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Passover - Bible Story and Meaning

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Passover - Bible Story and Meaning


Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is one of the most significant festivals in the Jewish calendar. It commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, as narrated in the Book of Exodus in the Bible.

What is Passover?

The Passover story begins with the Israelites being enslaved by the Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead his people out of Egypt and to freedom. When Pharaoh refuses to release the Israelites, God inflicts ten devastating plagues upon Egypt. The final plague, the death of the firstborn Egyptians, spares the Israelites because they mark their doorposts with lamb's blood, a sign for the angel of death to "pass over" their homes. After this plague, Pharaoh relents and allows the Israelites to leave.

The Passover story is not only a historical narrative but also a rich source of spiritual lessons and traditions. During the Passover holiday, Jewish people observe various rituals, including the Seder meal, where the story of the Exodus is retold, and symbolic foods are eaten. These traditions are meant to remind participants of the struggles of their ancestors and the joy of liberation, fostering a sense of gratitude, resilience, and communal identity.

When is Passover?

The holiday of Passover, or Pesach, falls on the Hebrew calendar dates of Nissan 15-22. Passover 2024 begins before sundown on Monday, April 22nd, 2024, and ends after nightfall on April 30th, 2024.

Passover Meaning

Passover is a special holiday that Jewish people celebrate to remember a really important time in their history. A long time ago, Jewish people were slaves in Egypt, and Passover is about commemorating how they became free. 

The name "Passover" comes from a part of the story where something called the "angel of death" passed over the houses of the Jewish slaves. They were spared from a terrible plague because they marked their doors with lamb's blood, as God told them to do. This was the last of ten plagues that happened in Egypt because the Pharaoh wouldn't let the Jewish people go. After this last plague, Pharaoh finally agreed, and the Jewish people were able to leave Egypt and slavery behind. 

So, Passover celebrates freedom and the strength it took for the Jewish ancestors to stand up for themselves and become free. During Passover, families have a special meal called a Seder, where they eat specific foods that remind them of what their ancestors went through and tell the story of the Exodus from Egypt. It's a time for them to be together, remember their history, and appreciate their freedom.


Passover in the Bible

1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year. 3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. 4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. 5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. 6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. 7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. 8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. 9 Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs. 10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. 11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.

12 “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. 13 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.

14 “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. 15 For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat; that is all you may do.

17 “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. 18 In the first month you are to eat bread made without yeast, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day. 19 For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And anyone, whether foreigner or native-born, who eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel. 20 Eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat unleavened bread.” (Exodus 12:1-20)

Read the whole Passover Bible Story: Exodus 12-14

Passover in the Bible is a pivotal event that marks the liberation of the Israelites from centuries of Egyptian slavery. This story is primarily found in the Book of Exodus, chapters 12 through 14. Passover begins with God's instructions to Moses and Aaron in Egypt on the eve of the Israelites' departure. God commands them to have each Israelite family slaughter a lamb and mark their doorposts with its blood. This sign was to protect the Israelites from the final plague, the death of the firstborn in every Egyptian household, a divine punishment for Pharaoh's refusal to release God's people.

That night, as the angel of death passed over the houses marked with blood, the Israelites were spared, leading to the name "Passover" (Pesach in Hebrew), signifying the passing over of these homes. The rapid departure of the Israelites followed, with no time for their bread dough to rise, resulting in the eating of unleavened bread, or matzah, a practice continued by Jews during the Passover holiday to this day.

After witnessing the severe loss, including that of his son, Pharaoh finally relented and urged Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. However, Pharaoh's heart hardened once more, and he sent his army to recapture them. As they reached the Red Sea, with the Egyptian army in pursuit, God parted the waters through Moses, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry ground. When the Egyptians followed, the waters returned, drowning the pursuing army, marking the final liberation of the Israelites.

Passover Greetings

During Passover, it's customary to exchange greetings that reflect the themes and significance of the holiday. Here are some familiar Passover greetings:

"Happy Passover!" - A simple and widely used greeting that wishes others a joyous holiday experience.

"Chag Sameach!" - This Hebrew phrase means "Happy Festival!" and is a standard greeting for all Jewish holidays, including Passover.

"Pesach Sameach!" - Specifically wishing someone a "Happy Passover" in Hebrew.

"Chag Pesach Sameach!" - A combination of the greetings, meaning "Happy Passover Festival!" in Hebrew, offering a more formal holiday wish.

"Chag Pesach Kasher V’Sameach!" - This greeting means "A Happy and Kosher Passover!" It's traditional to wish someone happiness during the festival and adhere to the dietary restrictions that come with it.

