Exodus 12:4
And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
Original Language Analysis
וְאִם
H518
וְאִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
1 of 19
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
יִמְעַ֣ט
too little
H4591
יִמְעַ֣ט
too little
Strong's:
H4591
Word #:
2 of 19
properly, to pare off, i.e., lessen; intransitively, to be (or causatively, to make) small or few (or figuratively, ineffective)
בֵּית֖וֹ
And if the household
H1004
בֵּית֖וֹ
And if the household
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
3 of 19
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
מִֽהְי֣וֹת
be
H1961
מִֽהְי֣וֹת
be
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
4 of 19
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
ה֗וּא
H1931
ה֗וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
7 of 19
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
וּשְׁכֵנ֛וֹ
let him and his neighbour
H7934
וּשְׁכֵנ֛וֹ
let him and his neighbour
Strong's:
H7934
Word #:
8 of 19
a resident; by extension, a fellow-citizen
בֵּית֖וֹ
And if the household
H1004
בֵּית֖וֹ
And if the household
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
11 of 19
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
בְּמִכְסַ֣ת
it according to the number
H4373
בְּמִכְסַ֣ת
it according to the number
Strong's:
H4373
Word #:
12 of 19
an enumeration; by implication, a valuation
נְפָשֹׁ֑ת
of the souls
H5315
נְפָשֹׁ֑ת
of the souls
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
13 of 19
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
אִ֚ישׁ
every man
H376
אִ֚ישׁ
every man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
14 of 19
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
לְפִ֣י
according
H6310
לְפִ֣י
according
Strong's:
H6310
Word #:
15 of 19
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
Historical Context
Small families in ancient Israel would naturally join with neighbors for major meals. This provision ensured no household was excluded from Passover due to size.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the principle of 'according to eating' guard against both excess and exclusion in Christian fellowship?
- In what ways can you share spiritual blessings with those whose 'households are too small' to partake alone?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The proportional allocation ('according to his eating') demonstrates God's concern for practical provision—neither waste nor want. The Hebrew 'mikhsat' (מִכְסַת) means a reckoning or counting, requiring families to calculate their needs. This communal sharing prefigures both the church's fellowship meals and the Lord's Supper where all partake equally.