Exodus 12:13

The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a sign; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God addresses Moses and the Israelites immediately before the final judgment on Egypt, commanding them to apply lamb's blood to their doorframes.

The words — The Hebrew הַדָּם (ha-Dam, "the blood") is designated לְאוֹת (le-'ot, "a sign") on the houses (הַבָּתִים, ha-batim) where the people remain.

The thread — The LORD's sight of this blood as the basis for passing over is repeated in Exodus 12:23, and Hebrews 11:28 records the sprinkling of blood as the act that stayed the destroyer.

Why it lands — The text explicitly states that survival depends on God seeing the blood and withholding the plague, requiring immediate obedience to mark the dwelling rather than relying on human status or effort.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

Cross-references

Hebrews 11:28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.
Exodus 12:23 When the LORD passes through to strike down the Egyptians, He will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway; so He will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Genesis 17:11 You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.
Joshua 2:12 Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD that you will indeed show kindness to my family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign
1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to await His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.