Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This instruction isn't just about grabbing a sheep; it's a deliberate, four-day heads-up. Taking the lamb on the tenth day, four days before it's actually sacrificed on the fourteenth, gives Israel time to carefully choose the perfect, unblemished animal. This extended preparation period emphasizes the seriousness of the upcoming sacrifice and serves as a tangible reminder of their impending freedom.
Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God is about to bring His people out of slavery in Egypt, and He's giving them precise instructions for the very first Passover. This command is for every Israelite family to select a lamb on the tenth day of the month, four days before they will actually sacrifice it. This preparation, meant to be carried out by each "father's house" or family unit, sets the stage for the ultimate Passover Lamb.
Why choose a lamb four days before the actual Passover meal? This wasn't just about logistics; it was a deliberate act of faith.
The Tenth Day's Purpose
The command to take a lamb on the tenth day of the month, four days before the Passover meal on the fourteenth, served multiple crucial purposes:
The Passover wasn't a solo act. It was a deeply communal and familial event. What does 'a lamb for a household' truly signify?
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Unity in Redemption
The instruction for 'a lamb for a household' emphasized the importance of family and community in God's redemptive plan:
Understand the original words
edah · Hebrew Noun
A formal gathering or assembly of people, often used specifically for the people of Israel as God’s chosen covenant community.
seh · Hebrew Noun
A young sheep; in the context of the Mosaic Law, it represents a sacrificial animal used to bear the penalty of sin or satisfy a covenantal requirement, ultimately pointing to Christ as the perfect sacrifice.
bayith · Hebrew Noun
A group of people living together as a social unit; in a biblical context, it refers to the basic unit of the covenant people, often organized by family descent or shared sustenance.
The specific instruction to take the lamb four days in advance highlights the extraordinary nature of this first Passover, occurring just before their hurried departure from Egypt. This deliberate timing allowed for careful selection and contemplation, setting a precedent for future observances and emphasizing the immense significance of their impending liberation.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Israelites Prepare for First Passover
God instructs Moses to tell the Israelites to select a lamb on the tenth day of the month of Nisan, four days before the Passover sacrifice. This detailed preparation signifies the importance of the upcoming liberation from Egypt.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt Begins
Following the Passover observance and the tenth plague, the Israelites depart from Egypt after 430 years of bondage. This marks the pivotal moment of their liberation and the beginning of their journey to the Promised Land.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Cross the Red Sea
The Israelites miraculously cross the Red Sea, an event that solidifies God's deliverance and demonstrates His power over Pharaoh's pursuing army.
c. 1446 BC
Journey to Mount Sinai
After their miraculous escape, the Israelites journey through the wilderness towards Mount Sinai, where they will receive the Law.
c. 1445 BC
Receiving the Law at Sinai
God establishes His covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai, giving them the Ten Commandments and further instructions for worship and community life.
This passage directly identifies Jesus as the 'Lamb of God,' fulfilling the symbolic meaning of the Passover lamb chosen on this specific day in Exodus.
Hebrews 11:28This verse highlights that Moses, by faith, kept the Passover, understanding its significance for deliverance. This connects to the faith required to follow God's instructions for the lamb on the tenth day.
Matthew 21:1-11This Gospel account describes Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the tenth day of the month (Nisan), mirroring the selection of the Passover lamb on that same day, pointing to His royal and sacrificial identity.
1 Corinthians 5:7Paul explicitly calls Christ our Passover, connecting the sacrifice of the lamb in Exodus to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus for our redemption.
gillExodus 12:3: "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:"
Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel,.... That is, to the elders of the people, and heads of families; unless we can suppose that they had been gradually gathered, and were now gathered together in a body by the direction of Moses, by whom they were assured that their departure was at h…
cambridgeExodus 12:3: "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:"
3 . the congregation ] P’s standing expression for Israel, as an organized religious community, or ‘church.’ It occurs in P more than 100 times, usually alone (‘the congregation’), sometimes with the addition of ‘of Israel’ (as here, vv. 6, 47, Leviticus 4:13 ), or ‘of the children of Israel’ (…
This instruction isn't just about grabbing a sheep; it's a deliberate, four-day heads-up. Taking the lamb on the tenth day, four days before it's actually sacrificed on the fourteenth, gives Israel time to carefully choose the perfect, unblemished animal. This extended preparation period emphasizes the seriousness of the upcoming sacrifice and serves as a tangible reminder of their impending freedom.
God is about to bring His people out of slavery in Egypt, and He's giving them precise instructions for the very first Passover. This command is for every Israelite family to select a lamb on the tenth day of the month, four days before they will actually sacrifice it. This preparation, meant to be carried out by each "father's house" or family unit, sets the stage for the ultimate Passover Lamb.
God is about to bring His people out of slavery in Egypt, and He's giving them precise instructions for the very first Passover. This command is for every Israelite family to select a lamb on the tenth day of the month, four days before they will actually sacrifice it. This preparation, meant to be carried out by each "father's house" or family unit, sets the stage for the ultimate Passover Lamb.
"Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household." — This instruction isn't just about grabbing a sheep; it's a deliberate, four-day heads-up. Taking the lamb on the tenth day, four days before it's actually sacrificed on the fourteenth, gives Israel t…
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Last reviewed October 2026