Exodus 12:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it.

NIV: That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.

NASB: They shall eat the flesh that same night, roasted with fire, and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

CSB: They are to eat the meat that night; they should eat it, roasted over the fire along with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

NLT: That same night they must roast the meat over a fire and eat it along with bitter salad greens and bread made without yeast.

KJV: And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.

NKJV: Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.

This continues instructions regarding the first Passover (Exodus 12:1–7). God will send terrible judgment on Egypt (Exodus 11:4–6). When this happens, only those homes who have followed the Lord's instructions will be spared (Exodus 12:13). This will finally break Egypt's hold on Israel (Exodus 1:8–14), resulting in national freedom (Exodus 12:41). So far, this passage has described sacrificial lambs whose blood is to be applied to the doorway of each home. This symbolizes the eventual death of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 5:7).

During the night leading to this Passover, the people are to dress for travel, roast the lamb and eat it quickly (Exodus 12:11). This foreshadows that Egypt will demand Israel leave immediately in the aftermath of the tenth plague (Exodus 12:12, 33). Boiling would disperse some of the lamb's meat into the water (Exodus 12:9). Roasting was quicker and made it easier to eat every last bit of the lamb (Exodus 12:10).

Scripture uses various words to describe leaven, leavening, and unleavened bread. Leaven itself is a rising agent, which modern people would call "yeast." Eating unleavened bread created two symbols. First, it was quicker to prepare because no time was needed for dough to rise. This reflects the speed with which Israel needed to leave Egypt (Exodus 12:39). Second, leaven would become a metaphor for sin (1 Corinthians 5:6–7; Galatians 5:9). Future Passover celebrations would include removing all leaven from an entire home for a week (Exodus 12:14–15).

Eating "bitter" herbs reflects hardship and difficult experiences (Exodus 1:14; Ruth 1:20). This helped Israel remember that God was freeing them from their long, hard years of slavery in Egypt.

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.