Exodus 12:2

Exodus 12:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
• New International Version (NIV)“This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.

Context of Exodus 12:2

1While the Israelites were still in the land of Egypt, the Lord gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron: “From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you. 3Announce to the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice, one animal for each household. 4If a family is too small to eat a whole animal, let them share with another family in the neighborhood. Divide the animal according to the size of each family and how much they can eat.

Exodus 12:2 word by word

הַחֹ֧דֶשׁ הַזֶּ֛ה לָכֶ֖ם רֹ֣אשׁ חֳדָשִׁ֑ים רִאשׁ֥וֹן הוּא֙ לָכֶ֔ם לְחָדְשֵׁ֖י הַשָּׁנָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• This monthחֹ֫דֶשׁchôdesh · monthH2320
• unto you the beginningרֹאשׁrô'sh · head: firstH7218
• the firstרִאשׁוֹןri'shôn ri'shôn · firstH7223
• of the yearשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141

Cross-references for Exodus 12:2

• Exodus 13:4On this day in early spring, in the month of Abib, you have been set free.
• Exodus 23:15First, celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast, just as I commanded you. Celebrate this festival annually at the appointed time in early spring, in the month of Abib, for that is the anniversary of your departure from Egypt. No one may appear before me without an offering.
• Exodus 34:18“You must celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast, just as I commanded you. Celebrate this festival annually at the appointed time in early spring, in the month of Abib, for that is the anniversary of your departure from Egypt.
• Leviticus 23:5“The Lord’s Passover begins at sundown on the fourteenth day of the first month.
• Numbers 28:16“On the fourteenth day of the first month, you must celebrate the Lord’s Passover.
• Deuteronomy 16:1“In honor of the Lord your God, celebrate the Passover each year in the early spring, in the month of Abib, for that was the month in which the Lord your God brought you out of Egypt by night.
• Esther 3:7So in the month of April, during the twelfth year of King Xerxes’ reign, lots were cast in Haman’s presence (the lots were called purim) to determine the best day and month to take action. And the day selected was March 7, nearly a year later.

Commentaries on Exodus 12:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2This month shall be unto you the beginning of months - It is supposed that God now changed the commencement of the Jewish year. The month to which this verse refers, the month Abib, answers to a part of our March and April; whereas it is supposed that previously to this the year began with Tisri, which answers to a part of our September; for in this month the Jews suppose God created the world, when the earth appeared at once with all its fruits in…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2This month - Abib Exodus 13:4. It was called “Nisan” by the later Hebrews, and nearly corresponds to our April. The Israelites are directed to take Abib henceforth as the beginning of the year; the year previously began with the month Tisri, when the harvest was gathered in; see Exodus 23:16. The injunction touching Abib or Nisan referred only to religious rites; in other affairs they retained the old arrangement, even in the beginning of the Sabbatic…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2This month was the month Abib (13:4; 23:15; 34:18; Deuteronomy 16:1; later called by the Babylonian name, Nisan, Nehemiah 2:1; Esther 3:7). This time falls within the months of March and April. Many cultures held festivals about this time of the year, celebrating the renewal of plant life. Israel’s festival celebrated the historic event in which God defeated death and rescued his people from bondage in Egypt.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. this month shall be unto you the beginning of months--the first not only in order but in estimation. It had formerly been the seventh according to the reckoning of the civil year, which began in September, and continued unchanged, but it was thenceforth to stand first in the national religious year which began in March, April.Read the comment

Topics related to Exodus 12:2

• Abib
• Chronology
• Israel
• Month
• Year

In the dictionaries

• Blood
• Convocation
• Cry
• Frontlets
• Leaven
• Mean
• Observe
• Passover
• Purtenance
• Sojourning

Commentaries on Exodus 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings