Exodus 12:23 - For Yahweh will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when he sees the blood on the lintel, and on the two door posts, Yahweh will pass over the door, and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to strike you.
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What does "Exodus 12:23" mean?
This verse from Exodus 12:23 is a crucial part of the Passover story, explaining how the Israelites were spared from the tenth and final plague that God inflicted upon Egypt – the death of the firstborn. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"For Yahweh will pass through to strike the Egyptians...": This indicates that God (Yahweh is the Hebrew name for God) himself will be the agent of the plague, directly responsible for killing the firstborn in Egyptian households.
"...and when he sees the blood on the lintel, and on the two door posts...": God instructed the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb (or goat) and apply some of its blood to the top (lintel) and sides (doorposts) of their doorframes. This blood served as a sign or marker.
"...Yahweh will pass over the door...": This is the origin of the term "Passover." When God sees the blood, he will "pass over" that house. In other words, he will bypass it and not inflict the plague upon the inhabitants.
"...and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to strike you.": This clarifies that even though God is the ultimate source of the plague, he uses an "destroyer" or "angel of death" to carry out the act. The blood on the doorpost is a sign to the "destroyer" that the house is to be spared from the plague.
In essence, the verse means:
God is going to kill the firstborn sons of the Egyptians as a final and devastating plague. However, if the Israelites follow his instructions and mark their doorframes with the blood of a sacrificed lamb, God will recognize this sign and protect them. He will "pass over" their houses, preventing the angel of death from entering and harming them.
Key themes and implications:
God's judgment and justice: The plague represents God's judgment on Egypt for their oppression of the Israelites and their refusal to let them go.
God's protection and deliverance: The Passover is a powerful demonstration of God's protection and deliverance of his people. He provides a way for them to escape the judgment that is coming upon the Egyptians.
The importance of obedience and faith: The Israelites had to trust and obey God's instructions to apply the blood to their doorframes. This act of faith was essential for their deliverance.
Symbolism: The blood of the lamb is often seen as a symbol of atonement and sacrifice. In Christian theology, it is often interpreted as a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose blood is seen as a way to escape God's judgment for sin.
Exodus 12:23 - For Yahweh will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when he sees the blood on the lintel, and on the two door posts, Yahweh will pass over the door, and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to strike you.
What does "Exodus 12:23" mean?
This verse from Exodus 12:23 is a crucial part of the Passover story, explaining how the Israelites were spared from the tenth and final plague that God inflicted upon Egypt – the death of the firstborn. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"For Yahweh will pass through to strike the Egyptians...": This indicates that God (Yahweh is the Hebrew name for God) himself will be the agent of the plague, directly responsible for killing the firstborn in Egyptian households.
"...and when he sees the blood on the lintel, and on the two door posts...": God instructed the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb (or goat) and apply some of its blood to the top (lintel) and sides (doorposts) of their doorframes. This blood served as a sign or marker.
"...Yahweh will pass over the door...": This is the origin of the term "Passover." When God sees the blood, he will "pass over" that house. In other words, he will bypass it and not inflict the plague upon the inhabitants.
"...and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to strike you.": This clarifies that even though God is the ultimate source of the plague, he uses an "destroyer" or "angel of death" to carry out the act. The blood on the doorpost is a sign to the "destroyer" that the house is to be spared from the plague.
In essence, the verse means:
God is going to kill the firstborn sons of the Egyptians as a final and devastating plague. However, if the Israelites follow his instructions and mark their doorframes with the blood of a sacrificed lamb, God will recognize this sign and protect them. He will "pass over" their houses, preventing the angel of death from entering and harming them.
Key themes and implications:
God's judgment and justice: The plague represents God's judgment on Egypt for their oppression of the Israelites and their refusal to let them go.
God's protection and deliverance: The Passover is a powerful demonstration of God's protection and deliverance of his people. He provides a way for them to escape the judgment that is coming upon the Egyptians.
The importance of obedience and faith: The Israelites had to trust and obey God's instructions to apply the blood to their doorframes. This act of faith was essential for their deliverance.
Symbolism: The blood of the lamb is often seen as a symbol of atonement and sacrifice. In Christian theology, it is often interpreted as a foreshadowing of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose blood is seen as a way to escape God's judgment for sin.