Book of Exodus - Chapter 12 - Verse 6

Within the context of the Passover celebration, this verse from Exodus 12:6 instructs the Israelites on the specific timeline for preparing and sacrificing the Passover lamb. The directive to keep the lamb until the fourteenth day of the month ensures that the sacrifice is made at the appointed time. By killing the lamb in the evening of the fourteenth day, the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is participating in a symbolic act of obedience and faith. This act commemorates the events of the first Passover in Egypt, when the blood of the sacrificial lamb on the doorposts protected the Israelites from the final plague. The Passover lamb served as a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, the ultimate sacrificial lamb whose blood brings redemption and salvation. As believers read and reflect on this verse, they are reminded of God's faithfulness in delivering His people and the importance of obedience in following His commands.

The verse "And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening." from Exodus 12:6 provides instructions for the Passover observance. The word "keep it up" in the original Hebrew text is "shamar," which means to watch, preserve, or guard. The choice of this word emphasizes the importance of diligent obedience and careful attention to detail in following God's commandments. The killing of the Passover lamb in the evening symbolizes the sacrifice that was necessary for the redemption of the Israelites. This act prefigured the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who was crucified in the evening and whose blood brings salvation to all believers. The theological interpretation of this verse highlights the atoning nature of the Passover lamb and its foreshadowing of Jesus as the Lamb of God. The word "assembly" points to the unity and solidarity of the Israelite community in observing this important feast together. Overall, this verse conveys the significance of obedience, sacrifice, and redemption in the context of the Passover celebration.