Exodus 12:4 - and if the household is too little for a lamb, then he and his neighbor next to his house shall take one according to the number of the souls; according to what everyone can eat you shall make your count for the lamb.
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What does "Exodus 12:4" mean?
This verse from Exodus 12:4 provides instructions on how to properly share a Passover lamb. Let's break it down:
"and if the household is too little for a lamb...": This acknowledges that a single lamb might be too much for a small family to consume in one sitting. It anticipates that some households would not be large enough to finish an entire lamb without waste.
"...then he and his neighbor next to his house shall take one...": This allows neighboring households to join together and share a single lamb. It promotes community and ensures that no lamb goes to waste. The phrase "next to his house" emphasizes physical proximity, suggesting close neighbors should share together.
"...according to the number of the souls...": The lamb is to be shared according to the number of people eating from it. The "souls" here refers to the individuals who will be participating in the Passover meal.
"...according to what everyone can eat you shall make your count for the lamb": The size of the lamb (or the portion allocated to each group) should be determined by the amount of food each person can reasonably eat. The sharing arrangement should not result in excessive waste or someone not getting enough to eat. It prioritizes responsible consumption.
In essence, this verse instructs that:
1. If a family is too small to consume a whole Passover lamb, they should partner with their closest neighbors.
2. The lamb should be divided according to the number of people participating from both households.
3. The allocation of the lamb should consider the average appetite of each person, ensuring that everyone has enough to eat without excessive waste.
This instruction demonstrates a concern for:
Community: It encourages collaboration and sharing among neighbors.
Efficiency: It prevents waste of the sacrificial lamb.
Equity: It ensures that everyone has sufficient food for the Passover meal, according to their needs.
Exodus 12:4 - and if the household is too little for a lamb, then he and his neighbor next to his house shall take one according to the number of the souls; according to what everyone can eat you shall make your count for the lamb.
What does "Exodus 12:4" mean?
This verse from Exodus 12:4 provides instructions on how to properly share a Passover lamb. Let's break it down:
"and if the household is too little for a lamb...": This acknowledges that a single lamb might be too much for a small family to consume in one sitting. It anticipates that some households would not be large enough to finish an entire lamb without waste.
"...then he and his neighbor next to his house shall take one...": This allows neighboring households to join together and share a single lamb. It promotes community and ensures that no lamb goes to waste. The phrase "next to his house" emphasizes physical proximity, suggesting close neighbors should share together.
"...according to the number of the souls...": The lamb is to be shared according to the number of people eating from it. The "souls" here refers to the individuals who will be participating in the Passover meal.
"...according to what everyone can eat you shall make your count for the lamb": The size of the lamb (or the portion allocated to each group) should be determined by the amount of food each person can reasonably eat. The sharing arrangement should not result in excessive waste or someone not getting enough to eat. It prioritizes responsible consumption.
In essence, this verse instructs that:
1. If a family is too small to consume a whole Passover lamb, they should partner with their closest neighbors.
2. The lamb should be divided according to the number of people participating from both households.
3. The allocation of the lamb should consider the average appetite of each person, ensuring that everyone has enough to eat without excessive waste.
This instruction demonstrates a concern for:
Community: It encourages collaboration and sharing among neighbors.
Efficiency: It prevents waste of the sacrificial lamb.
Equity: It ensures that everyone has sufficient food for the Passover meal, according to their needs.