In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.

EXODUS 12:46KJV
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Exodus 12:46 (KJV)

What does Exodus 12:46 mean?

Exodus 12:46 commands that the Passover lamb must be eaten within one house, none of its meat is to be taken outside, and no bone of the lamb should be broken. These instructions set strict boundaries for how the Passover meal is to be shared and handled.

God is speaking to Moses and Aaron, giving detailed rules for the Israelites about the first Passover in Egypt. The verse emphasizes the unity and sacredness of the meal by keeping it within one household and protecting the integrity of the lamb. These details underline the seriousness of following God's instructions exactly during this foundational event for Israel.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 12:46

  • בַּיִת (bayit; "house"): This word means a physical dwelling or household. The instruction to keep the meal within one "house" stresses the idea of family and shared identity during the Passover.
  • שָׁבַר (shavar; "break"): This verb means to break or shatter. The command not to "break" any bone of the lamb highlights the requirement for the lamb to remain whole, which sets it apart as special and unblemished.

Why Exodus 12:46 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the Passover meal was not a casual or individual event, but a family-centered observance with clear boundaries, reinforcing community and obedience.
  • The instruction not to break any bone of the lamb becomes significant later in the Bible, where it is connected to later traditions and interpretations about sacrifice and wholeness.
  • By keeping the meal inside the house, the verse underscores the idea of protection and separation from the outside world during the night of the first Passover, tying into the larger narrative of deliverance from Egypt.

Where else these words appear

“bone” 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.

“break” Hebrew H7665 · used in 145 verses

  • Genesis 19:9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.
  • Psalms 37:15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
  • Jeremiah 30:8 For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: