And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

EXODUS 12:48KJV
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Exodus 12:48 (KJV)

What does Exodus 12:48 mean?

Exodus 12:48 explains that if a foreigner is living among the Israelites and wants to celebrate the Passover to the LORD, every male in his household must first be circumcised; only then can he join in the meal, and he will be treated like someone born in Israel. Anyone who is not circumcised is not allowed to eat the Passover meal.

In this verse, God is giving Moses instructions for the Israelites about how outsiders (non-Israelites) can participate in the Passover, which is a special meal remembering Israel’s rescue from Egypt. The requirement for circumcision shows that joining in this celebration means fully accepting the covenant and identity of Israel, not just taking part in a ritual meal.

The Hebrew behind Exodus 12:48

  • "stranger" (גֵּר, ger): This word means a foreigner or sojourner—someone living among the Israelites but not born as one of them. The verse shows that even outsiders could join in, but only by accepting Israel’s covenant sign.
  • "sojourn" (גּוּר, gur): This word means to live as a temporary resident. The verse is not talking about a passing traveler, but someone who has settled among the people.
  • "circumcised" (מָל, mal): This is the physical sign of belonging to the covenant community. The requirement emphasizes that participation in the Passover is about full inclusion, not just attendance.
  • "born" (אֶזְרָח, ezrach): This word means a native or someone born in the land. The verse says that a circumcised foreigner is to be treated just like a native-born Israelite for this celebration.

Why Exodus 12:48 matters

  • Exodus 12:48 clears up the idea that the Passover was only for ethnic Israelites; it shows that outsiders could join if they accepted the covenant, making belonging about commitment, not ancestry.
  • The verse highlights how seriously God wanted the Passover to be treated, connecting it directly to the sign of the covenant (circumcision), not just to national identity.
  • This instruction fits into the wider passage about the first Passover, showing the boundaries and openness of Israel’s community as they left Egypt and formed a new identity.

Where else these words appear

“born” Hebrew H249 · used in 17 verses

  • Exodus 12:19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
  • Leviticus 19:34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
  • Numbers 15:13 All that are born of the country shall do these things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

“circumcised” Hebrew H4135 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 17:10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.
  • Genesis 34:15 But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;
  • Joshua 5:4 And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.

“person” Hebrew H6189 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 17:14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.
  • 1 Samuel 17:36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
  • Ezekiel 32:21 The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.

“passover” Hebrew H6453 · used in 46 verses

  • Exodus 12:11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.
  • Numbers 33:3 And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians.
  • 2 Chronicles 30:18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one