark. This signifies that entry into sacred covenant practices required alignment with fundamental covenant requirements.
• and then let him come near (וְאָז יִקְרַב, ve'az yikrav) and keep it: "Come near" often signifies a formal approach to sacred space or a ritual, implying permission for proximity to holy things. This phased instruction highlights that participation is conditional upon meeting the prerequisite.
• and he shall be as one that is born in the land (וְהָיָה כְּאֶזְרַח הָאָרֶץ, vehayah ke'ezrach ha'aretz): The Hebrew ezrach denotes a native-born citizen or home-born individual. This phrase grants the circumcised stranger full legal and spiritual equality for the purpose of Passover participation. It removes any second-class status once the covenantal requirement is met, reflecting God's equitable nature towards those who genuinely commit to Him.
• for no uncircumcised (עָרֵל, arel) person shall eat thereof: "Uncircumcised" literally means having the foreskin. Figuratively, it denotes an outsider to the covenant, a person who is spiritually separated from God's people (e.g., in a negative sense in Isa 52:1, Jer 9:26). This is a strong, exclusionary statement reinforcing the non-negotiable nature of circumcision as the gate to Passover participation. It underlines the holiness and distinctiveness of the Passover as a sacred communal meal, inaccessible to those outside the covenantal boundary defined by God.

• "when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the Passover to the LORD": This phrase identifies the specific individual (a resident alien, not a tourist) and his intention (to participate in a core covenantal ritual out of devotion to the LORD), setting the stage for the conditional inclusion. It distinguishes between general hospitality and sacred participation.
• "let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it": This defines the exact action required for integration into this particular religious privilege. The sequence (circumcision first, then participation) underscores that this physical act is the pre-requisite, acting as a gatekeeper to the covenant meal. It's a statement of commitment and identification with God's people.
• "and he shall be as one that is born in the land": This phrase guarantees complete equality in rights regarding this ritual, nullifying any hierarchical difference between native Israelites and fully initiated aliens. It highlights that belonging is determined by covenant fidelity, not solely by lineage, providing a glimpse of a broader scope of God's people.
• "for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof": This concluding phrase acts as an inviolable prohibition and underscores the significance and sanctity of the Passover meal. It reinforces that the visible mark of circumcision is essential for ritual participation, clearly defining the boundary of the covenant community in relation to its most sacred act of remembrance and worship.

Exodus 12 48 Bonus section

Exodus 12:48 reveals a remarkably inclusive spirit within the Mosaic Law for those "strangers" (gerim) willing to fully identify with Israel's God and His covenant through circumcision. This anticipation of Gentiles (nations) joining God's people is echoed throughout prophetic literature (Isa 56:6-7) and reaches its fulfillment in the New Testament with the inclusion of believers from all nations into the church without physical circumcision (Acts 15; Gal 3:28). The passage also highlights that God's covenant always requires a demonstrable, identifying mark or act of faith-obedience for participation in His redemptive plan and communal life. The clear line drawn regarding the "uncircumcised" served not as an arbitrary exclusion but as a visible safeguard for the purity and distinctiveness of the sacred meal, underscoring that holy communion demands holy commitment. This concept of requiring alignment with divine standards for access to divine blessings is a consistent theological thread throughout the Bible.

Exodus 12 48 Commentary

Exodus 12:48 lays down a crucial principle for the nascent nation of Israel: divine ordinances, especially core covenant rituals like the Passover, are contingent upon observable covenant obedience. For a "stranger" (resident alien) to partake, the command for circumcision—the established sign of the Abrahamic covenant—was paramount for all males in his household. This meant the stranger ceased to be merely an outsider observer; through this act, he and his family formally identified with YHWH's people and His covenant, thereby becoming "as one that is born in the land" concerning their right to partake. This inclusion, however, was strictly guarded by the physical sign; "no uncircumcised person" was allowed, emphasizing the absolute nature of the requirement within the Mosaic economy. This demonstrates God's consistent demand for a mark of commitment and belonging to access His special provisions and holy fellowship. In the New Covenant, the principle of identification with God's covenant people through an act of obedience persists, shifting from physical circumcision to the spiritual circumcision of the heart by faith in Christ and baptism, allowing all, both Jew and Gentile, to partake in the Lord's Supper as a New Covenant meal.