Exodus 12:18 - In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty first day of the month at evening.

Generated Verse: Exodus 12:18

What does "Exodus 12:18" mean?


Exodus 12:18 is a key verse related to the observance of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Let's break down what it means:

"In the first month...": This refers to the Hebrew month of Nisan (also called Aviv), which usually falls in March/April on the Gregorian calendar. This month is considered the beginning of the religious year for the Israelites.

"...on the fourteenth day of the month at evening...": This is when the Passover Seder begins. "At evening" refers to the twilight time after sunset. On the 14th of Nisan, in the late afternoon, the Passover lamb was sacrificed (in the Temple, when it stood). Then, after nightfall, the Passover meal (the Seder) began.

"...you shall eat unleavened bread...": This instruction is central to both Passover and the subsequent Feast of Unleavened Bread. Unleavened bread (matzah) is bread made without yeast or other leavening agents. It is eaten in remembrance of the hasty departure of the Israelites from Egypt, when they didn't have time for their bread to rise.

"...until the twenty first day of the month at evening.": The period during which unleavened bread must be eaten lasts for seven days, from the evening of the 14th of Nisan until the evening of the 21st of Nisan.

Therefore, the verse instructs the Israelites (and by extension, Jewish people today) to:

1. Begin eating unleavened bread on the evening of the 14th of Nisan (Passover). This is part of the Passover Seder.
2. Continue eating only unleavened bread for the next seven days, until the evening of the 21st of Nisan. This period is known as the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

In essence, this verse is part of the commandments given to the Israelites regarding the observance of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, commemorating their liberation from slavery in Egypt. It highlights the specific timing and the requirement to eat unleavened bread as a symbol of their hasty exodus and freedom. It is a tangible reminder of God's deliverance and a call to humility and remembrance.

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