Learn more about Passover

Introduction to Passover

Passover, known in Hebrew as Pesach, is one of the most foundational and enduring observances in the biblical and Jewish religious calendar. It commemorates the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt under Pharaoh’s rule. Instituted by God in Exodus 12, Passover marks the beginning of Israel’s journey as a covenant people and is rich with theological, historical, and spiritual meaning. The event is so central that many themes of redemption and sacrifice in both the Old and New Testaments are built upon it.

Passover Pronunciation

“Passover” is pronounced as PASS-oh-ver. The Hebrew word “Pesach” is pronounced as PAY-sahkh, with the final “kh” representing a guttural sound common in Hebrew but not in English.

Passover in the Bible

The story of Passover originates in the Old Testament and echoes into the New Testament. Key biblical references include:

• Exodus 12: God commands Moses and Aaron to instruct the Israelites to slaughter a lamb and place its blood on their doorposts so that the angel of death would "pass over" their homes during the tenth plague in Egypt—the death of the firstborn. This act of obedience marked their faith and resulted in their deliverance.
• Leviticus 23:4-8: Provides further instructions for celebrating Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, emphasizing its role as a holy convocation.
• Deuteronomy 16:1-8: Reiterates the observance of Passover once the Israelites are settled in the Promised Land and centralizes the celebration at the place God chooses (later Jerusalem).
• 2 Chronicles 30 & 35: Chronicles the revival of the Passover celebration under King Hezekiah and King Josiah, highlighting the importance of national repentance and covenant renewal.
• Ezra 6:19-22: Describes the joyful celebration of Passover by the returned exiles, showing continuity of the tradition post-Babylonian captivity.
• Luke 22:7-20; Matthew 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; John 13: These passages describe Jesus' Last Supper, which was a Passover meal. During this, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper (Communion), linking the themes of redemption and sacrifice from Passover to His own death.
• 1 Corinthians 5:7: Paul explicitly calls Christ "our Passover lamb," drawing a direct connection between Jesus’ sacrificial death and the lambs slain in Exodus.

Related Themes and Meanings to Passover

Passover is saturated with theological depth and foreshadowing. Key related themes include:

• Redemption: Central to the Passover story is God redeeming His people from bondage, a theme echoed throughout Scripture in both physical and spiritual contexts.
• Sacrifice: The lamb's blood is a powerful image of substitutionary atonement. This prefigures the ultimate sacrifice of Christ in the New Testament.
• Judgment and Mercy: The plague of the firstborn was a judgment against Egypt’s gods and Pharaoh’s rebellion, while the Israelites experienced God’s mercy through obedience and the blood covering.
• Covenant: Passover commemorates the beginning of God’s covenantal relationship with Israel, which is fulfilled and expanded in the New Covenant through Christ.
• Deliverance and Freedom: Spiritually, it symbolizes liberation from sin and death, paralleling the physical liberation from Egypt.

Passover and Jesus

In the New Testament, Jesus' crucifixion occurs during Passover week, infusing His death with profound Passover symbolism. The Gospels present Jesus as the true and final Passover Lamb whose blood delivers from eternal death. His Last Supper with His disciples was a Passover meal, where He redefined its elements—bread and wine—as symbols of His body and blood (Luke 22:19-20). The timing and imagery reinforce the fulfillment of Passover's prophetic significance in Jesus.

Trivia and Interesting Facts about Passover

• Passover is one of the three pilgrimage festivals (along with Pentecost and Tabernacles), during which Jewish males were commanded to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem (Exodus 23:14-17).
• The name “Passover” comes from the Hebrew verb pasach, meaning “to pass over” or “to spare.”
• Modern Jewish Passover celebrations include the Seder meal, which follows a structured order and includes the retelling of the Exodus story, eating symbolic foods, and singing traditional songs.
• Jesus’ fulfillment of the Passover lamb typology is a core argument in Christian theology concerning the atonement and the New Covenant.
• The tradition of removing leaven from homes during Passover (Exodus 12:15) symbolizes the removal of sin and pride, which the Apostle Paul references in 1 Corinthians 5:6-8.
• Historically, Passover has been celebrated for over 3,000 years and continues to be a major religious festival observed by Jews around the world.

Conclusion

Passover stands as a cornerstone of both Jewish tradition and Christian theology. For Jews, it commemorates the historical and miraculous deliverance from Egypt. For Christians, it finds its ultimate fulfillment in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the true Passover Lamb. Its rich symbolism and enduring practice continue to speak of God’s justice, mercy, and redemptive power.