Exodus 12:12-14

Exodus 12:12

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.

a. NLT: On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the LORD!

b. NIV: “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.

c. YLT: and I have passed over through the land of Egypt during this night, and have smitten every first-born in the land of Egypt, from man even unto beast, and on all the gods of Egypt I do judgments; I am Jehovah.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: 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 [proving their helplessness]. I am the Lord.

e. Septuagint: and I will go throughout the land of Egypt in that night, and will smite every first-born in the land of Egypt both man and beast, and on all the gods of Egypt will I execute vengeance: I [am] the Lord.  

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: I shall go through the land of Egypt on this night, and I shall strike every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from man to beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I shall mete out punishment—I am HASHEM.

1. “For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night…”

a. I will pass [5674 * `abar] [Strong: a primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in copulation):--alienate, alter, X at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-)come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) + proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, + raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, + shave, cause to (make) sound, X speedily, X sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-)faring man, be wrath.]

b. through the land [776 * 'erets] [Strong: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth, field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.]

c. of Egypt [4714 * Mitsrayim] [Strong: dual of 4693; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt:--Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim.]

d. this night [3915 * layil; or leyl; also Laylah] [Strong: from the same as 3883; properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity:--((mid-))night (season).]

2. “…and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast…”

a. and will smite [5221 * nakah] [Strong: a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively):--beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), X go forward, X indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, X surely, wound.]

b. all the firstborn [1060 * bkowr] [Strong: from 1069; firstborn; hence, chief:--eldest (son), firstborn(-ling).]

c. in the land [776 * 'erets] [Strong: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth, field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.]

d. of Egypt [4714 * Mitsrayim] [Strong: dual of 4693; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt:--Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim.]

e. both man [120 * 'adam] [Strong: from 119; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.):--X another, + hypocrite, + common sort, X low, man (mean, of low degree), person.]

f. and beast [929 * bhemah] [Strong: from an unused root (probably meaning to be mute); properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective):--beast, cattle.]

3. “…and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.”

a. against all the gods [430 *  'elohiym] [Strong: plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.]

 1). Stone Edition Chumash: (Angels too are referred to as “elohiym”; hence this term can be taken as a reference to them). The heavenly forces [evil angels] that guide and protect the destiny of Egypt were struck in this plague, so that Egypt would be completely defenseless.

2). There are passages that agree with this: Daniel 10:20, 21; 10:13; 12:1. See also my notes in Hebrews 2:5.  

b. of Egypt [4714 * Mitsrayim] [Strong: dual of 4693; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt:--Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim.]

c. I will execute [6213 * `asah aw-saw' a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, + finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin, spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be (warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.]

d. judgment [8201 * shephet] [Strong: from 8199; a sentence, i.e. infliction:--judgment.]

1). Personally I believe that the smiting of the firstborn and beast was a separate judgment than executing judgment against the gods of Egypt. It may be included but because it is listed separately I think that it should be distinguished from the other.

a). Numbers 33:4 For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments.

2). Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers:The death of all the firstborn beasts would have been felt by the Egyptians as a heavy judgment upon their gods. Some of their sacred animals were regarded as actual incarnations of deity; and if any of these perished, as is likely, the threat would have been executed to the letter. But even apart from this, as cows, sheep, goats, cats, dogs, jackals, crocodiles, hippopotami, apes, ibises, frogs, &c, were sacred, either throughout Egypt or in parts of it, a general destruction of all firstborn animals would have been felt as a blow dealt to the gods almost equally.

3). Jethro’s praise needs to be included in this determination.

a). Exodus 18:10, 11   And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

18:11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.

4). One commentary mentioned that Josephus said that the judgment of the gods of Egypt included the statues of the idols themselves were damaged. However I could not find it. Perhaps this teaching comes from the belief that what happened in Egypt to the idols themselves was similar to what happened when the Philistines stole the Ark of the Covenant and placed it inside their own idol’s temple, the house of Dagon.

a). 1 Samuel 5:1-4  And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.

5:2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

5:3 And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

5:4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.

5). Other scholars have also taught that the plagues themselves, of blood in the Nile, the flies, the frogs and the others were the judgment upon the gods of Egypt. 

e. I am the LORD [3068 * Yhovah] [Strong: from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

Exodus 12:13

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.

a. NLT: But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.

b. NIV: The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

c. YLT: 'And the blood hath become a sign for you on the houses where yeare, and I have seen the blood, and have passed over you, and a plague is not on you for destruction in My smiting in the land of Egypt.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: The blood shall be for a token or sign to you upon [the doorposts of] the houses where you are, [that] when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall be upon you to destroy you when I smite the land of Egypt.

e. Septuagint: And the blood shall be for a sign to you on the houses in which ye are, and I will see the blood, and will protect you, and there shall not be on you the plague of destruction, when I smite in the land of Egypt. 

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: The blood shall be a sign for you upon the houses where you are; when I shall see the blood and I shall pass over you; there shall not be a plague of destruction upon you when I strike in the land of Egypt.