Passover Meal: The Seder

A traditional Passover meal, known as the Seder, is rich in symbolism and tradition, designed to retell the story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. The Seder is observed on the first one or two nights of the eight-day Passover celebration, depending on one's Jewish tradition. Each food item on the Seder plate has a deep symbolic meaning:

Matzah (Unleavened Bread) Represents the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt, not having time to let their bread rise. It's a vital part of the meal and a special ritual for eating it during the Seder.

Maror (Bitter Herbs, often horseradish): Symbolizes the bitterness and harshness of the slavery that the Jews endured in Egypt.

Charoset: A sweet paste made of fruits, nuts, wine, and spices, representing the mortar the Israelite slaves used to build with bricks in Egypt. The sweetness also serves as a contrast to the bitterness of slavery.

Karpas (Green Vegetable): Typically parsley or celery, dipped in salt water before eating. The green vegetable symbolizes spring and rebirth, while the salt water represents the tears shed by the Israelite slaves.

Zeroa (Shank Bone): A roasted lamb or goat bone, symbolizing the sacrificial lamb whose blood marked the Israelite homes, sparing them from the final plague. Vegetarian Seder plates might substitute this with a beet.

Beitzah (Roasted Egg): This represents the festival sacrifice offered in the Temple in Jerusalem and symbolizes spring and the circle of life.

Along with these symbolic items, the meal typically includes various traditional dishes, which can vary widely among different Jewish communities but often feature soups (like matzah ball soup), fish, meat (such as brisket), and vegetable dishes, all prepared without leavened bread or grains that are forbidden during Passover.

The Seder is guided by the reading of the Haggadah. This text recounts the story of the Exodus from Egypt, along with prayers, songs, and discussions designed to fulfill the commandment to retell the story to the next generation. The Seder meal is a family-centric ritual that blends ceremonial observance with a feast, embodying the themes of freedom, gratitude, and renewal inherent in Passover.

Related reading:
10 Plagues of Egypt - Bible Story
Who Was Moses in the Bible?

Photo: Getty/Marina Moskalyuk

Exodus 12

1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt,
2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.
3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.
4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.
5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.
6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.
7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.
8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.
9 Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs.
10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it.
11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover.
12 “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.
13 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.
14 “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.
15 For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel.
16 On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat; that is all you may do.
17 “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.
18 In the first month you are to eat bread made without yeast, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day.
19 For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And anyone, whether foreigner or native-born, who eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel.
20 Eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat unleavened bread.”
21 Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb.
22 Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning.
23 When the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.
24 “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants.
25 When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony.
26 And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’
27 then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’ ” Then the people bowed down and worshiped.
28 The Israelites did just what the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron.
29 At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well.
30 Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.
31 During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested.
32 Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.”
33 The Egyptians urged the people to hurry and leave the country. “For otherwise,” they said, “we will all die!”
34 So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, and carried it on their shoulders in kneading troughs wrapped in clothing.
35 The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing.
36 The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians.
37 The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children.
38 Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.
39 With the dough the Israelites had brought from Egypt, they baked loaves of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves.
40 Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years.
41 At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD’s divisions left Egypt.
42 Because the LORD kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the LORD for the generations to come.
43 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “These are the regulations for the Passover meal: “No foreigner may eat it.
44 Any slave you have bought may eat it after you have circumcised him,
45 but a temporary resident or a hired worker may not eat it.
46 “It must be eaten inside the house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones.
47 The whole community of Israel must celebrate it.
48 “A foreigner residing among you who wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised male may eat it.
49 The same law applies both to the native-born and to the foreigner residing among you.”
50 All the Israelites did just what the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron.
51 And on that very day the LORD brought the Israelites out of Egypt by their divisions.

Exodus 12 Commentaries

Exodus 12:1-20

1 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt,
2 “This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.
3 Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.
4 If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat.
5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.
6 Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight.
7 Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.
8 That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.
9 Do not eat the meat raw or boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs.
10 Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it.
11 This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover.
12 “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.
13 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.
14 “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.
15 For seven days you are to eat bread made without yeast. On the first day remove the yeast from your houses, for whoever eats anything with yeast in it from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel.
16 On the first day hold a sacred assembly, and another one on the seventh day. Do no work at all on these days, except to prepare food for everyone to eat; that is all you may do.
17 “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.
18 In the first month you are to eat bread made without yeast, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day.
19 For seven days no yeast is to be found in your houses. And anyone, whether foreigner or native-born, who eats anything with yeast in it must be cut off from the community of Israel.
20 Eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat unleavened bread.”

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