Exodus 12:7 kjv
And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
Exodus 12:7 nkjv
And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it.
Exodus 12:7 niv
Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.
Exodus 12:7 esv
"Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.
Exodus 12:7 nlt
They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the sides and top of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the animal.
Exodus 12 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 12:13 | When I see the blood, I will pass over you… | Blood is the sign for God's protection |
| Lev 17:11 | For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar... | Blood for atonement/life |
| Num 9:12 | they shall leave none of it until morning, nor break any of its bones... | Instructions for the Passover lamb, mirroring Christ |
| Deut 6:9 | You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. | Command to mark doorposts with God's word |
| Josh 2:18-21 | This cord of scarlet thread… you must tie in the window... | Rahab's house marked for salvation |
| Isa 53:5 | ...by His stripes we are healed. | Substitutionary suffering of the Messiah |
| Jn 1:29 | Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! | Jesus identified as the ultimate Passover Lamb |
| 1 Cor 5:7 | For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. | Christ as the new Passover sacrifice |
| Heb 9:12 | He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood... | Christ's blood as ultimate sacrifice |
| Heb 9:14 | how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish... | Purity and efficacy of Christ's blood |
| 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. | Necessity of blood for forgiveness |
| Heb 10:19-20 | ...confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way... | Access to God through Christ's blood |
| Heb 11:28 | By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood... | Moses' faith in keeping the Passover |
| 1 Pet 1:2 | ...sprinkled with His blood... | Application of Christ's atoning work |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | ...redeemed... with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. | Redemption through Christ's spotless blood |
| Eph 1:7 | In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses... | Redemption and forgiveness through blood |
| Col 1:20 | ...making peace by the blood of His cross... | Reconciliation achieved through the cross |
| Rev 1:5 | ...to Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood... | Christ's blood frees from sin |
| Rev 7:14 | ...washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. | Cleansing and righteousness through the Lamb's blood |
| Mt 26:28 | This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. | New Covenant in Christ's blood |
| Mk 14:24 | This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. | Echoes Old Testament covenant language |
| Lk 22:20 | This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. | The new covenant established by blood |
| Rom 3:25 | ...whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood... | Christ's blood as a propitiation for sin |
Exodus 12 verses
Exodus 12 7 Meaning
Exodus 12:7 commands the Israelites to apply some of the lamb's blood on the two doorposts and the lintel of their houses. This act was a critical part of the original Passover, serving as a visible sign of obedience to God's instructions. The applied blood would mark the homes of those within the covenant, causing the Lord to "pass over" them during the final plague of the death of the firstborn in Egypt, thus delivering them from judgment and securing their protection.
Exodus 12 7 Context
Exodus chapter 12 details God's specific instructions for the first Passover in Egypt. This event was a pivotal moment in salvation history, marking Israel's deliverance from centuries of slavery. The chapter establishes a foundational covenant feast that Israel was to observe annually. Verse 7, immediately following the command to kill a one-year-old lamb without blemish, outlines the crucial application of its blood. This action was performed on the threshold of each Israelite home, signaling their obedience and providing the protective sign for the coming tenth and final plague, the death of the firstborn of Egypt. Culturally, blood was universally recognized as potent and sacred, representing life, and often used in purification, consecration, and covenant-making rituals throughout the Ancient Near East. By specifically placing the blood on the doorframe, God differentiated His people and their method of protection from any superstitious practices or idol worship of their Egyptian oppressors. The directness of the command emphasized God's sovereignty and His exclusive means of salvation.
Exodus 12 7 Word analysis
- And they shall take (וְלָקְחוּ, ve-lakhū): The imperative implies a clear, direct command, not a suggestion. It signifies an act of willing participation and obedience on the part of the Israelites, which was necessary for the protection to be effective. This active involvement underscored their faith in God's directive.
- some of the blood (מִן־הַדָּם, min-ha-dam): The preposition "min" (some/from) indicates that not all the blood was required, but a sufficient portion to create a visible sign. "Dam" (blood) in the Bible is consistently associated with life, atonement, and covenant, representing the most potent element for propitiation. Its sacredness prevented casual handling.
- and put it on (וְנָתְנוּ, ve-natenū): This signifies a deliberate act of application. It's an intentional placement of the sign, making it visible and signifying active obedience.
- the two doorposts (עַל־שְׁתֵּי הַמְּזוּזֹת, ʿal-shtey ham-mezūzot): "Mezuzot" (doorposts) refer to the vertical frames of the doorway. The application on these two sides creates a boundary. In ancient cultures, the door was seen as a significant liminal space, a place of passage, and a symbolic entry/exit point for the family unit.
- and on the lintel (וְעַל־הַמַּשְׁקוֹף, ve-ʿal-ham-mashqof): "Mashqof" (lintel) refers to the horizontal beam above the door. Covering both vertical and horizontal components formed a complete "arch" or frame of blood, encompassing the entrance. This visual sign marked the household as consecrated and under divine protection from the coming judgment.
- of the houses (בָּתִּים, bāttim): This specifies the domestic sphere, not public or communal buildings. The judgment and salvation were household-specific, emphasizing the family as the unit of salvation in this context. It suggests the need for individual and familial adherence to God's command.
- in which they eat it (אֲשֶׁר־יֹאכְלוּ אֹתוֹ בָהֶם, ʾasher yōkhlū ʾōtō bāhem): This links the application of the blood directly to the eating of the Passover lamb inside the house. The blood was not an isolated ritual but intimately connected to the communion of the meal, representing full participation in God's covenant provisions. The house with the applied blood was where the communal meal of salvation took place, reinforcing the idea of a marked household actively observing the divine ordinance.
Exodus 12 7 Bonus section
The act of applying the blood on the doorframe holds implicit polemics against common Egyptian apotropaic (warding off evil) rituals, which often involved magical spells or images to protect thresholds. God commanded a unique, blood-based sign, distinguishing His power and methods from the idolatrous practices of Egypt. The very simplicity and specificity of God's command demonstrated His complete control and ability to protect without human superstition. Furthermore, the selection of the lamb and its specific usage established a typology that finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The symbolism of the lamb’s sacrifice and blood on the threshold continues in the New Testament concept of believers being "washed" or "redeemed" by Christ's blood, signifying their inclusion in God’s new covenant family. This foundational event highlights God’s sovereign grace: salvation comes through His provided sacrifice and an obedient response to His Word.
Exodus 12 7 Commentary
Exodus 12:7 is not merely a directive for a hygienic practice or a superstitious ritual, but a foundational command laden with profound theological significance. The application of the lamb's blood was a vivid, physical act of faith in God's promised deliverance. The doorway, an archetypal boundary, became a visual threshold of life and death, separation and belonging. Those inside the blood-marked homes were spared, demonstrating that salvation was achieved not by human merit or magical charm, but solely by God's sovereign protection upon observing His specific command. This ritual strikingly prefigures Christ as the ultimate Passover Lamb (1 Cor 5:7). Just as the physical blood protected from physical death, the spiritual "blood" of Jesus, shed on the cross, provides protection from spiritual death and the judgment for sin (Eph 1:7). The active placement of the blood mirrors the conscious act of faith required to apply Christ's atonement to one's life. The doorposts represent a point of access and a visible confession; likewise, confession of Christ's blood applied to one's life marks them as His.