Exodus 12:21 Meaning and Explanation
“Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Moses instructs Israel's elders to select lambs by family and prepare for the Passover sacrifice.
The Context of Exodus 12:21
Moses directs Israel's elders to select and kill the Passover lamb.
What Does Exodus 12:21 Mean?
Moses now acts as the messenger, transmitting God's detailed instructions to the elders of Israel. The elders, as leaders of the community, bear the responsibility of ensuring their families and clans understand and obey. By addressing the elders first, the instruction flows through established authority structures, ensuring the entire nation participates with understanding and intention.
The action is immediate: 'draw out and take.' The elders are not to debate or delay but to execute what God has commanded. Each family takes a lamb, transforming the command from abstract law into concrete action. This moment marks Israel's active participation in their own deliverance—they are not passive victims rescued from Egypt but active agents in the covenant ritual.
Frequently Asked Questions About Exodus 12:21
What does Exodus 12:21 mean?
Moses instructs Israel's elders to select lambs by family and prepare for the Passover sacrifice.
What is the context of Exodus 12:21?
Moses directs Israel's elders to select and kill the Passover lamb.