Exodus 20 and the Passover Lamb's Significance
The Significance of the Passover Lamb in Exodus 20 and its Broader Context
The Passover lamb is a pivotal element in the Israelites' deliverance from Egyptian bondage, as described in Exodus 12. The lamb's significance is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, where it is described as a male lamb without blemish, to be slaughtered and its blood used to mark the doorposts of Israelite homes, sparing their firstborn sons from the angel of death [1].
The Passover lamb was to be selected on the tenth day of the month Nisan and slaughtered on the fourteenth day at twilight, with its blood applied to the doorposts using hyssop [4, 10]. The lamb was then roasted and eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, symbolizing the haste and hardship of the Israelites' departure from Egypt [1]. The feast of Unleavened Bread followed the Passover, lasting for seven days, during which time no leaven was to be found in Israelite households.
The Passover lamb is described in Exodus 12 as a sacrifice that "protects" or "passes over" the Israelites, sparing them from God's judgment on the Egyptians [2]. This event is commemorated annually in the Jewish calendar, with the Passover lamb serving as a reminder of God's deliverance.
The significance of the Passover lamb extends beyond its historical context, as it is seen as a type or foreshadowing of Christ, "our Passover lamb," who is sacrificed for the redemption of humanity [3, 5]. In the New Testament, Jesus is identified as the Lamb of God, drawing a direct connection between the Passover lamb and Christ's sacrifice [9]. The Last Supper, where Jesus institutes the Eucharist, is set within the context of a Passover meal, further emphasizing the connection between the Passover lamb and Christ [6, 7].
The early Christian community understood Christ's sacrifice as fulfilling the symbolism of the Passover lamb. Paul writes that "Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" [3]. This understanding is rooted in the idea that just as the Passover lamb's blood protected the Israelites, Christ's blood provides redemption for believers.
The Passover lamb's significance is not limited to its Christological interpretation. It also represents God's deliverance of his people and serves as a reminder of the covenant between God and Israel. The feast of Unleavened Bread, associated with the Passover, symbolizes the removal of sin and the pursuit of purity, themes that are echoed in the New Testament's emphasis on the removal of sin through Christ [8].
The use of hyssop in the application of the lamb's blood is also noteworthy, as it is later referenced in the context of Jesus' crucifixion, where hyssop is used to offer him vinegar [10]. This connection highlights the typological relationship between the Passover lamb and Christ's sacrifice.
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Passover — the first of the three great annual festivals of the Israelites celebrated in the month Nisan (March-April, from the 14th to the 21st. (Strictly speaking the Passover only applied to the paschal supper and the feast of unleavened bread followed, which was celebrated to the 21st.) (For the corresponding dates in our month, see Jewish calendar at the end of this volume.) The following are the principal passages in the Pentateuch relating to the Passover: (Exodus 12:1-51; 13:3-10; 23:14-19; 34:18-26; Leviticus 23:4-14; Numbers 9:1-14; 28:16-25; 16:1-6) Why ins”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Passover — The name given to the chief of the three great historical annual festivals of the Jews. It was kept in remembrance of the Lord's passing over the houses of the Israelites (Ex. 12:13) when the first born of all the Egyptians were destroyed. It is called also the "feast of unleavened bread" (Ex. 23:15; Mark 14:1; Acts 12:3), because during its celebration no leavened bread was to be eaten or even kept in the household (Ex. 12:15). The word afterwards came to denote the lamb that was slain at the feast (Mark 14:12-14; 1 Cor. 5:7). A detailed account of the in”
- I Corinthians “I Corinthians 5:7 (BSB) — Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”
- Exodus “Exodus 12:21 (BBE) — Then Moses sent for the chiefs of Israel, and said to them, See that lambs are marked out for yourselves and your families, and let the Passover lamb be put to death.”
- Exodus (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Exodus 23:18: The blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread - The sacrifice here mentioned is undoubtedly the Passover; (see Exo 34:25); this is called by way of eminence My sacrifice, because God had instituted it for that especial purpose, the redemption of Israel from the Egyptian bondage, and because it typified The Lamb Of God, who taketh away the sin of the world. We have already seen how strict the prohibition against leaven was during this festival, and what was signified by it. See on Exodus 12 (note).”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 26:26: 26:26-29 The Last Supper derives its significance in part from the Jewish Passover (see Exod 12). The phases of the Jewish liturgy for Passover are as follows: (1) Festal blessing; (2) first cup (see Luke 22:17-18); (3) eating bitter herbs (see Matt 26:23 and corresponding study note); (4) eating unleavened bread (26:26; Mark 14:22); (5) second cup is mixed; (6) the Passover haggadah (reading) is given (Exod 12); (7) first part of the hallel (Pss 113–114; see study note on Pss 113–118); (8) second cup is taken; (9) blessing and eating of unleavened bread (Matt 2”
- Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 14:18: 14:18 As they were at the table: The Passover was eaten in a reclining position, as were other banquet meals. During the Passover meal, someone (usually the youngest son) would ask the host, “Why is this night different from other nights?” The father or host would then recount the stories of the Passover and the Exodus (Deut 26:5-9). The elements of the Passover meal were symbolic. The Passover lamb served as a reminder of the blood of the sacrificial lambs that protected Israelite homes from the angel of death, who visited the firstborn in Egypt (Exod 12:28-30). U”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 5:7: 5:7-8 Paul draws an analogy between the traditional Jewish Passover celebration and the sacrifice of Christ. In the Passover celebration, a lamb was sacrificed and unleavened bread was eaten (see Exod 12:1-27; 13:3-7). The sacrifice of Christ, which occurred at Passover (Matt 26:2; cp. John 1:29; 1 Pet 1:19), results in the removal of sin for believers.”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 1:29: 1:29 The phrase Lamb of God might refer to the Passover sacrifice of a lamb or to the daily sacrifice in the Temple (Exod 29:38-46; Heb 10). See also Rev 5.”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 19:29: 19:29 The hyssop bush had been used in Egypt to brush lamb’s blood on the doorposts and lintels during the first Passover (Exod 12:22). Jesus is God’s Passover lamb (John 1:29, 36), and his blood likewise saves.”