Exodus 13 6

Exodus 13:6 kjv

Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD.

Exodus 13:6 nkjv

Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD.

Exodus 13:6 niv

For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the LORD.

Exodus 13:6 esv

Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD.

Exodus 13:6 nlt

For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast. Then on the seventh day, celebrate a feast to the LORD.

Exodus 13 verses

Exodus 13 6 Meaning

Exodus 13:6 dictates that the Israelites were to eat unleavened bread for seven continuous days, culminating in a special feast on the seventh day, which was entirely dedicated to the Lord. This command ensured a perpetual remembrance of their hasty and divinely orchestrated departure from slavery in Egypt and underscored a commitment to a life of purity and devotion before God.

Exodus 13 6 Context

Exodus chapter 13 immediately follows the pivotal event of the Passover and the dramatic departure of the Israelites from Egypt. The chapter focuses on the commandments God gives to Israel to remember this momentous deliverance. It initiates with the sanctification of all firstborn and swiftly transitions into the enduring ordinance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Historically and culturally, this festival, known as Hag HaMatzot, was intricately linked with Passover. It commemorated the speed with which Israel left Egypt, symbolized by bread made without time to rise. The seven-day observance ingrained the memory of their redemption and separation from Egyptian life, ensuring that future generations would understand their identity as a people redeemed by the Lord. This period also represented the Israelites leaving behind the leaven, symbolizing the corruption and idolatry of Egypt, entering a new phase of purity and devotion under God's covenant.

Exodus 13 6 Word analysis

• Seven days (שִׁבְעַת יָמִים, shiv'at yamim):
  • Significance: The number seven in Hebrew thought often signifies completion, perfection, or divine order. Here, it denotes a full, consecrated period of remembrance, not a mere transient observance but a complete immersion in the meaning of the Exodus event. This duration emphasizes the thoroughness of the command and the complete dedication required for this memorial.
• you shall eat (תֹּאכְלוּ, tokhlu):
  • Significance: This is a direct command, implying an obligation and active participation from every individual. Eating is a foundational act, tying the spiritual remembrance directly to a physical, communal experience. It’s not just to remember, but to internalize through shared action.
• unleavened bread (מַצּוֹת, matzot):
  • Original Language: Plural of מַצָּה (matzah), thin, flat bread without yeast.
  • Significance: Matzah symbolizes both the haste of the Exodus (there was no time for dough to rise, Ex 12:34, 39) and purity. Leaven (خمץ, chametz) often symbolized corruption, sin, or malice in biblical and Jewish tradition (e.g., 1 Cor 5:6-8). Thus, eating matzah signifies leaving behind the impurity of Egypt and embracing a new, pure life in obedience to God.
• and on the seventh day (וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי, uvayom hashvi'i):
  • Significance: This highlights the culmination of the seven-day period. The first and seventh days often held special significance in Jewish feasts, often marked by sacred assemblies and cessation from labor. It indicates a sacred climax to the week-long observance.
• there shall be a feast (חַג, chag):
  • Original Language: Chag refers to a pilgrimage festival or solemn assembly.
  • Significance: This specifies a joyful, festive assembly, a time of communal celebration and dedication to God. It underscores the celebratory aspect of redemption, not just a solemn memorial. It is a time for Israel to rejoice in God's mighty acts.
• to the LORD (לַיהוָה, laYHWH):
  • Significance: This phrase emphasizes that the entire observance, its duration, and its culminating feast are exclusively for and dedicated to Yahweh. It highlights His sovereignty, power, and proprietorship over Israel, standing in stark contrast to the idolatrous feasts of Egypt or other pagan nations. It grounds the purpose of the feast solely in His divine action and honor.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread": This phrase establishes the duration and the specific nature of the food. It emphasizes the complete dedication to this symbolic meal, solidifying the continuous remembrance of the rapid departure and the call to purity throughout the week. This repetitive action aimed to etch the historical event and its spiritual implications onto the nation's collective memory.
• "and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the LORD": This second part designates the final day as a special, hallowed assembly, a climax of worship and joyous dedication to God. It highlights that the observance is not merely a cultural tradition but a direct act of communal worship and thanksgiving, exclusively honoring the Divine Deliverer. This transition from individual eating to a corporate feast underscores the communal aspect of their covenant relationship with God.

Exodus 13 6 Bonus section

The Feast of Unleavened Bread, enjoined in this verse, served as an essential pedagogical tool for the ancient Israelites. It was designed not only to remind adults but also to instill in their children the profound meaning of God's redemptive act (Ex 13:8). This multi-day, tangible ritual created an enduring national identity rooted in God's faithfulness and Israel's deliverance. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul draws a profound parallel between the physical leaven of the Old Covenant and the spiritual "leaven of malice and wickedness" (1 Cor 5:8). He teaches that because Christ, "our Passover lamb," has been sacrificed, believers are to "keep the feast, not with the old leaven," but with the "unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." This shows that the principles embedded in Exodus 13:6 find their ultimate spiritual fulfillment in the new life of purity and truth offered through Jesus Christ, extending its significance beyond merely a historical Jewish observance to the lived reality of every follower of Christ.

Exodus 13 6 Commentary

Exodus 13:6 stands as a foundational ordinance, meticulously outlining the core practice of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven full days, Israel was to consume unleavened bread, vividly recalling their desperate haste from Egyptian bondage and the divine impatience that spurred their exodus. This physical act of eating unleavened bread was more than a mere ritual; it was a deeply symbolic and formative practice. The absence of leaven pointed to the purity demanded of a people now consecrated to Yahweh, distinguishing them from the spiritual corruption they left behind.

The command culminates in a "feast to the LORD" on the seventh day, transforming the solemn memory into a joyous celebration of redemption. This sacred assembly emphasized that their deliverance was not merely an event in history but a cause for continuous, grateful worship. This was a teaching moment, instructing present and future generations about the mighty hand of God. The practical application today lies in understanding that our Christian life, freed from the leaven of sin by Christ our Passover (1 Cor 5:7), is to be a continuous journey of purity and grateful celebration, culminating in fellowship with the Lord, as symbolized by the communal aspects of the Eucharist. This reminds believers to continuously rid themselves of sin and live a life dedicated wholly to Christ.