1. “And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are…”

a. the blood [1818 * dam] [Strong: from 1826 (Compare 119); blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (i.e. drops of blood):--blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), + innocent.]

b. shall be to you for a token [226 * 'owth] [Strong: probably from 225 (in the sense of appearing); a signal (literally or figuratively), as a flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence, etc.:--mark, miracle, (en-)sign, token.]

c. upon the houses [1004 *  bayith] [Strong: probably from 1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.):--court, daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet, temple, web, + within(-out).]

2. “…and when I see the blood, I will pass over you…”

a. when I see [7200 * ra'ah raw-aw' a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative):--advise self, appear, approve, behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, X indeed, X joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, X be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), X sight of others, (e-)spy, stare, X surely, X think, view, visions.]

b. the blood [1818 * dam] [Strong: from 1826 (Compare 119); blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (i.e. drops of blood):--blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), + innocent.]

c. I will pass over you [6452 * pacach] [Strong: a primitive root; to hop, i.e. (figuratively) skip over (or spare); by implication, to hesitate; also (literally) to limp, to dance:--halt, become lame, leap, pass over.]

1). It is called the Passover because literally the LORD passed over the house that had the blood on the door posts and the lintel.

a). Exodus 12:23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

2). Just as the blood Covenant covered Adam and Eve’s sin and enabled them to approach God, the blood on the doorposts protected Israel from the LORD smiting the firstborn of Israel while killing the firstborn of Egypt.  

3. “…and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”

a. and the plague [5063 * negeph] [Strong: from 5062; a trip (of the foot); figuratively, an infliction (of disease):--plague, stumbling.]

b. shall not be upon you to destroy you [4889 *  mashchiyth] [Strong: from 7843; destructive, i.e. (as noun) destruction, literally (specifically a snare) or figuratively (corruption):--corruption, (to) destroy(-ing), destruction, trap, X utterly.]

c. when I smite [5221 * nakah] [Strong: a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively):--beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), X go forward, X indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, X surely, wound.]

d. the land [776 * 'erets] [Strong: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth, field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.]

e. of Egypt [4714 * Mitsrayim] [Strong: dual of 4693; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt:--Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim.] 

Exodus 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. NLT: “This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the LORD. This is a law for all time.

b. NIV: “This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD—a lasting ordinance.

c. YLT: 'And this day hath become to you a memorial, and ye have kept it a feast to Jehovah to your generations; -- a statute age-during; ye keep it a feast.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And this day shall be to you for a memorial. You shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations, keep it as an ordinance forever.

e. Septuagint: And this day shall be to you a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord through all your generations; ye shall keep it a feast for a perpetual ordinance. 

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: This day shall become a remembrance for you and you shall celebrate it as a festival for HASHEM; for your generations, as an eternal decree, shall you celebrate it. 

1. “And this day shall be unto you for a memorial…”

a. this day [3117 * yowm] [Strong: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb):--age, + always, + chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, + (for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually, presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space, then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole (+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.]

b. shall be unto you for a memorial [2146 * zikrown] [Strong: from ; a memento (or memorable thing, day or writing):--memorial, record.]

2. “…and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations…”

a. ye shall keep it [2287 * chagag] [Strong: a primitive root (Compare 2283,2328); properly, to move in a circle, i.e. (specifically) to march in a sacred procession, to observe a festival; by implication, to be giddy:--celebrate, dance, (keep, hold) a (solemn) feast (holiday), reel to and fro.]

b. a feast [2282 * chag; or chag] [Strong: from 2287; a festival, or a victim therefor:--(solemn) feast (day), sacrifice, solemnity.]

c. To the LORD [3068 * Yhovah] [Strong: from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

throughout your generations [1755 * dowr; or (shortened) dor] [Strong: from 1752; properly, a revolution of time, i.e. an age or generation; also a dwelling:--age, X evermore, generation, (n-)ever, posterity.]

3. “…ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.”

a. ye shall keep it a feast [2287 * chagag] [Strong: a primitive root (Compare 2283,2328); properly, to move in a circle, i.e. (specifically) to march in a sacred procession, to observe a festival; by implication, to be giddy:--celebrate, dance, (keep, hold) a (solemn) feast (holiday), reel to and fro.]

b. by an ordinance [2708 * chuqqah] [Strong: feminine of 2706, and meaning substantially the same:--appointed, custom, manner, ordinance, site, statute.]

c. forever [5769 * `owlam; or lolam] [Strong: from 5956; properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always:--alway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-))ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world (+ without end).]

1). I am fully persuaded that at least for Israel in the Millennial and in the Perfect Age that the Jewish feasts will be reinstituted. The word “forever” gives me that belief. Also Zechariah declares that after the return of Christ (the Jewish belief does not entertain those beliefs), the Feast of Tabernacles will be reinstituted throughout the earth even over the Gentiles.

a). Zechariah 14:16-19  And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

14:17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

14:18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

14:19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.