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Selected Verse: Exodus 12:3 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ex 12:3	Strong Concordance	Speak [01696] ye unto all the congregation [05712] of Israel [03478], saying [0559], In the tenth [06218] day of this month [02320] they shall take [03947] to them every man [0376] a lamb [07716], according to the house [01004] of their fathers [01], a lamb [07716] for an house [01004]:
	King James	Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel--The recent events had prepared the Israelitish people for a crisis in their affairs, and they seem to have yielded implicit obedience at this time to Moses. It is observable that, amid all the hurry and bustle of such a departure, their serious attention was to be given to a solemn act of religion. a lamb for an house--a kid might be taken (Exo 12:5). The service was to be a domestic one, for the deliverance was to be from an evil threatened to every house in Egypt.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel--The recent events had prepared the Israelitish people for a crisis in their affairs, and they seem to have yielded implicit obedience at this time to Moses. It is observable that, amid all the hurry and bustle of such a departure, their serious attention was to be given to a solemn act of religion.

a lamb for an house--a kid might be taken (Exo 12:5). The service was to be a domestic one, for the deliverance was to be from an evil threatened to every house in Egypt.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
A lamb - The Hebrew word is general, meaning either a sheep or a goat - male or female - and of any age; the age and sex are therefore epecially defined in the following verse. The direction to select the lamb on the tenth day, the fourth day before it was offered, was intended to secure due care in the preparation for the great national festival. The custom certainly fell into desuetude at a later period, but probably not before the destruction of the temple.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Take every man a lamb - In each of their families, or two or three families, if they were small, join for a lamb. The lamb was to be got ready four days before. and that afternoon they went, they were to kill it, (Exo 12:6,) as a sacrifice, not strictly, for it was not offered upon the altar, but as a religious ceremony, acknowledging God's goodness to them, not only in preserving them from, but in delivering them by the plagues inflicted on the Egyptians. The lamb so slain they were to eat roasted (we may suppose in its several quarters) with unleavened bread and bitter herbs; they were to eat it in haste, Exo 12:11, and to leave none of it until the morning; for God would have them to depend upon him for their daily bread. Before they eat the flesh of the lamb, they were to sprinkle the blood upon the door - posts; by which their houses were to be distinguished from the houses of the Egyptians, and so their first - born secured from the sword of the destroying angel. Dreadful work was to be made this night in Egypt; all the first - born both of man and beast were to be slain; and judgment executed upon the gods of Egypt, Num 33:4. It is probable the idols which the Egyptians worshipped were defaced, those of metal melted, those of wood consumed, and those of stone broke to pieces. This was to be annually observed as a feast of the Lord in their generations, to which the feast of unleavened bread was annexed, during which, for seven days, they were to eat no bread but what was unleavened, in remembrance of their being confined to such bread for many days after they came out of Egypt, Exo 12:14-20. There was much of the gospel in this ordinance: The paschal lamb was typical. Christ is our passover, Co1 5:7, and is the Lamb of God, Joh 1:29. It was to be a male of the first year; in its prime. Christ offered up himself in the midst of his days. It notes the strength and sufficiency of the Lord Jesus, on whom our help was laid. It was to be without blemish, noting the purity of the Lord Jesus, a lamb without spot, Pe1 1:19. It was to be set apart four days before, noting the designation of the Lord Jesus to be a Saviour, both in the purpose and in the promise. It is observable, that as Christ was crucified at the passover, so he solemnly entered into Jerusalem four days before, the very day that the paschal lamb was set apart. It was to be slain and roasted with fire, noting the exquisite sufferings of the Lord Jesus, even unto death, the death of the cross. It was to be killed by the whole congregation between the two evenings, that is, between three o'clock and six. Christ suffered in the latter end of the world, Heb 9:26, by the hand of the Jews, the whole multitude of them, Luk 23:18. Not a bone of it must be broken, Exo 12:46, which is expressly said to be fulfilled in Christ, Joh 19:33, Joh 19:36. The sprinkling of the blood was typical. 1st, It was not enough that the blood of the lamb was shed, but it must be sprinkled, noting the application of the merits of Christ's death to our souls; 2dly, It was to be sprinkled upon the door - posts, noting the open profession we are to make of faith in Christ, and obedience to him. The mark of the beast may be received in the forehead, or in the right hand, but the seal of the lamb is always in the forehead, Rev 7:3. 3dly, The blood thus sprinkled was a means of the preservation of the Israelites from the destroying angel. If the blood of Christ be sprinkled upon our consciences, it will be our protection from the wrath of God, the curse of the law, and the damnation of hell. The solemn eating of the lamb was typical of our gospel duty to Christ. 1st, The paschal lamb was killed not to be looked upon only, but to be fed upon; so we must by faith make Christ ours, as we do that which we eat, and we must receive spiritual strength and nourishment from him, as from our food, and have delight in him, as we have in eating and drinking when we are hungry or thirsty. 2dly, It was to be all eaten: those that, by faith, feed upon Christ, must feed upon a whole Christ. They must take Christ and his yoke, Christ and his cross, as well as Christ and his crown. 3dly, It was to be eaten with bitter herbs, in remembrance of the bitterness of their bondage in Egypt; we must feed upon Christ with brokenness of heart, in remembrance of sin. 4thly, It was to be eaten in a departing posture Exo 12:11, when we feed upon Christ by faith, we must sit loose to the world, and every thing in it. The feast of unleavened bread was typical of the Christian life, Co1 5:7-8. Having received Christ Jesus the Lord, 1st. We must keep a feast, in holy joy, continually delighting ourselves in Christ Jesus; If true believers have not a continual feast, it is their own fault. 2dly, It must be a feast of unleavened bread, kept in charity, without the leaven of malice, and in sincerity, without the leaven of hypocrisy. All the old leaven of sin must be put far from us, with the utmost caution, if we would keep the feast of a holy life to the honour of Christ. 3dly, It was to be an ordinance forever. As long as we live we must continue feeding upon Christ, and rejoicing in him always, with thankful mention of the great things he has done for us.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]

