Exodus 12 5

Exodus 12:5 kjv

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:

Exodus 12:5 nkjv

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats.

Exodus 12:5 niv

The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.

Exodus 12:5 esv

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats,

Exodus 12:5 nlt

The animal you select must be a one-year-old male, either a sheep or a goat, with no defects.

Exodus 12 verses

Exodus 12 5 Meaning

The verse specifies the nature of the sacrificial lamb required for the Passover: it must be without blemish, a male, one year old, and chosen from either the sheep or the goats. This outlines the essential qualifications for the central element of the Passover ritual, emphasizing purity, vigor, and suitability as a substitutionary atonement, preparing for the divine judgment and deliverance from Egypt.

Exodus 12 5 Context

Exodus chapter 12 details the institution of the Passover, commanded by God to Moses and Aaron, in preparation for the tenth and final plague against Egypt—the death of the firstborn. This verse, Exodus 12:5, provides the specific qualifications for the sacrificial animal chosen by each Israelite household, central to the ritual that would lead to their deliverance. Historically, this event marks a foundational moment in Israel's national identity, commemorating their liberation from slavery and the inauguration of their covenant relationship with God. The selection and sacrifice of an unblemished lamb underscored the purity required for an offering acceptable to God, distinct from pagan sacrifices often involving blemished or unfit animals. This ritualistic purity also subtly challenged Egyptian animal worship, as the Israelites were commanded to sacrifice animals considered sacred by their oppressors.

Exodus 12 5 Word analysis

• Your lamb (שֶׂה, seh):
  • Signifies a young animal from either sheep or goats, emphasizing a specific, individual animal for each household, fostering personal responsibility in the observance.
  • This individual lamb foreshadows the singular, personal sacrifice of Jesus Christ, "the Lamb of God" (Jn 1:29), for the sins of individuals.
• shall be without blemish (תָּמִים, tamim):
  • Tamim means "complete," "whole," "sound," "perfect," or "blameless." It refers to physical perfection, free from disease, defect, or injury, making it acceptable for sacred use.
  • Beyond physical, it signifies moral and spiritual perfection, an essential attribute for any offering made to a holy God. This is crucial for its typological fulfillment in Christ, who was "a lamb without blemish or spot" (1 Pet 1:19) and "holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners" (Heb 7:26).
  • This requirement contrasted sharply with common pagan practices, which might offer inferior animals, and highlighted God's demand for ultimate perfection in worship.
• a male (זָכָר, zakhar):
  • Denotes strength, purity, and capability for propagation in a flock. Male animals were typically considered prime for sacrifice in the ancient Near East, often reserved for significant offerings (Lev 1:3).
  • The maleness distinguishes it, preventing association with fertility cults or female deities.
  • Symbolically points to the strength and leadership of Christ as the head, the Son, the Lord of all (Col 1:18, Rom 10:9).
• a year old (בֶּן־שָׁנָה, ben-shanah):
  • Literally "son of a year," indicating an animal in its prime, neither a mere suckling nor an aged animal past its peak. It possessed full vigor and health.
  • This ensures the best possible animal is offered, representing a valuable sacrifice rather than something easily dispensable.
  • It also relates to the Jewish law of firstborn offerings, signifying consecration and the best of life. It implies a certain maturity without being old.
• You may take it from the sheep or from the goats:
  • Offers flexibility and ensures availability for all households, reflecting God's provision and the widespread presence of both animals in that region.
  • Both sheep and goats were common sacrificial animals in the ancient Israelite ritual system, underscoring the universal nature of the atoning requirement.
  • This allows for distinction within a general category, as both animals could serve the sacrificial purpose.

Exodus 12 5 Bonus section

• Typological Significance: The detailed criteria for the Passover lamb meticulously point to Christ's divine and human perfection, His blameless life, and His sacrificial death, ensuring He alone could be the perfect and complete atonement for sin. This establishes the Old Testament as a foreshadowing of New Testament realities.
• Contrast with Pagan Practices: The requirement for an "unblemished" animal would have stood in stark contrast to certain pagan sacrifices, which sometimes involved diseased or defective animals offered to lesser deities, or fertility rituals that did not prioritize the animal's physical perfection in the same manner. This commandment emphasized the supreme purity of the one true God and the dignity of His worship.
• Practicality: The option to choose from sheep or goats ensured that the command could be followed by virtually all Israelite households, regardless of their specific livestock holdings, reinforcing the universality of God's provision for salvation among His people.
• Continuity of Requirement: The characteristics laid out here (male, year old, unblemished) reappear throughout the Mosaic Law for various sin, burnt, and peace offerings, solidifying the consistent divine standard for acceptable sacrifices (e.g., Lev 1:3, 9:3; Num 28:3).

Exodus 12 5 Commentary

Exodus 12:5 is not merely a technical instruction but a deeply significant theological statement laying the groundwork for Israel's redemptive history and future divine revelations. The rigorous qualifications for the Passover lamb underscore God's absolute holiness and the perfection required for atonement. An unblemished, male, one-year-old animal symbolized prime value, vigor, and purity—a costly and unblemished substitute for human lives. This selection not only ensured a true act of worship but also served as a profound type of the coming Messiah. Jesus Christ fulfills every characteristic of the Passover Lamb: He is "without blemish or spot" (1 Pet 1:19) in His perfect humanity and sinlessness, He is the unique "Son," and He gave His life in His prime (around 33 years old), in full strength and volition. The ultimate efficacy of His singular sacrifice transcends the temporary nature of the animal offering, securing eternal redemption. This verse therefore reveals God's meticulous nature in demanding perfect obedience and foreshadows the flawless sacrifice of His own Son for the salvation of humanity.