Exodus 12:23

23 For the Lord shall pass [forth] smiting the Egyptians; and when he shall see the blood in the lintel, and in ever either post (and when he shall see the blood on the lintel, and on both door-posts), he shall pass (over) the door of the house; and he shall not suffer the smiter to enter into your houses, and to hurt you.

Exodus 12:23 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 12:23

For the Lord will pass though to smite the Egyptians
All the firstborn in the several families, in all the towns and cities in Egypt: and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and upon the two
side posts;
which must be understood of his taking notice of it with a special view to the good of those within the house; otherwise every thing is seen by his all seeing eye: and thus Christ, the Lamb of God, is in the midst of the throne, as though he had been slain, and is always in the view of God and his divine justice; and his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice, are always looked unto by him with pleasure, delight, and satisfaction, to the advantage of his people, as applied unto them, who are hereby accepted with him, justified in his sight, and secure from condemnation and wrath: the Lord will pass over the door;
and the house where this blood is sprinkled, and go to the next, or where Egyptians dwell; and thus justice passes over, and passes by, acquits and discharges them who are interested in the blood and sacrifice of Christ: and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite
you;
the destroying angel, as the Targum of Jonathan; for he seems to be distinct from the Lord, who is said to pass through and pass over, being an attendant and minister of his, to execute vengeance upon the Egyptians; and whether a good or a bad angel, it matters not, since God can make use of either to inflict judgments on men; but it may be more probably the former, even such an one as was employed in destroying the whole host of the Assyrians in one night, ( 2 Kings 19:35 ) and answers better in the antitype or emblem to the justice of God taking vengeance on ungodly sinners, when it is not suffered to do the saints any harm.

Exodus 12:23 In-Context

21 Forsooth Moses called all the elder men of the sons of Israel, and said to them, Go ye, and take ye a beast by your families, and offer ye pask; (And so Moses called all the elders of the Israelites, and said to them, Go ye, and get ye a beast for your families, and offer ye the Passover;)
22 and dip ye a bundle of hyssop, in the blood which is in the threshold, either in a vessel beside the threshold, and sprinkle ye thereof on the lintel, and ever either (door-)post; none of you shall go out at the door of his house till the morrowtide. (and dip ye a bundle of hyssop in the blood which is on the threshold, or in a vessel beside the threshold, and sprinkle some of it on the lintel, and on both door-posts; and then none of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning.)
23 For the Lord shall pass [forth] smiting the Egyptians; and when he shall see the blood in the lintel, and in ever either post (and when he shall see the blood on the lintel, and on both door-posts), he shall pass (over) the door of the house; and he shall not suffer the smiter to enter into your houses, and to hurt you.
24 Keep thou this word; it shall be a lawful thing to thee and to thy sons till into without end. (Do thou this thing; yea, it shall be an everlasting rite for thee and for thy sons.)
25 And when ye shall enter into the land which the Lord shall give to you, as he promised, ye shall keep these ceremonies;
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.