Take every man a lamb - In each of their families, or two or three families, if they were small, join for a lamb. The lamb was to be got ready four days before. and that afternoon they went, they were to kill it, (Exo 12:6,) as a sacrifice, not strictly, for it was not offered upon the altar, but as a religious ceremony, acknowledging God's goodness to them, not only in preserving them from, but in delivering them by the plagues inflicted on the Egyptians. The lamb so slain they were to eat roasted (we may suppose in its several quarters) with unleavened bread and bitter herbs; they were to eat it in haste, Exo 12:11, and to leave none of it until the morning; for God would have them to depend upon him for their daily bread. Before they eat the flesh of the lamb, they were to sprinkle the blood upon the door - posts; by which their houses were to be distinguished from the houses of the Egyptians, and so their first - born secured from the sword of the destroying angel. Dreadful work was to be made this night in Egypt; all the first - born both of man and beast were to be slain; and judgment executed upon the gods of Egypt, Num 33:4. It is probable the idols which the Egyptians worshipped were defaced, those of metal melted, those of wood consumed, and those of stone broke to pieces. This was to be annually observed as a feast of the Lord in their generations, to which the feast of unleavened bread was annexed, during which, for seven days, they were to eat no bread but what was unleavened, in remembrance of their being confined to such bread for many days after they came out of Egypt, Exo 12:14-20. There was much of the gospel in this ordinance: The paschal lamb was typical. Christ is our passover, Co1 5:7, and is the Lamb of God, Joh 1:29. It was to be a male of the first year; in its prime. Christ offered up himself in the midst of his days. It notes the strength and sufficiency of the Lord Jesus, on whom our help was laid. It was to be without blemish, noting the purity of the Lord Jesus, a lamb without spot, Pe1 1:19. It was to be set apart four days before, noting the designation of the Lord Jesus to be a Saviour, both in the purpose and in the promise. It is observable, that as Christ was crucified at the passover, so he solemnly entered into Jerusalem four days before, the very day that the paschal lamb was set apart. It was to be slain and roasted with fire, noting the exquisite sufferings of the Lord Jesus, even unto death, the death of the cross. It was to be killed by the whole congregation between the two evenings, that is, between three o'clock and six. Christ suffered in the latter end of the world, Heb 9:26, by the hand of the Jews, the whole multitude of them, Luk 23:18. Not a bone of it must be broken, Exo 12:46, which is expressly said to be fulfilled in Christ, Joh 19:33, Joh 19:36. The sprinkling of the blood was typical. 1st, It was not enough that the blood of the lamb was shed, but it must be sprinkled, noting the application of the merits of Christ's death to our souls; 2dly, It was to be sprinkled upon the door - posts, noting the open profession we are to make of faith in Christ, and obedience to him. The mark of the beast may be received in the forehead, or in the right hand, but the seal of the lamb is always in the forehead, Rev 7:3. 3dly, The blood thus sprinkled was a means of the preservation of the Israelites from the destroying angel. If the blood of Christ be sprinkled upon our consciences, it will be our protection from the wrath of God, the curse of the law, and the damnation of hell. The solemn eating of the lamb was typical of our gospel duty to Christ. 1st, The paschal lamb was killed not to be looked upon only, but to be fed upon; so we must by faith make Christ ours, as we do that which we eat, and we must receive spiritual strength and nourishment from him, as from our food, and have delight in him, as we have in eating and drinking when we are hungry or thirsty. 2dly, It was to be all eaten: those that, by faith, feed upon Christ, must feed upon a whole Christ. They must take Christ and his yoke, Christ and his cross, as well as Christ and his crown. 3dly, It was to be eaten with bitter herbs, in remembrance of the bitterness of their bondage in Egypt; we must feed upon Christ with brokenness of heart, in remembrance of sin. 4thly, It was to be eaten in a departing posture Exo 12:11, when we feed upon Christ by faith, we must sit loose to the world, and every thing in it. The feast of unleavened bread was typical of the Christian life, Co1 5:7-8. Having received Christ Jesus the Lord, 1st. We must keep a feast, in holy joy, continually delighting ourselves in Christ Jesus; If true believers have not a continual feast, it is their own fault. 2dly, It must be a feast of unleavened bread, kept in charity, without the leaven of malice, and in sincerity, without the leaven of hypocrisy. All the old leaven of sin must be put far from us, with the utmost caution, if we would keep the feast of a holy life to the honour of Christ. 3dly, It was to be an ordinance forever. As long as we live we must continue feeding upon Christ, and rejoicing in him always, with thankful mention of the great things he has done for us.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
In the tenth day of this month - In after times they began their preparation on the thirteenth day or day before the Passover, which was not celebrated till the fourteenth day, see Exo 12:6 : but on the present occasion, as this was their first passover, they probably required more time to get ready in; as a state of very great confusion must have prevailed at this time. Mr. Ainsworth remarks that on this day the Israelites did afterwards go through Jordan into the land of Canaan; Jos 4:19. And Christ, our Paschal Lamb, on this day entered Jerusalem, riding on an ass; the people bearing palm branches, and crying, Hosanna, Joh 12:1, Joh 12:12, Joh 12:13, etc.: and in him this type was truly fulfilled. A lamb - The original word שה seh signifies the young of sheep and of goats, and may be indifferently translated either lamb or kid. See Exo 12:5. A lamb for a house - The whole host of Israel was divided into twelve tribes, these tribes into families, the families into houses, and the houses into particular persons; Numbers 1, Jos 7:14 - Ainsworth.

