They shall leave none of it until the morning, nor break any of its bones; according to all the statute for the Passover they shall keep it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse emphasizes that even for this "second" Passover, all the specific, detailed rules of the original Passover still apply—there's no cutting corners. This highlights that God's commands are not suggestions; when He allows for an exception, the core of His ordinance must still be meticulously honored.
They shall leave none of it until the morning, nor break any of its bones; according to all the statute for the Passover they shall keep it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Certain men, ritually unclean due to contact with a dead body, approached Moses seeking to observe Passover despite their defilement. God then established a provision for a "second Passover," allowing those unable to celebrate at the appointed time in the first month to do so in the second month, while still adhering to all the Passover's specific regulations.
The instructions for the Passover lamb are surprisingly specific: nothing is to be left until morning, and no bones are to be broken. What's the big deal about these details?
These two commands highlight the complete consumption and preservation of the Passover lamb, pointing towards its significance as a perfect sacrifice.
Complete Consumption
'They shall leave none of it until the morning' means that every bit of the lamb was to be eaten. Whatever couldn't be eaten by morning was to be destroyed by fire. This wasn't about preventing waste; it was about ensuring the sacrifice was fully offered to God.
Unbroken Preservation
'Nor break any of its bones' is a fascinating detail. The lamb was to be consumed entirely, yet its bones were to remain intact. This preservation of the bones, even as the flesh was eaten, speaks to the completeness and integrity of the offering. It was a sacrifice that was both fully given and perfectly preserved.
Together, these instructions set a high standard for the Passover observance, emphasizing its seriousness and its symbolic depth.
The verse concludes by saying the Passover is to be kept 'according to all the ordinances.' What does this mean for how they should approach this sacred meal?
This phrase, 'according to all the ordinances,' emphasizes that the Passover wasn't just a meal; it was a divinely ordained event with specific rules that carried deep meaning.
A Unified Statute
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While multiple laws and traditions surrounded the Passover, the verse uses a singular term ('ordinance' or 'statute'). This points to the unified nature of the Passover observance, requiring strict adherence to its established pattern. It was meant to be kept in all respects as God had commanded, without deviation.
Beyond the Literal Meal
The commentaries note that while later observances might have varied in practice (like the duration or certain purity rules), the core 'ordinance' remained. This original command was intended to be a complete and faithful representation of their redemption from Egypt. The precision of the instructions was to ensure they understood the gravity of what God had done and what the lamb represented.
Understand the original words
pesach · Hebrew Noun
A sacred annual feast commemorating God's deliverance of Israel from Egyptian slavery, centered on the sacrificial lamb. In the New Testament, it points toward Christ, the true Passover Lamb who was sacrificed for the sins of the world.
This passage directly reiterates the command not to break any bones of the Passover lamb, establishing a consistent ritual requirement from the institution of the Passover.
John 19:36The Gospel of John explicitly connects this Old Testament Passover regulation to Jesus, stating that no bone of His was broken, highlighting Jesus as the ultimate Passover fulfillment.
Psalm 34:20This psalm offers a prophetic insight that the righteous will be protected, with none of their bones being broken, echoing the Passover lamb's preservation and pointing to a deeper spiritual protection.
Numbers 28:16-24These verses outline the detailed requirements for the Passover sacrifice, reinforcing the importance of meticulous observance and the specific regulations like not breaking bones, which Numbers 9:12 builds upon.
ellicottNumbers 9:12: "They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it."
(12) According to all the ordinances. —The word rendered ordinances is in the singular number: according to all the ordinance (or statute ). The primary reference is probably to the law respecting the Paschal Lamb. According to Jewish tradition the feast was only observed for one day instead of seven, and it was not necessary to put away lea…
gillNumbers 9:12: "They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it."
They shall leave none of it unto the morning,.... None of the flesh of the passover lamb, what was left was to be burnt with fire, Exodus 12:10 , nor break any bone of it; the same was enjoined; see Gill on Exodus 12:46, according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it: as when observed in its time, excepting the feast of u…
The verse emphasizes that even for this "second" Passover, all the specific, detailed rules of the original Passover still apply—there's no cutting corners. This highlights that God's commands are not suggestions; when He allows for an exception, the core of His ordinance must still be meticulously honored.
Certain men, ritually unclean due to contact with a dead body, approached Moses seeking to observe Passover despite their defilement. God then established a provision for a "second Passover," allowing those unable to celebrate at the appointed time in the first month to do so in the second month, while still adhering to all the Passover's specific regulations.
Certain men, ritually unclean due to contact with a dead body, approached Moses seeking to observe Passover despite their defilement. God then established a provision for a "second Passover," allowing those unable to celebrate at the appointed time in the first month to do so in the second month, while still adhering to all the Passover's specific regulations.
"They shall leave none of it until the morning, nor break any of its bones; according to all the statute for the Passover they shall keep it." — The verse emphasizes that even for this "second" Passover, all the specific, detailed rules of the original Passover still apply—there's no cutting corners. This highlights that God's commands are no…
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Last reviewed October 2026