Exodus 12:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats,

NIV: The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.

NASB: Your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats.

CSB: You must have an unblemished animal, a year-old male; you may take it from either the sheep or the goats.

NLT: The animal you select must be a one-year-old male, either a sheep or a goat, with no defects.

KJV: Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:

NKJV: Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats.

God is explaining how Israel should prepare for the very first Passover (Exodus 12:1–4). When God delivers a crushing plague on Egypt (Exodus 11:4–6), He will "pass over" those homes who follow these instructions (Exodus 12:13). So far, the people have been told to consider the current month as the start of the yearly calendar. They are to select lambs for this event, either from a sheep, or from a goat.

Here, the Lord explains that the lambs must be flawless. In context, this means they could not be diseased, lame, deformed, or compromised in any way. Sacrifices to the Lord were meant to cost something; they were not intended as a way to make use of something otherwise worthless.

The lambs also had to be male. This might have been because a flawless male was much more valuable for breeding than a female. This could also be to reflect the role of Jesus Christ more closely as the eventual fulfillment of prophecy (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7). However, no explicit reason is given.

Requiring a year-old lamb disqualified animals that hadn't been given an investment of time and resources, as well as those nearing an age where they were no longer of use. Once again, this emphasizes the idea that true sacrifices mean giving up something of personal value.

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.