Deuteronomy 16:1
Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.
Original Language Analysis
שָׁמוֹר֙
Observe
H8104
שָׁמוֹר֙
Observe
Strong's:
H8104
Word #:
1 of 16
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 16
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הָֽאָבִ֗יב
of Abib
H24
הָֽאָבִ֗יב
of Abib
Strong's:
H24
Word #:
4 of 16
green, i.e., a young ear of grain; hence, the name of the month abib or nisan
וְעָשִׂ֣יתָ
and keep
H6213
וְעָשִׂ֣יתָ
and keep
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
5 of 16
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
פֶּ֔סַח
the passover
H6453
פֶּ֔סַח
the passover
Strong's:
H6453
Word #:
6 of 16
a pretermission, i.e., exemption; used only techically of the jewish passover (the festival or the victim)
יְהוָ֧ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֧ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
7 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
8 of 16
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
כִּ֞י
H3588
כִּ֞י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
9 of 16
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
הָֽאָבִ֗יב
of Abib
H24
הָֽאָבִ֗יב
of Abib
Strong's:
H24
Word #:
11 of 16
green, i.e., a young ear of grain; hence, the name of the month abib or nisan
הוֹצִ֨יאֲךָ֜
brought thee forth
H3318
הוֹצִ֨יאֲךָ֜
brought thee forth
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
12 of 16
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
יְהוָ֧ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֧ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
13 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ
thy God
H430
אֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ
thy God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
14 of 16
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
Cross References
Exodus 34:18The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt.Exodus 13:4This day came ye out in the month Abib.Numbers 28:16And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD.Leviticus 23:5In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover.
Historical Context
Passover became central to Jewish religious identity, observed annually from the exodus through the present day. Jesus celebrated Passover with His disciples at the Last Supper, transforming it into the Lord's Supper which Christians observe as memorial of His sacrifice.
The connection between Passover and Christ's crucifixion is chronologically precise - Jesus died during Passover week as the ultimate Passover Lamb.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God command perpetual memorial of the exodus deliverance?
- How does Passover's historical specificity differ from pagan mythical celebrations?
- In what ways does the Passover lamb prefigure Christ's atoning sacrifice?
- What does transformation of Passover into the Lord's Supper teach about Old and New Covenant relationship?
- How should regular memorial of redemption shape Christian identity and worship?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night. The Passover memorial commanded perpetual remembrance of exodus deliverance. Israel must continually recall God's redemptive act that constituted them as His covenant people.
The month of Abib (later called Nisan) occurred in spring, timing the festival to commemorate actual historical deliverance. The specificity grounds Passover in real history, not mythical sacred time. God acts in actual space and time to redeem His people.
The phrase brought thee forth...by night recalls the dramatic midnight exodus when death passed over Israelite homes marked with lamb's blood while striking Egyptian firstborn. This foundational deliverance established Israel's identity as redeemed people.
Reformed theology sees Passover as supreme Old Testament type of Christ's atoning sacrifice. As the Passover lamb's blood protected from death, Christ's blood delivers from divine judgment. Paul declares, Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us (1 Corinthians 5:7).