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⁵ Your lamb [07716] shall be without blemish [08549], a male [02145] of the first [01121] year [08141]: ye shall take [03947] it out from the sheep [03532], or from the goats [05795]:

⁷ Purge out [1571] therefore [3767] the old [3820] leaven [2219], that [2443] ye may be [5600] a new [3501] lump [5445], as [2531] ye are [2075] unleavened [106]. For [1063] even [2532] Christ [5547] our [2257] passover [3957] is sacrificed [2380] for [5228] us [2257]:
⁸ Therefore [5620] let us keep the feast [1858], not [3361] with [1722] old [3820] leaven [2219], neither [3366] with [1722] the leaven [2219] of malice [2549] and [2532] wickedness [4189]; but [235] with [1722] the unleavened [106] bread of sincerity [1505] and [2532] truth [225].

¹¹ And thus [03602] shall ye eat [0398] it; with your loins [04975] girded [02296], your shoes [05275] on your feet [07272], and your staff [04731] in your hand [03027]; and ye shall eat [0398] it in haste [02649]: it is the LORD'S [03068] passover [06453].

³ Saying [3004], Hurt [91] not [3361] the earth [1093], neither [3383] the sea [2281], nor [3383] the trees [1186], till [891] [3739] we have sealed [4972] [4972] the servants [1401] of our [2257] God [2316] in [1909] their [846] foreheads [3359].

³⁶ For [1063] these things [5023] were done [1096], that [2443] the scripture [1124] should be fulfilled [4137], A bone [3747] of him [846] shall [4937] not [3756] be broken [4937].

³³ But [1161] when [5613] they came [2064] to [1909] Jesus [2424], and saw [1492] that he [846] was dead [2348] already [2235], they brake [2608] not [3756] his [846] legs [4628]:

⁴⁶ In one [0259] house [01004] shall it be eaten [0398]; thou shalt not carry forth [03318] ought of the flesh [01320] abroad [02351] out of the house [01004]; neither shall ye break [07665] a bone [06106] thereof.

¹⁸ And [1161] they cried out [349] all at once [3826], saying [3004], Away with [142] this [5126] man, and [1161] release [630] unto us [2254] Barabbas [912]:

²⁶ For then [1893] must [1163] he [846] often [4178] have suffered [3958] since [575] the foundation [2602] of the world [2889]: but [1161] now [3568] once [530] in [1909] the end [4930] of the world [165] hath he appeared [5319] to [1519] put away [115] sin [266] by [1223] the sacrifice [2378] of himself [846].

