Exodus 12

10 witnesses of Christ here.

Passover Lamb

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: Exodus 12:3–6

The Passover lamb had to be perfect, male, and young, and it was killed for the household. It points to Jesus Christ, the sinless Lamb of God, who was put to death so His people could live.

VerifiedProphecy or typeAn object that is a type of Him

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it · another scripture interprets it of Him · the chapter heading names Him

a type of what is in John 1:29 — John the Baptist: 'Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.'
a type of what is in 1 Peter 1:19 — Redeemed 'with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.'
interpreted by 1 Corinthians 5:7 — 'For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.'

Blood of the Lamb on the door

And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. Exodus 12:7

Each family had to put the lamb's blood on their own door; killing the lamb was not enough. In the same way, each person must apply Christ's atoning blood to their own life through faith and repentance.

VerifiedProphecy or typeAn ordinance that points to Him

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him · the chapter heading names Him · a traditional type, cited

alluded to by Hebrews 11:28 — Moses 'kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.'
a type of what is in Revelation 12:11 — The saints overcame 'by the blood of the Lamb.'

The Passover meal

And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Exodus 12:8–11

Israel ate the sacrificed lamb with unleavened bread, ready to leave bondage. Jesus ate the Passover with His apostles and turned it into the sacrament, where we remember His flesh and blood given for us.

VerifiedProphecy or typeAn ordinance that points to Him

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him · a traditional type, cited

alluded to by Luke 22:15 — Jesus names this meal on the night before His death: 'With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer.'
a type of what is in Luke 22:19-20 — At that Passover Jesus gives the bread and cup: 'This is my body which is given for you ... my blood, which is shed for you.'

Jehovah

For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. Exodus 12:12

Jehovah declares He will judge Egypt and its false gods. The premortal Christ is both Judge and Deliverer on this night.

VerifiedJehovah — the LORDHe speaks in the first person

How we know: the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it · another scripture interprets it of Him

the same event in Exodus 11:4-5 — The same midnight judgment first announced to Pharaoh.

When I see the blood, I will pass over you

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. Exodus 12:13

Death passed over every home marked with the lamb's blood. It pictures how Christ's atoning blood saves us from spiritual death when we come to Him.

VerifiedProphecy or typeAn ordinance that points to Him

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him · the chapter heading names Him · a traditional type, cited

interpreted by 1 Corinthians 5:7 — Christ is 'our passover.'
alluded to by D&C 89:21 — The destroying angel shall pass by the obedient 'as the children of Israel, and not slay them.'

Feast of Unleavened Bread

And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. Exodus 12:14–20

Israel was to remember the Passover every year and clear out all leaven. Paul teaches that because Christ our Passover was sacrificed, we should clear sin out of our lives and live with sincerity and truth.

VerifiedProphecy or typeAn ordinance that points to Him

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it · another scripture interprets it of Him

interpreted by 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 — 'Purge out therefore the old leaven... For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast... with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.'

The passover lamb killed; blood applied with hyssop; the destroyer kept out

Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. Exodus 12:21–23

Moses tells the elders to kill the passover lamb and brush its blood on the door with hyssop, and the LORD will not let the destroyer in. Alma teaches that every part of the law pointed to the great and last sacrifice of the Son of God, whose blood keeps the destroyer out of our lives.

VerifiedProphecy or typeAn ordinance that points to Him

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it · another scripture interprets it of Him

alluded to by Hebrews 11:28 — 'lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.'
interpreted by Alma 34:14 — Church footnote 21b on 'lamb': 'this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice ... the Son of God.'

An ordinance for ever — the LORD's passover

And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. Exodus 12:24–27

The Passover was to be kept as an ordinance and explained to children. Latter-day Saints see its fulfillment in Jesus Christ's sacrifice and in the sacrament, which He gave at the Passover so we would always remember Him.

VerifiedProphecy or typeAn ordinance that points to Him

How we know: a footnote points to Him · another scripture interprets it of Him · a traditional type, cited

a type of what is in Luke 22:19 — The Passover memorial gives way to the sacrament: 'this do in remembrance of me.'
interpreted by Moses 5:7 — Sacrifice commanded by the Lord 'is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father' (said of Adam's offerings; the principle applies to all such sacrifice).

Who may eat the Passover

And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: Exodus 12:43–48

Only those who had entered the covenant could eat the Passover. The Church footnote ties this to the resurrected Christ's command that no one knowingly partake of His flesh and blood unworthily, while still ministering to them and praying for them.

VerifiedProphecy or typeAn ordinance that points to Him

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

a type of what is in 3 Nephi 18:28-30 — Christ: 'ye shall not suffer any one knowingly to partake of my flesh and blood unworthily'; the covenant meal of the lamb foreshadows the sacrament of His flesh and blood.

Not a bone broken

In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof. Exodus 12:46

No bone of the Passover lamb could be broken. When Jesus died on the cross the soldiers did not break His legs, and John says this fulfilled scripture about the Passover lamb.

VerifiedProphecy or typeAn object that is a type of Him

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it · another scripture interprets it of Him · the chapter heading names Him

fulfilled by John 19:36 — 'that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.'
alluded to by Numbers 9:12 — The Passover law restated for the wilderness Passover: 'nor break any bone of it.'