Meaning of Exodus 12:46

Exodus 12:46 is a crucial instruction given by God regarding the Passover meal, the very first observance of this significant event. This verse, along with others in chapter 12, details the specific requirements for the unleavened bread and the lamb that would be sacrificed and consumed. The prohibition against taking the meat outside the house signifies the sacredness and completeness of the Passover sacrifice within the confines of the Israelite homes, underscoring its role as a protective and redemptive act for those within. The command not to break any of the bones of the lamb is a specific detail that carries profound symbolic weight, pointing towards the integrity and wholeness of the sacrifice, and later, foreshadowing the nature of the ultimate Passover Lamb.

Context and Background

This verse is part of the divine instructions for the first Passover, commanded by God just before the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. Pharaoh had repeatedly refused to let the Israelites go, and God sent the final plague: the death of the firstborn sons of Egypt. God instructed the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb, smear its blood on their doorposts and lintels, and eat the roasted lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. This meal was to be a sign of protection; when the angel of death passed through Egypt, he would see the blood and "pass over" the Israelite homes, sparing their firstborn. The meal was to be eaten in haste, ready for immediate departure.

Key Themes and Messages

Several key themes are present in Exodus 12:46:

• Sacredness and Completeness: The instruction to eat the lamb inside the house emphasizes that the Passover sacrifice was to be a complete and contained event. It was not to be treated casually or its elements dispersed.
• Protection and Redemption: The act of eating the Passover lamb was intrinsically linked to divine protection. The blood on the doorposts was the visible sign of this protection, and the meal itself was a communal participation in this deliverance.
• Integrity of the Sacrifice: The command not to break any of the bones highlights the perfect and unbroken nature of the sacrifice. This was not a ritual of dismemberment but of consuming the whole offering.

Spiritual Significance and Application

Spiritually, the Passover lamb is a powerful type of Jesus Christ, the "Lamb of God" (John 1:29). The instructions in Exodus 12:46 find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ's sacrifice.

• Jesus' Sacrifice: Jesus' death on the cross was a complete and perfect sacrifice for humanity's sins. His body was not broken in the way the Israelites were forbidden to break the Passover lamb's bones, as the Roman soldiers, fulfilling prophecy, deliberately did not break Jesus' legs (John 19:33). This preserved the integrity of His sacrifice, mirroring the Old Testament command.
• Belief Within the "House": The command to eat inside the house can be seen as a metaphor for believers being "inside" the fellowship of God's people, the Church, where Christ's redemptive work is acknowledged and celebrated.
• Holistic Salvation: The unbroken nature of the lamb's bones points to the comprehensive nature of salvation through Christ. His sacrifice is sufficient and complete, covering all aspects of redemption.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

Exodus 12:46 is a foundational text that sets the stage for understanding sacrifice and redemption throughout the Old Testament and, crucially, points forward to the New Testament. The Passover ritual was a recurring observance, a constant reminder of God's faithfulness and power to deliver. Each Passover reenactment reinforced the themes of sacrifice, deliverance, and the covenant relationship between God and Israel. This foreshadowing culminates in the New Testament with Jesus' institution of the Lord's Supper, which He Himself declared was a remembrance of His own sacrifice, fulfilling the Passover in a new covenant (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

Analogies

• A Protective Shield: Imagine a homeowner building a strong, secure house. The instructions for the Passover meal are like specific instructions for how to activate and maintain that house's protective shield. The blood on the doorposts is the trigger, and the meal inside is the activation process, ensuring the shield is fully engaged for all within.
• A Complete Gift: Think of receiving a precious, intact gift. The instruction not to break the bones is like being told to keep the gift whole and undamaged, preserving its perfection. The Passover lamb was a perfect offering, and its unbroken state symbolized this perfection.

Relation to Other Verses

• John 1:29: John the Baptist identifies Jesus as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" This directly links Jesus to the sacrificial lambs of the Old Testament, including the Passover lamb.
• John 19:33-36: This passage describes the Roman soldiers' actions at the crucifixion. They broke the legs of the two criminals crucified with Jesus but found Jesus already dead and deliberately did not break His legs, thus fulfilling the prophecy that "not one of his bones will be broken" (referencing Psalm 34:20, which itself alludes to the Passover lamb).
• 1 Corinthians 5:7: Paul explicitly states, "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." This is a clear New Testament interpretation of the Passover event described in Exodus.
• Leviticus 1:3: This verse speaks of offering a male without blemish, emphasizing the perfection required for sacrifices. The Passover lamb was to be a perfect specimen, aligning with the general principles of acceptable sacrifice.