¹⁹ But [235] with the precious [5093] blood [129] of Christ [5547], as [5613] of a lamb [286] without blemish [299] and [2532] without spot [784]:

²⁹ The next day [1887] John [2491] seeth [991] Jesus [2424] coming [2064] unto [4314] him [846], and [2532] saith [3004], Behold [2396] the Lamb [286] of God [2316], which [3588] taketh away [142] the sin [266] of the world [2889].

¹⁴ And this day [03117] shall be unto you for a memorial [02146]; and ye shall keep [02287] it a feast [02282] to the LORD [03068] throughout your generations [01755]; ye shall keep it a feast [02287] by an ordinance [02708] for ever [05769].
¹⁵ Seven [07651] days [03117] shall ye eat [0398] unleavened bread [04682]; even [0389] the first [07223] day [03117] ye shall put away [07673] leaven [07603] out of your houses [01004]: for whosoever eateth [0398] leavened bread [02557] from the first [07223] day [03117] until the seventh [07637] day [03117], that soul [05315] shall be cut [03772] off from Israel [03478].
¹⁶ And in the first [07223] day [03117] there shall be an holy [06944] convocation [04744], and in the seventh [07637] day [03117] there shall be an holy [06944] convocation [04744] to you; no manner of work [04399] shall be done [06213] in them, save [0389] that which every man [05315] must eat [0398], that only may be done [06213] of you.
¹⁷ And ye shall observe [08104] the feast of unleavened bread [04682]; for in this selfsame [06106] day [03117] have I brought [03318] your armies [06635] out of the land [0776] of Egypt [04714]: therefore shall ye observe [08104] this day [03117] in your generations [01755] by an ordinance [02708] for ever [05769].
¹⁸ In the first [07223] month, on the fourteenth [06240] [0702] day [03117] of the month [02320] at even [06153], ye shall eat [0398] unleavened bread [04682], until the one [0259] and twentieth [06242] day [03117] of the month [02320] at even [06153].
¹⁹ Seven [07651] days [03117] shall there be no leaven [07603] found [04672] in your houses [01004]: for whosoever eateth [0398] that which is leavened [02556], even that soul [05315] shall be cut off [03772] from the congregation [05712] of Israel [03478], whether he be a stranger [01616], or born [0249] in the land [0776].
²⁰ Ye shall eat [0398] nothing leavened [02556]; in all your habitations [04186] shall ye eat [0398] unleavened bread [04682].

⁴ For the Egyptians [04714] buried [06912] all their firstborn [01060], which the LORD [03068] had smitten [05221] among them: upon their gods [0430] also the LORD [03068] executed [06213] judgments [08201].

⁶ And ye shall keep [04931] it up until the fourteenth [0702] [06240] day [03117] of the same month [02320]: and the whole [03605] assembly [06951] of the congregation [05712] of Israel [03478] shall kill [07819] it in [0996] the evening [06153].

¹⁴ In the morning [01242] therefore ye shall be brought [07126] according to your tribes [07626]: and it shall be, that the tribe [07626] which the LORD [03068] taketh [03920] shall come [07126] according to the families [04940] thereof; and the family [04940] which the LORD [03068] shall take [03920] shall come [07126] by households [01004]; and the household [01004] which the LORD [03068] shall take [03920] shall come [07126] man [01397] by man [01397].

⁵ Your lamb [07716] shall be without blemish [08549], a male [02145] of the first [01121] year [08141]: ye shall take [03947] it out from the sheep [03532], or from the goats [05795]:

¹³ Took [2983] branches [902] of palm trees [5404], and [2532] went forth [1831] to [1519] meet [5222] him [846], and [2532] cried [2896], Hosanna [5614]: Blessed [2127] is the King [935] of Israel [2474] that cometh [2064] in [1722] the name [3686] of the Lord [2962].

¹² On the next day [1887] much [4183] people [3793] that were come [2064] to [1519] the feast [1859], when they heard [191] that [3754] Jesus [2424] was coming [2064] to [1519] Jerusalem [2414],

¹ Then [3767] Jesus [2424] six [1803] days [2250] before [4253] the passover [3957] came [2064] to [1519] Bethany [963], where [3699] Lazarus [2976] was [2258] which [3588] had been dead [2348], whom [3739] he raised [1453] from [1537] the dead [3498].

¹⁹ And the people [05971] came up [05927] out of Jordan [03383] on the tenth [06218] day of the first [07223] month [02320], and encamped [02583] in Gilgal [01537], in the east [04217] border [07097] of Jericho [03405].