Exodus 12:9
Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.
Original Language Analysis
אַל
H408
אַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
1 of 16
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙
H4480
מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
3 of 16
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
מְבֻשָּׁ֖ל
nor sodden
H1310
מְבֻשָּׁ֖ל
nor sodden
Strong's:
H1310
Word #:
6 of 16
properly, to boil up; hence, to be done in cooking; figuratively to ripen
בַּמָּ֑יִם
at all with water
H4325
בַּמָּ֑יִם
at all with water
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
7 of 16
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
8 of 16
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
9 of 16
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
רֹאשׁ֥וֹ
his head
H7218
רֹאשׁ֥וֹ
his head
Strong's:
H7218
Word #:
12 of 16
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
13 of 16
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כְּרָעָ֖יו
with his legs
H3767
כְּרָעָ֖יו
with his legs
Strong's:
H3767
Word #:
14 of 16
the leg (from the knee to the ankle) of men or locusts (only in the dual)
Cross References
Historical Context
Raw meat was common in pagan rituals, and boiling was the typical Hebrew cooking method. The fire-roasting requirement set Passover apart as unique.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the completeness of the lamb's roasting reflect the thoroughness of Christ's suffering on the cross?
- What does the prohibition against raw or boiled meat teach about accepting God's prescribed method of atonement?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The prohibition against eating raw or boiled flesh, requiring fire-roasting, emphasizes that God's judgment (symbolized by fire) must fully consume the sacrifice. 'Purtenance' (KJV) refers to internal organs—nothing was discarded, signifying complete sacrifice. This points to Christ's total suffering under divine wrath, not partial or symbolic judgment.