Exodus 12:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And when you come to the land that the Lord will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service.

NIV: When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony.

NASB: When you enter the land which the Lord will give you, as He has promised, you shall keep this rite.

CSB: When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, you are to observe this ceremony.

NLT: When you enter the land the Lord has promised to give you, you will continue to observe this ceremony.

KJV: And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the Lord will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.

NKJV: It will come to pass when you come to the land which the Lord will give you, just as He promised, that you shall keep this service.

When God called Abraham—then named Abram (Genesis 12:1–3)—the call included a guarantee of specific territory intended for Abraham's descendants (Genesis 15:7). The Lord predicted that future generations would be trapped in a foreign land for centuries (Genesis 15:13–14). Before Joseph, Abraham's great-grandson (Genesis 21:3; 25:26; 37:3), died in Egypt, he made his family promise to carry his bones into this Promised Land (Genesis 50:25). This land inheritance to Abraham's descendants is the same promise about which Moses is speaking here.

A prominent fulfillment of this prophecy will occur prior to the battle of Jericho (Joshua 5:11). While in the very Promised Land they were seeking, Israel celebrated the Passover. Other mentions of Passover celebrations are seen in the Old Testament (2 Kings 23; 2 Chronicles 30; 35; Ezra 6:19–20; Ezekiel 45:21). Jesus and His disciples also participated in Passover (Luke 22:15). It was a Passover evening when Jesus was arrested, later to die as a sacrifice for all who believe (1 Corinthians 5:7).

Exodus 12:1–28 records the Lord's instructions for the first observation of Passover. The Israelites are to sacrifice lambs and prepare a specific set of foods. These must be eaten while dressed for travel. The lamb's blood is to be collected at the threshold of the door and then applied to the top and side posts. On that first Passover, God will kill the firstborn of Egypt (Exodus 11:4–6). Houses marked with the lamb's blood will be spared: God's judgment will "pass over" them without harm (Exodus 11:7). This event will establish a new start for Israel's yearly calendar. It is to be commemorated every year by using various symbolic elements. Future generations are to be carefully taught the meaning of these things.

Israel is to realign their calendar to begin with the current month. They receive instructions to prepare a special meal. This includes sacrificing lambs and applying their blood to the doorway of each home. Following these instructions will cause God's wrath to "pass over" that house. Egypt's firstborn are killed and they demand Israel leave immediately. The people quickly gather their belongings and march out in a single massive group. These events are to be remembered with festivals to be celebrated for all time.

Moses was sent to lead Israel into freedom (Exodus 3:10). This meant announcing the Lord's supernatural judgments on Egypt (Exodus 3:19–21). After nine such disasters (Exodus 7:21; 8:6, 17, 24; 9:6, 10, 24; 10:14, 23), a tenth was promised (Exodus 4:21–23; 11:4–6). In this chapter, God provides instructions for Israel to both survive and commemorate this first Passover night. Egypt reels from the death of its firstborn and demands Israel leave that very night. More directions about the future are to come (Exodus 13). Then Pharaoh will once again change his mind and confront the Hebrews on the shores of the Red Sea (Exodus 14).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.

Accessed 6/16/2025 7:11:15 PM