Exodus 12:1
ESV
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt,
NIV
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt,
NASB
Now the Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt,
CSB
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt:
NLT
While the Israelites were still in the land of Egypt, the Lord gave the following instructions to Moses and Aaron:
KJV
And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,
NKJV
Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,
What does Exodus 12:1 mean?
This begins a series of instructions which prepare Israel for the moment when God strikes all the firstborn in Egypt (Exodus 4:21–23; 11:4–6; 12:29–32). Israelite homes who follow instructions about sacrificing a lamb will be spared (Exodus 11:7). The wrath of the Lord will "pass over" them peacefully (Exodus 12:13). This will be the last and most catastrophic plague (Exodus 7:21; 8:6, 17, 24; 9:6, 10, 24; 10:14, 23) on Egypt. After this, Egypt's king will finally agree to release the Hebrew people (Exodus 1:8–14).Moses and Aaron have been God's line of communication to the Egyptian regime (Exodus 4:14–16; 5:1). They are also how the Lord explains His will to the people of Israel. The nation will cooperate with these new instructions (Exodus 12:50) and leave Egyptian captivity in a single massive group (Exodus 12:51).
