Exodus 12:48 - Printer Friendly

ESV: If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it.

NIV: "A foreigner residing among you who wants to celebrate the Lord’s Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised male may eat it.

NASB: But if a stranger resides with you and celebrates the Passover to the Lord, all of his males are to be circumcised, and then he shall come near to celebrate it; and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised male may eat it.

CSB: If an alien resides among you and wants to observe the Lord’s Passover, every male in his household must be circumcised, and then he may participate; he will become like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person may eat it.

NLT: If there are foreigners living among you who want to celebrate the Lord’s Passover, let all their males be circumcised. Only then may they celebrate the Passover with you like any native-born Israelite. But no uncircumcised male may ever eat the Passover meal.

KJV: And when a 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.

NKJV: And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to 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 a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it.

Celebrating Passover involved a series of symbolic acts (Exodus 12:3–20) to remind Israel of how God freed them from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 12:29–33). These symbols also served to foreshadow the ministry of Jesus Christ, the One who acted as the universal sacrifice for sin (1 Corinthians 5:7).

God did not say, "only those born into Israel are my people. Only the native-born may observe Passover." Instead, He establishes an important concept. Those who follow His covenant can participate in this celebration. The most basic sign of obedience was circumcision (Genesis 17:10–14). Those willing to follow the Lord's commands can become full participants in the family of Israel. They are not given limited access to the ritual: they are "as a native" (Exodus 12:49)

Several prominent stories in the Old Testament include people born outside of God's chosen people (Deuteronomy 14:2) who find full acceptance and integration because of their faith, such as Rahab and Ruth (Joshua 6:25; Ruth 1:4; 4:10–12; Matthew 1:5; Hebrews 11:31). God sent a prophet to the Assyrians—enemies of Israel—so they could avoid judgment (Jonah 1:1–2)

The "stranger" and the "sojourner" here are those who travel through Israel's land or live there without being part of the nation itself. Scripture warns not to abuse such people (Exodus 22:21; Deuteronomy 24:17; Malachi 3:5). In most cases, they were to be offered the same rights and protections as anyone else (Leviticus 19:34; Numbers 15:29).

Exodus 12:43–51 expands on future remembrances of Israel's exodus from Egyptian slavery (Exodus 12:33–42). God connects Passover rituals to the identifying rite of circumcision (Genesis 17:9–11). Only those who identify with the Lord through circumcision can participate. Israel has obeyed these commands and is now leaving Egypt in a single massive group. Instructions about festivals will be provided in the next chapter.

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.