Exodus 12:2
ESV
"This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you.
NIV
"This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.
NASB
This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year for you.
CSB
"This month is to be the beginning of months for you; it is the first month of your year.
NLT
From now on, this month will be the first month of the year for you.
KJV
This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
NKJV
“This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.
What does Exodus 12:2 mean?
Israel has been enslaved by Egypt for centuries (Genesis 47:5–6; Exodus 1:8–14). Now, Moses and Aaron (Exodus 12:1) deliver God's instructions about preparing for that slavery to end. In a single night, God will devastate every home in Egypt (Exodus 11:4–6; 12:29–32). Israel will be freed (Exodus 12:51).This monumental event will reset the Hebrew calendar. The current month, then called Abib but later known as Nisan, is to become the first month of the Israelite new year. This comes around the end of March, after the spring equinox: the date when daylight and darkness are perfectly equal during a day at earth's equator. Israel is to follow specific instructions for that night. They will also receive rules to follow when celebrating this event in the future. This moment is the "Passover," when God's wrath leaves His people untouched (Exodus 11:7) as a sign of judgment.
