Exodus 12:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts.

NIV: Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs.

NASB: Do not eat any of it raw or boiled at all with water, but rather roasted with fire, both its head and its legs along with its entrails.

CSB: Do not eat any of it raw or cooked in boiling water, but only roasted over fire—its head as well as its legs and inner organs.

NLT: Do not eat any of the meat raw or boiled in water. The whole animal — including the head, legs, and internal organs — must be roasted over a fire.

KJV: Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.

NKJV: Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire—its head with its legs and its entrails.

Israel is about to leave Egypt in a great rush (Exodus 12:29–33). The people are to eat this meal prepared for travel (Exodus 12:11). Keeping the head, legs, and entrails with the lamb during cooking would have been unusual, but also much quicker than fully butchering it. Most scholars assume that parts such as the intestines would have been removed, since leaving feces in the meat would contaminate the entire meal. Other organs, such as lungs, liver, and heart were to be kept. The limbs were not to be removed; the animal was to be roasted as "whole" as possible.

Roasting was the only proper way to prepare the designated sacrificial lambs (Exodus 12:5–6) for eating. This verse emphasizes that the cooking method mattered. The lambs are symbolic of the death of the Messiah; a role which would later be fulfilled through Jesus Christ (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7). Every bit of the lamb was to be consumed (Exodus 12:10), and boiling would disperse some of the flesh into the water.

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 5/31/2025 9:44:07 PM