Bible Strands
Exodus 12:3
Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man must select a lamb for his family, one per household.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The command addresses the entire congregation of Israel at the outset of their first month, just prior to the Passover event. The instruction is given to establish a fixed preparatory timeline for the community.
The words — The Hebrew verb דַּבְּרוּ (dabberu) issues a collective command to "speak," while בֶּעָשֹׂר (be'asor) pins the directive to the "tenth" day of the month. These terms anchor the passage to a precise communal proclamation and a non-negotiable calendar date.
The thread — The pattern of addressing Israel's assembly for sacrificial preparation appears in Leviticus 1:2 and Leviticus 5:6. John 1:29 applies the Passover selection motif directly to Jesus as the "Lamb of God."
Why it lands — The text mandates that every household identify a specific animal on a fixed date, establishing a concrete preparatory act. Readers must recognize the requirement for deliberate, communal obedience before the redemptive event.
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
Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
Cross-references
- Leviticus 1:2 “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When any of you brings an offering to the LORD, you may bring as your offering an animal from the herd or the flock.
- Leviticus 5:6 and he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD for the sin he has committed: a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering. And the priest will make atonement for him concerning his sin.
- John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
- 1 Corinthians 5:7 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.
- Genesis 4:4 while Abel brought the best portions of the firstborn of his flock. And the LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,
- Genesis 22:8 Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two walked on together.
- Exodus 4:30 and Aaron relayed everything the LORD had said to Moses. And Moses performed the signs before the people,
- Exodus 6:6 Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.
- Exodus 12:6 You must keep it until the fourteenth day of the month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel will slaughter the animals at twilight.
- Numbers 15:11 This is to be done for each bull, ram, lamb, or goat.