Exodus 12:46

46 It is to be eaten in one house. You may not take any of the meat outside the house, and you may not break any of its bones.[a]

Exodus 12:46 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 12:46

In one house shall it be eaten
For though there might be more lambs than one eaten in a house, where there were a sufficient number to eat them; and there might be more societies than one in a house, provided they kept themselves distinct, and were large enough each of them to eat up a lamb; yet one lamb might not be eaten in different houses, a part of it in one house, and a part of it in another; which may denote the unity of the general assembly and church of the firstborn, and the distinct separate congregations of the saints, and the right that each have to a whole Christ, who is not to be divided from his ministers, word, and ordinances; (See Gill on Matthew 26:18): thou shall not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house:
into another house; for where there was not a sufficient number in one house to eat a lamb, their neighbours in the next house were to join with them; but then they were not to part it, and one portion of it to be eaten in one house, and the other in another, but they were to meet together in one of their houses, and there partake of it; thus, though Christ may be fed upon by faith any where by particular believers, yet in an ordinance way only in the church of God: neither shall ye break a bone thereof;
any of its tender bones to get out the marrow; and so the Targum of Jonathan adds,

``that ye may eat that which is in the midst of it:''
this was remarkably fulfilled in Christ the antitype, ( John 19:32-36 ) .

Exodus 12:46 In-Context

44 But any slave a man has purchased may eat it, after you have circumcised him.
45 A temporary resident or hired hand may not eat the Passover.
46 It is to be eaten in one house. You may not take any of the meat outside the house, and you may not break any of its bones.
47 The whole community of Israel must celebrate it.
48 If a foreigner resides with you and wants to celebrate the Lord's Passover, every male in his household must be circumcised, and then he may participate; he will become like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person may eat it.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Nm 9:12; Ps 34:20; Jn 19:33,36
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