Luke 22:7
Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.
Original Language Analysis
Ἦλθεν
came
G2064
Ἦλθεν
came
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
1 of 12
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
ἡ
G3588
ἡ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 12
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἡμέρα
the day
G2250
ἡμέρα
the day
Strong's:
G2250
Word #:
4 of 12
day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
5 of 12
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀζύμων
of unleavened bread
G106
ἀζύμων
of unleavened bread
Strong's:
G106
Word #:
6 of 12
unleavened, i.e., (figuratively) uncorrupted; (in the neutral plural) specially (by implication) the passover week
ᾗ
G3739
ᾗ
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
8 of 12
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
ἔδει
must
G1163
ἔδει
must
Strong's:
G1163
Word #:
9 of 12
also deon deh-on'; neuter active participle of the same; both used impersonally; it is (was, etc.) necessary (as binding)
θύεσθαι
be killed
G2380
θύεσθαι
be killed
Strong's:
G2380
Word #:
10 of 12
properly, to rush (breathe hard, blow, smoke), i.e., (by implication) to sacrifice (properly, by fire, but genitive case); by extension to immolate (s
Historical Context
Passover lambs were killed on Nisan 14 (Thursday afternoon by Jewish reckoning which began sundown), then eaten after sundown (which began Nisan 15, technically the first day of Unleavened Bread). The distinction between 'Passover day' and 'Feast of Unleavened Bread' had blurred in common usage, though technically distinct in Leviticus 23.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the 'must be killed' language for the Passover lamb foreshadow the divine necessity of Christ's death?
- What significance do you find in Jesus' death occurring at the exact time temple lambs were being sacrificed?
- How does understanding Christ as the fulfillment of Passover transform your understanding of communion?
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Analysis & Commentary
Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. The temporal marker then came the day (ἦλθεν δὲ ἡ ἡμέρα, ēlthen de hē hēmera) shifts to Nisan 14, the Day of Preparation. When the passover must be killed (ἐν ᾗ ἔδει θύεσθαι τὸ πάσχα, en hē edei thyesthai to pascha) uses divine necessity language—edei ('it was necessary') indicates theological inevitability, not mere custom.
Thousands of lambs were slaughtered that afternoon in the temple courts (Josephus records 256,000 lambs for one Passover). Each lamb had to be without blemish (Exodus 12:5), inspected by priests, killed between 3-5 PM ('between the evenings'), blood drained and sprinkled. The lamb's death substituted for the firstborn's death. As these lambs died, the true Lamb of God prepared for His sacrifice. The typology becomes explicit: Christ our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7) would be inspected by authorities, found without blemish (Luke 23:4, 14, 22), and die at the ninth hour (3 PM, Luke 23:44) as temple lambs were being slain.