Passover(paschal lamb)
“To pass over, to spare, to show mercy”
Summary
The Passover was the first and most important of Israel's three great annual festivals, instituted to commemorate the deliverance from Egyptian bondage when God spared the firstborn of Israel while striking down those of Egypt.
☩Name and Meaning
The Hebrew word pesach (פֶּסַח), from the verb pasach, signifies 'to pass over' or 'to spare.' The term denotes the overstepping or passing over of the destroyer, who spared Israelite homes marked with the blood of the lamb. Josephus renders it hyperbasia ('a passing over'), and the English 'Passover' accurately conveys this meaning. The word also designates the paschal lamb itself, the sacrificial meal, and by extension the entire seven-day festival of unleavened bread. Some Church fathers mistakenly derived the Greek pascha from paschō ('to suffer'), connecting it with Christ's passion, though this is etymologically incorrect.
☩Original Institution in Egypt
On the 10th of Abib (later called Nisan), each household selected a male lamb or kid without blemish, one year old. On the 14th day, at twilight ('between the two evenings'), they killed the lamb and sprinkled its blood on the doorposts and lintel using hyssop. The lamb was roasted whole—not boiled—and eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. No bone was to be broken, and any remainder was burned by morning. The family ate in haste with loins girded, staff in hand, and sandals on feet, ready for departure. That night, the Lord struck Egypt's firstborn while passing over the blood-marked houses of Israel.
☩Later Observance
After the wilderness period, the Passover could only be sacrificed at the central sanctuary in Jerusalem, not in private homes. The blood was poured on the altar rather than sprinkled on doorposts, and the fat was burned as an offering. Those prevented by uncleanness or travel from observing the Passover in the first month could celebrate in the second month. The seven days of unleavened bread followed the paschal meal, with the first and seventh days being holy convocations when no servile work was permitted. Additional public sacrifices were offered throughout the week: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs daily, with grain and drink offerings.
☩Historical Celebrations
Notable Passovers include: the first celebration in Egypt at the Exodus; the second year observance in the wilderness (Numbers 9); the first Passover in Canaan at Gilgal after circumcision (Joshua 5:10-11); Hezekiah's great celebration held in the second month due to inadequate preparation (2 Chronicles 30); Josiah's Passover, unmatched since Samuel's time (2 Kings 23:21-23); and the post-exilic observance by returning Jews (Ezra 6:19-22). Jesus observed the Passover throughout His ministry, including His final Passover when He instituted the Lord's Supper.
☩The Paschal Meal Ceremony
By the time of Christ, an elaborate ritual had developed. The head of the household blessed the first cup of wine, followed by hand washing. The bitter herbs were dipped in a sauce (charoseth) representing the mortar of Egyptian bondage. After removing and returning the dishes, the youngest present asked the meaning of the feast, prompting a recitation of Israel's deliverance. Psalms 113-114 (the first part of the Hallel) were sung before eating the lamb. After the meal, the third cup ('the cup of blessing') was drunk, followed by Psalms 115-118. The fourth cup concluded the ceremony, sometimes followed by a fifth cup with the 'Great Hallel' (Psalms 120-138).
☩Typological Significance
Christ is explicitly called 'our Passover' who has been sacrificed for us (1 Corinthians 5:7). The paschal lamb—without blemish, with no bone broken—prefigured the sinless Lamb of God whose legs were not broken on the cross. Christ was crucified at Passover season, dying at the hour of the evening sacrifice. The blood sprinkled on doorposts typified Christ's blood applied to believers for protection from divine judgment. The unleavened bread symbolizes the new life cleansed from the 'leaven' of malice and wickedness, calling believers to lives of sincerity and truth. The haste of eating pictured the pilgrim character of Christian life.
Related Verses93 mentions
See Also
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References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Passover," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Passover," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Passover," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 4.Philip Schaff and Johann Herzog (ed.), "PASSOVER," in The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. VIII (Funk and Wagnalls, 1908–1914).
- 5.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Passover," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 6.George Morrish, "Passover," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).