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Exodus 12:16
ESV On the first day you shall hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you.
NIV On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat; that is all you may do.
NASB And on the first day you shall have a holy assembly, and another holy assembly on the seventh day; no work at all shall be done on them, except for what must be eaten by every person—that alone may be prepared by you.
CSB You are to hold a sacred assembly on the first day and another sacred assembly on the seventh day. No work may be done on those days except for preparing what people need to eat—you may do only that.
NLT On the first day of the festival and again on the seventh day, all the people must observe an official day for holy assembly. No work of any kind may be done on these days except in the preparation of food.
KJV And in the first 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 man must eat, that only may be done of you.
NKJV On the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you. No manner of work shall be done on them; but that which everyone must eat—that only may be prepared by you.

What does Exodus 12:16 mean?

This is part of the Lord's instructions regarding a festival Israel is to keep so they remember their liberation from Egypt (Exodus 12:14–15). To remember the unleavened bread they ate (Exodus 12:8) and will carry with them (Exodus 12:39), they are to remove all leaven—yeast—from their homes for a week. This is also a symbolic gesture about diligently seeking to separate ourselves from sin (1 Corinthians 5:7). The first and last days of the celebration week are to be special gatherings. Unlike sabbaths, which will be introduced later (Exodus 16:23–29; 20:8), necessary food may be prepared on those days.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread comes immediately after Passover, which falls on the evening of the 14th day of the month of Nisan (Exodus 12:2, 5–6). For the next seven days, the people are to abstain from leaven. This ends after the 21st day of the month of Nisan. Because they are so intricately linked, the festival of Unleavened Bread is often included when discussing "Passover" observances (Luke 22:1).
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