Sign in for free

Exodus 12

New International Reader’s Version



1 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in Egypt. 2 He said, ‘From now on, this month will be your first month. Each of your years will begin with it. 3 Speak to the whole community of Israel. Tell them that on the tenth day of this month each man must get a lamb from his flock. A lamb should be chosen for each family and home. 4 Suppose there are not enough people in your family to eat a whole lamb. Then you must share some of it with your nearest neighbour. You must add up the total number of people there are. You must decide how much lamb is needed for each person. 5 The animals you choose must be males that are a year old. They must not have any flaws. You may choose either sheep or goats. 6 Take care of them until the 14th day of the month. Then the whole community of Israel must kill them when the sun goes down. 7 Take some of the blood. Put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where you eat the lambs. 8 That same night eat the meat cooked over a fire. Also eat bitter plants. And eat bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat the meat when it is raw. Don’t boil it in water. Instead, cook it over a fire. Cook the head, legs and inside parts. 10 Do not leave any of it until morning. If some is left over until morning, burn it up. 11 Eat the meat while your coat is tucked into your belt. Put your sandals on your feet. Take your walking stick in your hand. Eat the food quickly. It is the LORD’s Passover. 12 ‘That same night I will pass through Egypt. I will strike down all those born first among the people and animals. And I will judge all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. 13 The blood on your houses will be a sign for you. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. No deadly plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. 14 ‘Always remember this day. You and your children after you must celebrate this day as a feast to honour the LORD. You must do this for all time to come. It is a law that will last for ever. 15 For seven days eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your homes. For the next seven days, anyone who eats anything with yeast in it must be separated from Israel. 16 On the first and seventh days, come together for a sacred assembly. Do not work at all on these days. The only thing you are allowed to do is prepare food for everyone to eat. 17 ‘Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. I brought you out of Egypt on this very day like an army on the march. It is a law that will last for all time to come. 18 In the first month eat bread made without yeast. Eat it from the evening of the 14th day until the evening of the 21st day. 19 For seven days do not let any yeast be found in your homes. Anyone who eats anything with yeast in it must be separated from the community of Israel. That applies to outsiders and Israelites alike. 20 Do not eat anything made with yeast. No matter where you live, eat bread made without yeast.’ 21 Then Moses sent for all the elders of Israel. He said to them, ‘Go at once. Choose the animals for your families. Each family must kill a Passover lamb. 22 Get a branch of a hyssop plant. Dip it into the blood in the bowl. Put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you can go out of the door of your house until morning. 23 The LORD will go through the land to strike down the Egyptians. He’ll see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe. He will pass over that house. He won’t let the destroying angel enter your homes to strike you down. 24 ‘Obey all these directions. It’s a law for you and your children after you for all time to come. 25 The LORD will give you the land, just as he promised. When you enter it, keep this holy day. 26 Your children will ask you, “What does this holy day mean to you?” 27 Tell them, “It’s the Passover sacrifice to honour the LORD. He passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. He spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.” ’ Then the Israelites bowed down and worshipped. 28 They did just what the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron. 29 At midnight the LORD struck down every eldest son in Egypt. He killed the eldest son of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne. He killed all the eldest sons of prisoners. He also killed all the male animals born first to their mothers among the livestock. 30 Pharaoh and all his officials got up during the night. So did all the Egyptians. There was loud crying in Egypt because someone had died in every home. 



31 During the night, Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron. He said to them, ‘Get out of here! You and the Israelites, leave my people! Go. Worship the LORD, just as you have asked. 32 Go. Take your flocks and herds, just as you have said. And also give me your blessing.’ 33 The Egyptians begged the people of Israel to hurry up and leave the country. ‘If you don’t,’ they said, ‘we’ll all die!’ 34 So the people took their dough before the yeast was added to it. They carried it on their shoulders in bowls for kneading bread. The bowls were wrapped in clothes. 35 They did just as Moses had instructed them. They asked the Egyptians for things made out of silver and gold. They also asked them for clothes. 36 The LORD had caused the Egyptians to treat the Israelites in a kind way. So the Egyptians gave them what they asked for. The Israelites took many expensive things that belonged to the Egyptians. 37 The Israelites travelled from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about 600,000 men old enough to go into battle. The women and children went with them. 38 So did many other people. The Israelites also took large flocks and herds with them. 39 The Israelites brought dough from Egypt. With it they baked loaves of bread without yeast. The dough didn’t have any yeast in it. That’s because the people had been driven out of Egypt before they had time to prepare their food. 40 The Israelites lived in Egypt for 430 years. 41 Then all the LORD’s people marched out of Egypt like an army. That happened at the end of the 430 years, to the exact day. 42 The LORD kept watch that night to bring them out of Egypt. So on that same night every year all the Israelites must keep watch. They must do it to honour the LORD for all time to come. 



