Exodus 12:7 - They shall take some of the blood, and put it on the two door posts and on the lintel, on the houses in which they shall eat it.
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What does "Exodus 12:7" mean?
This verse is a critical part of the instructions given to the Israelites by God in Exodus 12, just before the tenth and final plague on Egypt: the death of the firstborn. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"They shall take some of the blood...": This refers to the blood of a lamb or goat that each Israelite family was instructed to sacrifice. It had to be a perfect, unblemished animal.
"...and put it on the two door posts and on the lintel...": The doorposts are the vertical sides of the doorway, and the lintel is the horizontal beam above the doorway. They were to apply the blood to these specific parts of the entrance to their houses. The method of application isn't specified here, but other parts of the text suggest it involved a hyssop branch.
"...on the houses in which they shall eat it.": This clarifies that the houses marked with the blood were the same houses where the Israelites were to eat the sacrificial lamb/goat.
Symbolic Significance:
Identification and Protection: The blood on the doorposts and lintel served as a sign to God, specifically to the "destroying angel" or "the Lord passing through" (as described later in the chapter). When God saw the blood, He would "pass over" that house, and the firstborn son within would be spared from the plague. The blood was a visible symbol of the Israelite's obedience and faith in God's instructions.
Substitutionary Atonement: While this event is not explicitly described as atonement here in Exodus 12, some interpretations of the blood on the doorposts connect it to the later concept of sacrifice as a means of atonement for sin. The animal's blood was, in a sense, offered in place of the firstborn's life. This is a concept that develops further in the Old Testament sacrificial system and is ultimately fulfilled in the Christian understanding of Jesus Christ's sacrifice.
Covenant: The Passover event is often seen as a renewal or affirmation of the covenant between God and the Israelites. By obeying God's commands, they were reaffirming their commitment to Him, and He was demonstrating His faithfulness to protect them.
In Summary:
Exodus 12:7 instructs the Israelites to apply the blood of the sacrificial lamb to the doorposts and lintel of their homes. This act served as a sign that God would "pass over" those houses during the final plague, sparing the firstborn within. The verse highlights the importance of obedience, faith, and God's promise of protection for His people. It's also an event with a rich symbolic meaning that has been interpreted in various ways throughout Jewish and Christian history.
Exodus 12:7 - They shall take some of the blood, and put it on the two door posts and on the lintel, on the houses in which they shall eat it.
What does "Exodus 12:7" mean?
This verse is a critical part of the instructions given to the Israelites by God in Exodus 12, just before the tenth and final plague on Egypt: the death of the firstborn. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"They shall take some of the blood...": This refers to the blood of a lamb or goat that each Israelite family was instructed to sacrifice. It had to be a perfect, unblemished animal.
"...and put it on the two door posts and on the lintel...": The doorposts are the vertical sides of the doorway, and the lintel is the horizontal beam above the doorway. They were to apply the blood to these specific parts of the entrance to their houses. The method of application isn't specified here, but other parts of the text suggest it involved a hyssop branch.
"...on the houses in which they shall eat it.": This clarifies that the houses marked with the blood were the same houses where the Israelites were to eat the sacrificial lamb/goat.
Symbolic Significance:
Identification and Protection: The blood on the doorposts and lintel served as a sign to God, specifically to the "destroying angel" or "the Lord passing through" (as described later in the chapter). When God saw the blood, He would "pass over" that house, and the firstborn son within would be spared from the plague. The blood was a visible symbol of the Israelite's obedience and faith in God's instructions.
Substitutionary Atonement: While this event is not explicitly described as atonement here in Exodus 12, some interpretations of the blood on the doorposts connect it to the later concept of sacrifice as a means of atonement for sin. The animal's blood was, in a sense, offered in place of the firstborn's life. This is a concept that develops further in the Old Testament sacrificial system and is ultimately fulfilled in the Christian understanding of Jesus Christ's sacrifice.
Covenant: The Passover event is often seen as a renewal or affirmation of the covenant between God and the Israelites. By obeying God's commands, they were reaffirming their commitment to Him, and He was demonstrating His faithfulness to protect them.
In Summary:
Exodus 12:7 instructs the Israelites to apply the blood of the sacrificial lamb to the doorposts and lintel of their homes. This act served as a sign that God would "pass over" those houses during the final plague, sparing the firstborn within. The verse highlights the importance of obedience, faith, and God's promise of protection for His people. It's also an event with a rich symbolic meaning that has been interpreted in various ways throughout Jewish and Christian history.