Luke 22 7

Luke 22:7 kjv

Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

Luke 22:7 nkjv

Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed.

Luke 22:7 niv

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.

Luke 22:7 esv

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.

Luke 22:7 nlt

Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed.

Luke 22 verses

Luke 22 7 Meaning

This verse precisely marks the advent of the significant Jewish feast known as the Day of Unleavened Bread, inextricably linked with the Passover. It signifies the divinely appointed time when, according to Mosaic law, the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. This timing is crucial for understanding the subsequent events in Luke's Gospel, setting the stage for the Last Supper and Jesus' atoning sacrifice as the ultimate Passover Lamb. The word "had to be" indicates a divine necessity and a predetermined schedule for this central salvific act.

Luke 22 7 Context

Luke 22:7 opens a pivotal section in Jesus’ narrative, immediately following the plots of the chief priests and scribes to kill Jesus (Lk 22:1-2) and Judas Iscariot's agreement to betray Him (Lk 22:3-6). The verse precisely dates these events by introducing the specific Jewish festival—the Feast of Unleavened Bread, known commonly as Passover. This annual feast, central to Israel's identity, commemorated God's liberation of His people from slavery in Egypt (Exod 12). Its defining feature was the sacrifice of a lamb, whose blood protected from judgment, and the subsequent consumption of unleavened bread, symbolizing hasty departure and purification. Luke highlights the divine mandate for this sacrifice, setting the chronological and theological stage for the Last Supper as a Passover meal and, ultimately, for Jesus' crucifixion, positioning Him as the true Passover Lamb whose sacrifice fulfills and transcends the ancient covenant ritual.

Luke 22 7 Word analysis

• Then came (Ἦλθεν δὲ - Ēlthen de): The Greek verb `ēlthen` (from `erchomai`) signifies arrival, indicating the fulfillment of time. `De` functions as a transition, linking this crucial timing to the preceding narrative of betrayal and conspiracy. It marks a decisive shift to the preordained events leading to the Passion.
• the Day (ἡ ἡμέρα - hē hēmera): Specifies a particular, pre-appointed 24-hour period, emphasizing its importance and pre-determined nature within God's redemptive plan.
• of Unleavened Bread (τῶν ἀζύμων - tōn azymōn): Refers to `Azyma`, which literally means "unleavened things." This is the common name for the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread, immediately following Passover, but often used interchangeably or to refer to the entire period including Passover itself (Exod 12:15, 12:20). It signifies purification and separation from the "leaven" of sin (1 Cor 5:7-8).
• on which (ἐν ᾗ - en hē): A prepositional phrase meaning "in which" or "wherein," directly linking the specified day with its sacred purpose: the necessary ritual.
• the Passover lamb (τὸ πάσχα - to pascha): The Greek word `pascha` (πάσχα) is a direct transliteration of the Hebrew `pesach`, which refers both to the Passover festival and the lamb sacrificed during it. Here, the context of "had to be sacrificed" strongly emphasizes the sacrificial animal. This term carries immense theological significance as it points prophetically to Jesus Christ.
• had to be sacrificed (ἔδει θύεσθαι - edei thyetai):
  • had to be (ἔδει - edei): This is the imperfect form of the Greek impersonal verb `dei` (δεῖ), meaning "it is necessary" or "it must." Its use here denotes a divine imperative or necessity; it was not merely customary but part of God's unchangeable plan and purpose. This underscores the theological truth that Christ's sacrifice was a divinely orchestrated event, not a tragic accident.
  • sacrificed (θύεσθαι - thyetai): This is the passive infinitive of `thyō` (θύω), meaning "to sacrifice," "to slay," or "to kill ceremonially." The passive voice (`to be sacrificed`) indicates that the lamb (or by extension, Christ) is the recipient of the action, a willing victim within a divine decree.
• the Day of Unleavened Bread...on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed: This phrase unit precisely defines the timing and purpose of the pivotal day. It signifies the mandated annual observance when all Israel engaged in this solemn sacrificial act, symbolizing God's past redemption and foreshadowing the ultimate redemption through Jesus' body and blood.

Luke 22 7 Bonus section

• The connection between the "Day of Unleavened Bread" and "Passover" is deep-seated in Jewish tradition. While technically Passover was a single day (Nisan 14th) focused on the sacrifice, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread was the seven days (Nisan 15th-21st) following it, they were often spoken of as one continuous festival or either name could encompass the whole period, as indicated by Luke 22:1 and this verse. This linguistic fluidity highlights the intertwined nature of liberation and purification.
• The choice of the Greek word edei (ἔδει - "had to be," "it was necessary") is deliberate and crucial throughout Luke's Gospel and Acts, frequently appearing in contexts describing the divine necessity of Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection (e.g., Lk 9:22, 24:7, 24:44; Acts 17:3). It signifies God's sovereign will and the pre-ordained fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah's role.

Luke 22 7 Commentary

Luke 22:7 establishes the sacred chronology for Jesus' climactic work of redemption. By stating the precise arrival of the "Day of Unleavened Bread," the Evangelist sets the narrative firmly within the context of God's covenant history. The declaration that "the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed" (edei thyetai) highlights a divine imperative, not just a cultural custom. This divinely appointed necessity points beyond the mere annual ritual to the fulfillment in Christ. Jesus' anointing, betrayal, trial, and crucifixion are intrinsically tied to this specific time, signaling His role as the Lamb of God (Jn 1:29) whose blood would secure a new, eternal covenant (Lk 22:20; Heb 9:11-14). It underscores that His suffering was not a random event but the realization of prophetic anticipation, meticulously planned by God for the purification of humanity and the redemption of all who believe.