And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.

EXODUS 12:41KJV
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Exodus 12:41 (KJV)

What does Exodus 12:41 mean?

Exodus 12:41 states that after exactly 430 years, on that very day, all the groups belonging to the LORD left Egypt. This verse marks the precise moment when the Israelites were freed from slavery and began their journey out of Egypt.

The verse is part of the story where Moses is recording the events of the Exodus for the people of Israel. The focus is on the exact timing—after 430 years in Egypt, the Israelites, described as "the hosts of the LORD," departed all together. This emphasizes both the fulfillment of God’s promise and the organized, collective nature of the departure.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 12:41

  • "Hosts" (צָבָא, tsābā’): This word means armies or organized groups. Here, it highlights that the Israelites left Egypt in an orderly, structured way, not as scattered individuals.
  • "Selfsame" (עֶצֶם, ‘etsem): This word means "exact" or "very," stressing that the departure happened on the exact day marking the end of the 430 years, not a day before or after.
  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, showing that the people leaving Egypt belonged to Him and that He was the one orchestrating their deliverance.

Why Exodus 12:41 matters

  • This verse clears up any confusion about how long the Israelites were in Egypt by giving a specific number: 430 years, to the very day.
  • The emphasis on "all the hosts of the LORD" shows that the departure was not random or chaotic but a unified, divinely-led event.
  • It connects to the wider passage by showing the fulfillment of promises made to Abraham and his descendants about their eventual liberation from bondage.

Where else these words appear

“end” Hebrew H7093 · used in 62 verses

  • Genesis 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
  • Job 6:11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?
  • Ezekiel 7:3 Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations.

“selfsame” Hebrew H6106 · used in 108 verses

  • Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
  • 2 Kings 13:21 And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.
  • Proverbs 3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.