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What the Bible Says About Passover

Overview

The Bible addresses passover across 161 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Exodus, Luke and Numbers. Closely related themes include Egypt, Feast of the Passover, the, Paschal Lamb, Typical Nature Of and Communion of the Lord's Supper. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Moses, Jesus, Aaron and David.

Key Bible verses about passover

Old Testament

Exodus

Exodus 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

Exodus 12:4

And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.

Exodus 12:5

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: of: Heb. son of a year

Exodus 12:6

And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. in: Heb. between the two evenings

Exodus 12:7

And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

Exodus 12:8

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

Exodus 12:9

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.

Exodus 12:10

And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.

Exodus 12:11

And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.

Exodus 12:12

For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. gods: or, princes

Exodus 12:13

And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. to destroy: Heb. for a destruction

Exodus 12:14

And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

Exodus 12:15

Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.

Exodus 12:16

And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. man: Heb. soul

Exodus 12:17

And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.

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 12:19

Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.

Exodus 12:20

Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.

Exodus 12:21

Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. lamb: or, kid

Exodus 12:22

And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.

Exodus 12:23

For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

Exodus 12:24

And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.

Exodus 12:25

And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.

Exodus 12:26

And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?

Exodus 12:27

That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.

Exodus 12:28

And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

Exodus 12:29

And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. dungeon: Heb. house of the pit

Exodus 12:30

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 there was not one dead.

Exodus 12:31

And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.

Exodus 12:32

Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.

Exodus 12:33

And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.

Exodus 12:34

And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. kneadingtroughs: or, dough

Exodus 12:35

And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:

Exodus 12:36

And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.

Exodus 12:37

And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.

Exodus 12:38

And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. a mixed: Heb. a great mixture

Exodus 12:39

And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.

Exodus 12:40

Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.

Exodus 12:41

And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.

Exodus 12:42

It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations. a night: Heb. a night of observations

Exodus 12:43

And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:

Exodus 12:44

But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.

Exodus 12:45

A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.

Exodus 12:46

In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.

Exodus 12:47

All the congregation of Israel shall keep it. keep: Heb. do it

Exodus 12:48

And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

Exodus 12:49

One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.

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 23:16

And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.

Exodus 23:17

Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.

Exodus 23:18

Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the fat of my sacrifice remain until the morning. sacrifice: or, feast

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.

Numbers

Numbers 9:2

Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season.

Numbers 9:3

In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it. at even: Heb. between the two evenings

Numbers 9:4

And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover.

Numbers 9:5

And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.

Numbers 9:6

And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day:

Numbers 9:7

And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel?

Numbers 9:8

And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you.

Numbers 9:9

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Numbers 9:10

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD.

Numbers 9:11

The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

Numbers 9:12

They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.

Numbers 9:13

But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.

Numbers 9:14

And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.

Numbers 28:16

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

Numbers 28:17

And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.

Numbers 28:18

In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:

Numbers 28:19

But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish:

Numbers 28:20

And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram;

Numbers 28:21

A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs:

Numbers 28:22

And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.

Numbers 28:23

Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.

Numbers 28:24

After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

Numbers 28:25

And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.

Deuteronomy

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.

Deuteronomy 16:2

Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there.

Deuteronomy 16:3

Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.

Deuteronomy 16:4

And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there any thing of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning.

Deuteronomy 16:5

Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee: sacrifice: or, kill

Deuteronomy 16:6

But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 16:7

And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents.

Deuteronomy 16:8

Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work therein. solemn: Heb. restraint

Deuteronomy 16:16

Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:

2 Chronicles

2 Chronicles 30:2

For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.

2 Chronicles 30:3

For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 30:4

And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation. pleased: Heb. was right in the eyes of the king

2 Chronicles 30:17

For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD.

2 Chronicles 35:3

And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, which were holy unto the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; it shall not be a burden upon your shoulders: serve now the LORD your God, and his people Israel,

2 Chronicles 35:4

And prepare yourselves by the houses of your fathers, after your courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son.

2 Chronicles 35:5

And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brethren the people, and after the division of the families of the Levites. the families of the fathers: Heb. the house of the fathers the people: Heb. the sons of the people

2 Chronicles 35:6

So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

2 Chronicles 35:7

And Josiah gave to the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all for the passover offerings, for all that were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bullocks: these were of the king's substance. gave: Heb. offered

2 Chronicles 35:8

And his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and to the Levites: Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave unto the priests for the passover offerings two thousand and six hundred small cattle, and three hundred oxen. gave willingly: Heb. offered, etc

2 Chronicles 35:9

Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave unto the Levites for passover offerings five thousand small cattle, and five hundred oxen. gave: Heb. offered

2 Chronicles 35:10

So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king's commandment.

2 Chronicles 35:11

And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed them.

New Testament

Mark

Mark 14:1

After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.

Mark 14:2

But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.

Mark 14:12

And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover? killed: or, sacrificed

Mark 14:13

And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.

Mark 14:14

And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

Mark 14:15

And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.

Mark 14:16

And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

Mark 14:17

And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.

Mark 14:18

And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.

Mark 14:19

And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one Is it I? and another said,3385 Is it I?

Mark 14:20

And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.

Mark 14:21

The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.

Mark 14:22

And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

Mark 14:23

And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.

Mark 14:24

And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

Mark 14:25

Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

Mark 15:6

Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

Luke

Luke 2:41

Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.

Luke 2:42

And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.

Luke 2:43

And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.

Luke 2:44

But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

Luke 2:45

And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.

Luke 2:46

And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

Luke 2:47

And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

Luke 2:48

And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.

Luke 2:49

And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

Luke 2:50

And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

Luke 22:7

Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

Luke 22:8

And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

Luke 22:9

And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?

Luke 22:10

And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.

Luke 22:11

And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

Luke 22:12

And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

Luke 22:13

And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

Luke 22:14

And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.

Luke 22:15

And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: With desire: or, I have heartily desired

Luke 22:16

For I say unto you I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

Luke 22:17

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

Luke 22:18

For I say unto you I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

Luke 22:19

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Luke 22:20

Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

Luke 23:16

I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

Luke 23:17

(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

People in the Bible and passover

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying passover for yourself

  • Begin with Exodus 12:3, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Exodus, Luke and Numbers each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Moses, Jesus and Aaron and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Egypt, Feast of the Passover, the, Paschal Lamb, Typical Nature Of and Communion of the Lord's Supper.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about passover?

The Bible addresses passover across 161 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Exodus, Luke and Numbers. Closely related themes include Egypt, Feast of the Passover, the, Paschal Lamb, Typical Nature Of and Communion of the Lord's Supper. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Moses, Jesus, Aaron and David.

How many Bible verses are about passover?

The Bible references passover in 161 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention passover?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Exodus 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”

Which people in the Bible are associated with passover?

Moses, Jesus, Aaron, David and Solomon.

Preach & teach

Outline a sermon or build a study series on passover.

Preach a series on Passover