43 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Here are the rules for the Passover meal. ‘No one from another country is allowed to eat it. 44 Any slave you have bought is allowed to eat it after you have circumcised him. 45 But a hired worker or someone who lives with you for a short time is not allowed to eat it. 46 ‘It must be eaten inside the house. Do not take any of the meat outside. Do not break any of the bones. 47 The whole community of Israel must celebrate the Passover. 48 ‘Suppose an outsider living among you wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover. Then all the males in that home must be circumcised. After that, the person can take part, just like an Israelite. Only circumcised males may eat it. 49 The same law applies to Israelites and to outsiders living among you.’ 50 All the people of Israel did just what the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 On that day the LORD brought the Israelites out of Egypt like an army on the march. 

Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV® (Anglicised)
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

“Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission.

Exodus 12

English Standard Version



1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2 “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. (Ex 13:4; Ex 23:15; Ex 34:18; De 16:1) 3 Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household. (Ex 12:21) 4 And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, (Le 22:19; De 17:1; Mal 1:8; Mal 1:14; Heb 9:14) 6 and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.[1] (Ex 12:18; Le 23:5; Nu 9:3; Nu 28:16; Jos 5:10; Ezr 6:19) 7 “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. (Ex 12:22) 8 They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. (Ex 23:18; Ex 34:25; Nu 9:11; De 16:3; 1Co 5:8) 9 Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. (De 16:7; 2Ch 35:13) 10 And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. (Ex 23:18; Ex 29:34; Ex 34:25; Le 7:15; De 16:4) 11 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover. (Ex 12:27; Le 23:5; De 16:5; Lu 12:35; 1Co 5:7; Eph 6:14; 1Pe 1:13) 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. (Ex 6:2; Ex 11:4; Ex 12:23; Nu 33:4; Isa 43:11) 13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. (Heb 11:28) 14 “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast. (Ex 12:17; Ex 12:24; Ex 12:43; Ex 13:9; Ex 13:10; 2Ki 23:21) 15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. (Ge 17:14; Ex 13:6; Ex 23:15; Ex 34:18; Ex 34:25; Le 23:6; Nu 9:13; Nu 28:17; De 16:3; De 16:8; 1Co 5:7) 16 On the first day you shall hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you. (Le 23:7; Nu 28:18; Nu 28:25) 17 And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever. (Ex 7:4; Ex 12:51; Ex 13:3) 18 In the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. (Le 23:5; Nu 28:16) 19 For seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses. If anyone eats what is leavened, that person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a sojourner or a native of the land. (Ex 12:15; Ex 12:48) 20 You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwelling places you shall eat unleavened bread.” 21 Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. (Ex 12:3) 22 Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. (Ex 12:7; Le 14:6; Nu 19:18; Ps 51:7; Isa 26:20; Heb 9:19; Heb 11:28) 23 For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. (Ex 12:12; Ex 12:22; Eze 9:6; Heb 11:28; Re 7:3; Re 9:4) 24 You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever. 25 And when you come to the land that the Lord will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this service. (Ex 3:8; Ex 3:17) 26 And when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ (Ex 13:8; Ex 13:14; De 6:20; De 32:7; Jos 4:6; Jos 4:21; Ps 78:3) 27 you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.’” And the people bowed their heads and worshiped. (Ex 4:31; Ex 12:11; Ex 12:21) 28 Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. 



29 At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. (Ex 4:23; Ex 11:4; Ex 11:5; Nu 8:17; Nu 33:4; Ps 78:51; Ps 105:36; Ps 135:8; Ps 136:10) 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead. (Ex 11:6; Am 5:16) 31 Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as you have said. (Ex 10:9) 32 Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!” (Ex 10:24) 



33 The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.” (Ex 6:1; Ex 11:1; Ex 11:8; Ps 105:38) 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders. 35 The people of Israel had also done as Moses told them, for they had asked the Egyptians for silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. (Ex 3:22; Ex 11:2) 36 And the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians. (Ge 15:14; Ex 3:21; Ex 11:3; Ps 105:37) 37 And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. (Ge 47:11; Ex 1:11; Ex 38:26; Nu 1:46; Nu 2:32; Nu 11:21; Nu 26:51; Nu 33:3; Nu 33:5) 38 A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very much livestock, both flocks and herds. (Le 24:10; Nu 11:4; Ne 13:3) 39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves. (Ex 12:33; De 16:3) 40 The time that the people of Israel lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. (Ge 15:13; Ac 7:6; Ga 3:17) 42 It was a night of watching by the Lord, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the Lord by all the people of Israel throughout their generations. (De 16:1) 



43 And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Passover: no foreigner shall eat of it, 44 but every slave[2] that is bought for money may eat of it after you have circumcised him. (Ge 17:12) 45 No foreigner or hired worker may eat of it. (Le 22:10) 46 It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones. (Nu 9:12; Joh 19:36) 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. (Ex 12:6) 48 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. (Ex 12:19; Nu 9:14) 49 There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you.” (Ex 12:48; Nu 9:14; Nu 15:15) 50 All the people of Israel did just as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 And on that very day the Lord brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts. (Ex 12:17; Ex 12:41; Ac 13:17) 

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.