Exodus 12:6 - and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at evening.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Exodus 12:6" mean?
This verse is a central part of the instructions for the Passover sacrifice in the Book of Exodus. Let's break it down:
"and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month": "It" refers to a lamb or goat, specifically a male, a year old, and without blemish (see Exodus 12:5). Families or small groups of families were instructed to select an animal on the tenth day of the first month (Nisan) and keep it until the fourteenth. This period likely allowed the family to become attached to the animal, heightening the sense of sacrifice.
"and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel": This means the entire community of Israelites, acting collectively, not just individuals or specific leaders.
"shall kill it at evening": This refers to the time between the setting of the sun and full darkness, a period often called "twilight" or "dusk." All the families throughout the land were to slaughter their chosen lamb/goat at the same time.
In essence, Exodus 12:6 instructs the Israelites to:
1. Select a suitable lamb or goat: A male, one year old, and without defects, was kept for four days
2. Slaughter their chosen animal collectively: All Israelite families were required to kill their lamb/goat simultaneously at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month (Nisan).
Significance:
This verse is crucial because it establishes the timing and communal nature of the Passover sacrifice. The simultaneous slaughter across the entire community emphasized the shared experience and the collective redemption from slavery in Egypt. This unified act was essential for the Passover ritual and the subsequent exodus. It emphasized the importance of obedience to God's commands and the collective identity of the Israelites.
Exodus 12:6 - and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at evening.
What does "Exodus 12:6" mean?
This verse is a central part of the instructions for the Passover sacrifice in the Book of Exodus. Let's break it down:
"and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month": "It" refers to a lamb or goat, specifically a male, a year old, and without blemish (see Exodus 12:5). Families or small groups of families were instructed to select an animal on the tenth day of the first month (Nisan) and keep it until the fourteenth. This period likely allowed the family to become attached to the animal, heightening the sense of sacrifice.
"and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel": This means the entire community of Israelites, acting collectively, not just individuals or specific leaders.
"shall kill it at evening": This refers to the time between the setting of the sun and full darkness, a period often called "twilight" or "dusk." All the families throughout the land were to slaughter their chosen lamb/goat at the same time.
In essence, Exodus 12:6 instructs the Israelites to:
1. Select a suitable lamb or goat: A male, one year old, and without defects, was kept for four days
2. Slaughter their chosen animal collectively: All Israelite families were required to kill their lamb/goat simultaneously at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month (Nisan).
Significance:
This verse is crucial because it establishes the timing and communal nature of the Passover sacrifice. The simultaneous slaughter across the entire community emphasized the shared experience and the collective redemption from slavery in Egypt. This unified act was essential for the Passover ritual and the subsequent exodus. It emphasized the importance of obedience to God's commands and the collective identity of the Israelites.