📖 Exodus — Chapter 12 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Exodus 12:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt saying,
Exodus 12:2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
Exodus 12:3 RSpeak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, Ta lamb for an house:
Exodus 12:4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
Exodus 12:5 Your lamb shall Rbe without blemish, a male Tof the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
Exodus 12:6 And ye shall keep it up until the Rfourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it Tin the evening.
Exodus 12:7 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 12:8 And they shall Reat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
Exodus 12:9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, Rbut roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.
Exodus 12:10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.
Exodus 12:11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your Rloins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’s passover.
Exodus 12:12 For I will Rpass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the Tgods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
Exodus 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: Rand when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you Tto destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
Exodus 12:14 And this day shall be unto you for a Rmemorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
Exodus 12:15 RSeven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
Exodus 12:16 And in the Rfirst day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every Tman must eat, that only may be done of you.
Exodus 12:17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for Rin this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
Exodus 12:18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
Exodus 12:19 RSeven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
Exodus 12:20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.
Exodus 12:21 Then Moses called for all the Relders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a Tlamb according to your families, and kill the passover.
Exodus 12:22 And ye shall take Ra bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
Exodus 12:23 For the LORD Rwill pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
Exodus 12:24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.
Exodus 12:25 And it shall come to pass, Rwhen ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.
Exodus 12:26 And it shall come to pass, when Ryour children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?
Exodus 12:27 That ye shall say, RIt is the sacrifice of the LORD’s passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.
Exodus 12:28 And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
Exodus 12:29 And it came to pass, that Rat midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the Tdungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
Exodus 12:30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; Rand there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
Exodus 12:31 And he Rcalled for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.
Exodus 12:32 Also take Ryour flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.
Exodus 12:33 And the Egyptians were Rurgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.
Exodus 12:34 And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their Tkneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.
Exodus 12:35 And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:
Exodus 12:36 And Rthe LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
Exodus 12:37 And Rthe children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
Exodus 12:38 RAnd Ta mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
Exodus 12:39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were Rthrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.
Exodus 12:40 Now the Rsojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.
Exodus 12:41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the Rselfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.
Exodus 12:42 It is Ta night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.
Exodus 12:43 And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: RThere shall no stranger eat thereof:
Exodus 12:44 But every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast Rcircumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.
Exodus 12:45 RA foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.
Exodus 12:46 In Rone house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.
Exodus 12:47 RAll the congregation of Israel shall Tkeep it.
Exodus 12:48 And when Ra 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 12:49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Exodus 12:50 Thus did all the children of Israel; Ras the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
Exodus 12:51 And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt Rby their armies.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Exodus 12:1–14 — The Passover Lamb and the Blood
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
God gives instructions for a lamb without blemish, its preparation, and blood upon the door posts. Israel is to eat ready for departure. The blood marks the houses where the LORD will pass over, and the day is to become a lasting memorial.
Key Truth: Israel's protection is connected to obeying God's Passover instructions.
Check What You Remember
1. On which day of the month was the lamb to be selected? (Exodus 12:3)
Find it in Exodus 12:3 (KJV).
2. Was the lamb to have a blemish? (Exodus 12:5)
Find it in Exodus 12:5 (KJV).
3. What was to be placed on the door posts? (Exodus 12:7)
Find it in Exodus 12:7 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Exodus 12:15–28 — Remembering and Teaching the Passover
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Israel is to observe seven days of unleavened bread. Moses instructs the elders to apply the blood with hyssop and remain inside until morning. When children ask about the service, their families are to explain the LORD's deliverance. The people bow and worship, then obey.
Key Truth: God's deliverance is to be remembered and taught to children.
Check What You Remember
1. How many days would Israel eat unleavened bread? (Exodus 12:15)
Find it in Exodus 12:15 (KJV).
2. What plant was used to apply the blood? (Exodus 12:22)
Find it in Exodus 12:22 (KJV).
3. Until when were the people to remain inside? (Exodus 12:22)
Find it in Exodus 12:22 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Exodus 12:29–42 — Judgment and the Departure from Egypt
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
At midnight the LORD strikes Egypt's firstborn. Pharaoh orders Israel to leave and serve the LORD, and the Egyptians urgently send them away. Israel journeys from Rameses to Succoth with a mixed multitude and livestock. The chapter records the end of the four hundred and thirty years of sojourning.
Key Truth: The LORD brings Israel out as he had promised.
Check What You Remember
1. When did the LORD strike Egypt's firstborn? (Exodus 12:29)
Find it in Exodus 12:29 (KJV).
2. Where did Israel journey after leaving Rameses? (Exodus 12:37)
Find it in Exodus 12:37 (KJV).
3. How many years of sojourning does the passage record? (Exodus 12:40–41)
Find it in Exodus 12:40–41 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Exodus 12:43–51 — Who May Keep the Passover
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The LORD specifies the conditions for sharing the Passover, including circumcision. It is to be eaten in one house, with no bone broken. The same law applies to the homeborn and the stranger who sojourns among Israel. The chapter closes with Israel's obedient departure.
Key Truth: The Passover is governed by God's instructions for the whole congregation.
Check What You Remember
1. Was a bone of the Passover animal to be broken? (Exodus 12:46)
Find it in Exodus 12:46 (KJV).
2. What rite was required for a stranger's males before keeping the Passover? (Exodus 12:48)
Find it in Exodus 12:48 (KJV).
3. Was there one law for the homeborn and the stranger? (Exodus 12:49)
Find it in Exodus 12:49 (KJV).
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How is the number of people considered when arranging the Passover animal?
2. What makes the blood a sign associated with protection?
3. How is the observance intended to teach future children?
4. How does the hurried departure affect the food carried by the people?
5. How does the chapter connect a stranger’s participation with a shared rule?
Notes
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