Exodus 12:41
And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.
Original Language Analysis
וַיְהִ֗י
H1961
וַיְהִ֗י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 17
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
מִקֵּץ֙
And it came to pass at the end
H7093
מִקֵּץ֙
And it came to pass at the end
Strong's:
H7093
Word #:
2 of 17
an extremity; adverbially (with prepositional prefix) after
וַיְהִ֗י
H1961
וַיְהִ֗י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
8 of 17
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בְּעֶ֙צֶם֙
even the selfsame
H6106
בְּעֶ֙צֶם֙
even the selfsame
Strong's:
H6106
Word #:
9 of 17
a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e., (as pron.) selfsame
הַיּ֣וֹם
day
H3117
הַיּ֣וֹם
day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
10 of 17
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 asso
הַזֶּ֔ה
H2088
יָֽצְא֛וּ
went out
H3318
יָֽצְא֛וּ
went out
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
12 of 17
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
13 of 17
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
צִבְא֥וֹת
it came to pass that all the hosts
H6635
צִבְא֥וֹת
it came to pass that all the hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
14 of 17
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
יְהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
15 of 17
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Cross References
Acts 1:7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.John 7:8Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.Habakkuk 2:3For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Historical Context
The term 'hosts' establishes Israel's identity as YHWH's military force. This conception continues throughout Scripture, with YHWH often called 'LORD of hosts' (YHWH Tzva'ot).
Questions for Reflection
- How does viewing yourself as part of God's 'hosts' affect your understanding of spiritual warfare and your role in it?
- What does God's precise timing in mobilizing His army teach about divine strategy versus human timing?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The repetition 'after 430 years...the selfsame day' (twice) emphasizes the significance of exact timing. The phrase 'all the hosts of the LORD went out' presents Israel as organized military divisions (tzva'ot YHWH, צִבְאוֹת יְהוָה). They exit not as refugees but as God's army on a divinely scheduled campaign. This military language anticipates Canaan's conquest.