Exodus 12:14-15
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This isn't just a reminder of an event; it's a command to celebrate it with "solemn religious joy." The phrasing implies that this feast should be a vibrant, active remembrance, not a quiet reflection, highlighting God's justice and mercy in delivering His people.
“This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God is instructing the Israelites on how to observe the Passover, the night before their liberation from Egypt. This command comes after detailing the selection of the lamb, the application of its blood to the doorposts for protection, and the instructions for eating the meal in haste, signifying their readiness to depart. The verse establishes this observance as a perpetual statute to commemorate their redemption and God's judgment on Egypt.
Why does God call this a 'memorial'? It’s not just about remembering a past event, but about experiencing its power.
This day isn't just a historical marker; it's a 'memorial' that calls for active remembrance. It's meant to bring the reality of God's deliverance and justice into the present moment for each generation.
A Feast, Not Just a Fact
God instructs them to keep it as a 'feast to the LORD.' This isn't a passive recall of facts, but a joyous, celebratory observance that acknowledges God's presence and power.
A Lifelong Statute
The command is for it to be a 'statute forever.' This signifies its permanent, unchanging importance, binding them and their descendants to this act of remembrance and celebration.
The Passover feast commemorates a night of both devastating judgment and incredible mercy. How can those two realities coexist?
This feast serves as a profound reminder of God's dual actions during the first Passover night: judgment upon Egypt and salvation for Israel.
God's Severe Goodness
It's a memorial of God's 'severity and goodness' (Clarke). The judgment on Egypt highlights God's power and the consequences of rebellion, while the deliverance of Israel showcases His profound mercy and faithfulness to His covenant people.
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Foreshadowing Redemption
The commentators consistently point out the typological significance of the Passover. The lamb slain and the blood applied foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the 'Lamb of God.' This makes the feast a memorial not only of physical deliverance but also of the spiritual redemption that secures God's mercy and satisfies His justice.
The word 'forever' is used multiple times here. What does this command mean for us today, long after the physical feast has passed?
The instruction for the Passover to be a 'statute forever' points to its enduring theological significance, even as the specific ritual has been fulfilled.
Fulfillment in Christ
While the physical observance of the Passover lamb sacrifice ended with the destruction of the Temple, its purpose was always to point forward. The commentators note that the 'everlasting statute' finds its ultimate meaning and fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the true Passover Lamb.
Continuous Spiritual Feast
The 'forever' nature of this ordinance is now realized in the ongoing spiritual reality it represented: a continuous feast of fellowship with God through Christ. For believers, this feast is maintained through faith, participation in the Lord's Supper, and a life lived in remembrance of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection.
Understand the original words
seor · Hebrew Noun
An act or substance that causes fermentation, frequently used in Scripture as a symbol of sin, corruption, or evil influence that spreads and affects the whole community or heart.
karath · Hebrew Verb
To be excluded, separated, or excommunicated from the covenant community of God's people; it implies a severe spiritual and social penalty for covenant-breaking.
chuqqah · Hebrew Noun
A fixed ordinance, established regulation, or decree given by God that is intended to be binding upon His people throughout their generations.
zikkaron · Hebrew Noun
A solemn act or period of remembrance, intended to ensure that future generations do not forget God's mighty acts of salvation.
The institution of the Passover wasn't just a one-time event; it was designed as a perpetual, living memorial. Its observance evolved through Israel's history, adapting through exile and the destruction of the Temple, and Christians see its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
The Exodus from Egypt
God delivers the Israelites from over 400 years of slavery in Egypt through a series of plagues, culminating in the death of the firstborn. The Israelites are instructed to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb to be 'passed over' by the destroyer.
c. 1446 BC
The Passover Feast Instituted
As the Israelites depart Egypt, God institutes the Passover feast, commanding it to be observed annually as a perpetual ordinance to remember their liberation.
c. 1406 BC
Israel Enters the Promised Land
After 40 years of wandering, Joshua leads the Israelites into Canaan. The Passover observance continues, marking their new life in the land.
c. 950 BC
Solomon's Temple Completed
The central place of worship is established in Jerusalem, becoming the primary location for the Passover sacrifice and observance.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonian conquest results in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, disrupting the prescribed Passover sacrifice. Observance shifts to remembrance and prayer in exile.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Crucifixion
Jesus, identified by many as the true Passover Lamb, is crucified during the Passover season in Jerusalem. This event is seen by Christians as the fulfillment of the Passover's purpose.
AD 70
Destruction of the Second Temple
The Roman destruction of the Second Temple marks the end of the sacrificial system for Passover, with Jewish observance continuing in modified forms focused on remembrance and unleavened bread.
This passage directly calls Jesus 'our Passover lamb,' highlighting how the ancient festival points to Him and the ongoing remembrance of His sacrifice in the Lord's Supper.
John 1:29John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the 'Lamb of God,' echoing the spotless nature of the Passover lamb and its ultimate purpose in taking away sin.
Hebrews 9:11-14This passage explains how Jesus' sacrifice, through His own blood, achieved eternal redemption, fulfilling the foreshadowing of the Passover blood that protected the Israelites.
Deuteronomy 16:1-8This passage elaborates on the Passover feast's requirements and its purpose as a perpetual ordinance, reinforcing the command for remembrance and celebration throughout generations.
Luke 22:14-20This account of the Last Supper shows Jesus instituting a new memorial meal, directly linking it to the Passover and its significance for His disciples, thus transforming the 'memorial day' into a new covenant feast.
gillExodus 12:14: "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."
And this shall be unto you for a memorial,.... To be remembered, and that very deservedly, for the destruction of the firstborn of the Egyptians, and for the deliverance of the children of Israel out of Egypt, and as memorable a day it is, and much more so, for the redemption of the spiritual Israel by the Messiah…
clarkeExodus 12:14: "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."
A memorial - To keep up a remembrance of the severity and goodness, or justice and mercy, of God. Ye shall keep it a feast - it shall be annually observed, and shall be celebrated with solemn religious joy, throughout your generations - as long as ye continue to be a distinct people; an ordinance - a Divine appoin…
This isn't just a reminder of an event; it's a command to celebrate it with "solemn religious joy." The phrasing implies that this feast should be a vibrant, active remembrance, not a quiet reflection, highlighting God's justice and mercy in delivering His people.
God is instructing the Israelites on how to observe the Passover, the night before their liberation from Egypt. This command comes after detailing the selection of the lamb, the application of its blood to the doorposts for protection, and the instructions for eating the meal in haste, signifying their readiness to depart. The verse establishes this observance as a perpetual statute to commemorate their redemption and God's judgment on Egypt.
God is instructing the Israelites on how to observe the Passover, the night before their liberation from Egypt. This command comes after detailing the selection of the lamb, the application of its blood to the doorposts for protection, and the instructions for eating the meal in haste, signifying their readiness to depart. The verse establishes this observance as a perpetual statute to commemorate their redemption and God's judgment on Egypt.
"“This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall…" — This isn't just a reminder of an event; it's a command to celebrate it with "solemn religious joy." The phrasing implies that this feast should be a vibrant, active remembrance, not a quiet reflectio…
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Last reviewed October 2026
