Exodus 12:2

12:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,

This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.

KJV

“This month shall be to you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year to you.

This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.

This month shall be to you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. ¶

12:3 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: lamb: or, kid

What does Exodus 12:2 mean?

Exodus 12:2 is a verse in the book of Exodus, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include חֹדֶשׁ (chôdesh), רֹאשׁ (rôʼsh), רִאשׁוֹן (riʼshôwn). It connects to 7 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

This

monthחֹדֶשׁchôdesh/kho'-desh/H2320the new moon; by implication, a month

shall

unto

you

the

beginningרֹאשׁrôʼsh/roshe/H7218the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)

months:חֹדֶשׁchôdesh/kho'-desh/H2320the new moon; by implication, a month

shall

the

firstרִאשׁוֹןriʼshôwn/ree-shone'/H7223first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)

monthחֹדֶשׁchôdesh/kho'-desh/H2320the new moon; by implication, a month

the

yearשָׁנֶהshâneh/shaw-neh'/H8141a year (as a revolution of time)

you.

Commentary on Exodus 12:2

HENRY_FULL · Exodus 12:2

2" This chapter gives an account of one of the most memorable ordinances, and one of the most memorable providences, of all that are recorded in the Old Testament. I. Not one of all the ordinances of the Jewish church was more eminent than that of the passover, nor is any one more frequently mentioned in the New Testament; and we have here an account of the institution to it. The ordinance consisted of three parts:—1. The killing and eating of the paschal lamb, ver. 1-6 , 8-11 . 2. The sprinkling of the blood upon the door-posts, spoken of as a distinct thing ( Heb. xi. 28 ), and peculiar to this first passover ( ver. 7 ), with the reason for it, ver. 13 . 3. The feast of unleavened bread for seven days following; this points rather at what was to be done afterwards, in the observance of this ordinance, ver. 14-20 . This institution is communicated to the people, and they are instructed in the observance, (1.) Of this first passover, ver. 21-23 . (2.) Of the after passovers, ver. 24-27 . And the Israelites' obedience to these orders, ver. 28 . II. Not one of all the providences of God concerning the Jewish church was more illustrious, or is more frequently mentioned, than the deliverance of the children of Israel out of Egypt. 1. The firstborn of the Egyptians are slain, ver. 29, 30 . 2. Orders are given immediately for their discharge, ver. 31-33 . 3. They begin their march. (1.) Loaded with their own effects, ver. 34 . (2.) Enriched with the spoils of Egypt, ver. 35, 36 . (3.) Attended with a mixed multitude, ver. 37, 38 . (4.) Put to their shifts for present supply, ver. 39 . The event is dated, ver. 40-42 . Lastly, A recapitulation in the close, [1.] Of this memorable ordinance, with some additions, ver. 43-49 . [2.] Of this memorable providence, ver. 50, 51 .

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Exodus 13:4

This day came ye out in the month Abib.

Exodus 23:15

Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)

Exodus 34:18

The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt.

Leviticus 23:5

In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover.

Numbers 28:16

And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD.

Deuteronomy 16:1

Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.

Esther 3:7

In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.

Topics

Abib Egypt Years

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Exodus 12:2.

Genesis 8:13

And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.

Exodus 12:18

In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.

Exodus 40:17

And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.

Exodus 40:2

On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.

Genesis 40:13

Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. lift: or, reckon

Genesis 7:11

In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. windows: or, floodgates

Genesis 8:5

And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen. decreased: Heb. were in going and decreasing

Leviticus 23:39

Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.

Frequently asked questions

What does Exodus 12:2 say?

Exodus 12:2 (King James Version) reads: "This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you."

Is Exodus 12:2 in the Old or New Testament?

Exodus 12:2 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Exodus.

Reflect

As you read Exodus 12:2, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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