Exodus 12:18

18 In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, at eventide, ye shall eat therf bread, till to the one and twentieth day of the same month at eventide. (In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, from the evening on, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the same month, in the evening.)

Exodus 12:18 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 12:18

In the first month
As it was now ordered to be reckoned, the month Abib or Nisan: the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread;
that is, at the evening following, the fourteenth of Nisan, and which was the beginning of the fifteenth day, the Jews beginning their day from the evening: hence the Targum of Jonathan is,

``on the fourteenth of Nisan ye shall slay the passover, in the evening of the fifteenth ye shall eat unleavened bread:''

unto the twentieth day of the month at even;
which would make just seven days; the above Targum adds,

``on the evening of the twenty second ye shall eat leavened bread,''

which was the evening following the twenty first day. This long abstinence from leaven denotes, that the whole lives of those who are Israelites indeed should be without guile, hypocrisy, and malice, and should be spent in sincerity and truth.

Exodus 12:18 In-Context

16 The first day shall be holy and solemn, and the seventh day (also) shall be worshipful by the same hallowing; ye shall not do any work in those days, except these things that pertain to meat; (On the first day there shall be a holy gathering, and on the seventh day there shall also be a holy gathering; ye shall not do any work on those days, except those things that pertain to the preparation of meals;)

17 and ye shall keep (the feast of) therf bread. For in that same day I shall lead out of the land of Egypt your host; and ye shall keep this day in your generations by everlasting custom. (and ye shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For on that day I led your host out of the land of Egypt; and ye shall remember this day in all your generations to come, by an everlasting rite.)

18 In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, at eventide, ye shall eat therf bread, till to the one and twentieth day of the same month at eventide. (In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, from the evening on, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the same month, in the evening.)

19 In seven days nothing dighted with sourdough shall be found in your houses; if any eateth anything dighted with sourdough, his soul shall perish from the company of Israel, as well of comelings, that be heathen men converted to the faith of Jews, as of them that be born in the land. (Yea, for seven days nothing made with yeast shall be found in your houses; if anyone eateth anything made with yeast, they shall perish, or be cut off, from the congregation of Israel, yea, this is for both newcomers, that is, the heathen who be converted to the Jewish faith, as well as for those who be born in the land.)

20 Ye shall not eat anything made with sourdough, and ye shall eat therf bread in all your dwelling places.