Exodus 12:13
New International Version
The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.

New Living Translation
But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.

English Standard Version
The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.

Berean Standard Bible
The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a sign; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Berean Literal Bible
And the blood shall be a sign for you⁺ on the houses where you⁺ are, and I will see the blood, and I will pass over you⁺, and there shall not be among you⁺ a plague for destruction, in my striking in the land of Egypt.

King James Bible
And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

New King James Version
Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

New American Standard Bible
The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will come upon you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

NASB 1995
The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

NASB 1977
‘And the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Legacy Standard Bible
And the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and I will see the blood, and I will pass over you, and there shall be no plague among you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Amplified Bible
The blood shall be a sign for you on [the doorposts of] the houses where you live; when I see the blood I shall pass over you, and no affliction shall happen to you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Berean Annotated Bible
The blood on the houses where you⁺ are staying will be a sign; when I see the blood, I will pass over you⁺. No plague will fall on you⁺ to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt (land of bondage).

Christian Standard Bible
The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a distinguishing mark for you; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will be among you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a distinguishing mark for you; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will be among you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”

American Standard Version
And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

Contemporary English Version
The blood on the houses will show me where you live, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. Then you won't be bothered by the terrible disasters I will bring on Egypt.

English Revised Version
And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But the blood on your houses will be a sign for your protection. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. Nothing will touch or destroy you when I strike Egypt.

Good News Translation
The blood on the doorposts will be a sign to mark the houses in which you live. When I see the blood, I will pass over you and will not harm you when I punish the Egyptians.

International Standard Version
The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are. I'll see the blood and pass over you. There will be no plague to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

NET Bible
The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, so that when I see the blood I will pass over you, and this plague will not fall on you to destroy you when I attack the land of Egypt.

New Heart English Bible
The blood shall be to you for a token on the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be on you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a sign; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

World English Bible
The blood shall be to you for a token on the houses where you are. When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the blood has become a sign for you on the houses where you [are], and I have seen the blood, and have passed over you, and a plague is not on you for destruction in My striking in the land of Egypt.

Berean Literal Bible
And the blood shall be a sign for you⁺ on the houses where you⁺ are, and I will see the blood, and I will pass over you⁺, and there shall not be among you⁺ a plague for destruction, in my striking in the land of Egypt.

Young's Literal Translation
And the blood hath become a sign for you on the houses where ye are, and I have seen the blood, and have passed over you, and a plague is not on you for destruction in My smiting in the land of Egypt.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the blood was to you for a sign upon the houses where you are there: and I saw the blood and I passed over you, and the blow shall not be upon you to destroy, in my striking upon the land of Egypt.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the blood shall be unto you for a sign in the houses where you shall be: and I shall see the blood, and shall pass over you: and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I shall strike the land of Egypt.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But the blood will be for you as a sign in the buildings where you will be. And I will see the blood, and I will pass over you. And the plague will not be with you to destroy, when I strike the land of Egypt.

New American Bible
But for you the blood will mark the houses where you are. Seeing the blood, I will pass over you; thereby, when I strike the land of Egypt, no destructive blow will come upon you.

New Revised Standard Version
The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the blood shall be to you for a sign upon the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will make you glad, and the plague shall not be among you to destroy you when I smite the land of Egypt.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And this blood will be for a sign to you on the houses in which you are and I shall see the blood and I shall pass over you, and death will not be among you to destroy whenever I kill in the land of Egypt.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the blood shall be for a sign to you on the houses in which ye are, and I will see the blood, and will protect you, and there shall not be on you the plague of destruction, when I smite in the land of Egypt.

Additional Translations ...



Context
The First Passover
12On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. 13The blood on the houses where you are staying will distinguish them; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Cross References
The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a sign;

Joshua 2:18-21
unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother and brothers and all your family into your house. / If anyone goes out the door of your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head, and we will be innocent. But if a hand is laid on anyone with you in the house, his blood will be on our heads. / And if you report our mission, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.” …

Hebrews 11:28
By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.
when I see the blood, I will pass over you.

1 Corinthians 5:7
Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

Romans 5:9
Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him!

Hebrews 9:22
According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
No plague will fall on you to destroy you

Numbers 16:46-48
Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, place fire from the altar in it, and add incense. Go quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, because wrath has come out from the LORD; the plague has begun.” / So Aaron took the censer as Moses had ordered and ran into the midst of the assembly. And seeing that the plague had begun among the people, he offered the incense and made atonement for the people. / He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague was halted.

Psalm 91:10-11
no evil will befall you, no plague will approach your tent. / For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
when I strike the land of Egypt.

Psalm 105:36-38
Then He struck all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their vigor. / He brought Israel out with silver and gold, and none among His tribes stumbled. / Egypt was glad when they departed, for the dread of Israel had fallen on them.

Psalm 78:49-51
He unleashed His fury against them, wrath, indignation, and calamity—a band of destroying angels. / He cleared a path for His anger; He did not spare them from death but delivered their lives to the plague. / He struck all the firstborn of Egypt, the virility in the tents of Ham.
Leviticus 17:11
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls upon the altar; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.

Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.

John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

1 Peter 1:18-19
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, / but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.

Revelation 5:9
And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

Matthew 26:28
This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace


Treasury of Scripture

And the blood shall be to you for a token on the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

the blood

Exodus 12:23
For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.

Genesis 17:11
And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

Joshua 2:12
Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:

and when

1 Thessalonians 1:10
And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

to destroy your.

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Befall Blood Destroy Destruction Destructive Egypt Evil Fall Houses Live Passed Plague Sign Smite Smiting Strike Token Touch
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Befall Blood Destroy Destruction Destructive Egypt Evil Fall Houses Live Passed Plague Sign Smite Smiting Strike Token Touch
Exodus 12
1. The beginning of the year is changed
3. The Passover is instituted
11. The import of the rite of the Passover
15. Unleavened bread
29. The firstborn are slain
31. The Israelites are driven out of the land
37. They come to Succoth
41. The time of their sojourning
43. The ordinance of the Passover












The blood on the houses where you are staying will be a sign;

The blood of an unblemished lamb was placed on the doorposts and lintels of Israelite homes. It marked those households as belonging to the Lord and showed their obedience to His instruction. The lamb’s death provided protection from judgment, pointing ahead to Christ, the true Lamb of God, whose sacrifice delivers believers from death.

Jos 2:18-21 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied…
Heb 11:28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood…

when I see the blood, I will pass over you.

God would distinguish between the homes marked by blood and the homes of Egypt. The Israelites were not spared because of their own merit, but because God honored the blood He had appointed as their protection. This deliverance gave the feast its name, Passover.

1Co 5:7 Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be…
Rom 5:9 Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood,…
Heb 9:22 According to the law, in fact, nearly everything…

No plague will fall on you to destroy you

The final plague was the death of Egypt’s firstborn, the climax of God’s judgments against Pharaoh and the Egyptian gods. Every Israelite household that followed God’s command was spared.

Num 16:46-48 Take your censer, place fire from the altar in it…
Psa 91:10-11 no evil will befall you, no plague will approach your tent.…

when I strike the land of Egypt.

God’s judgment brought an end to Egypt’s oppression of Israel and compelled Pharaoh to release them. The event revealed the Lord’s authority over Egypt, its ruler, and its gods, while confirming His faithfulness to His covenant people.

Psa 105:36-38 Then He struck all the firstborn in their land,…
Psa 78:49-51 He unleashed His fury against them, wrath, indignation…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader chosen by God to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. He communicated God's instructions regarding the Passover to the Israelites.

2. Pharaoh
The ruler of Egypt who refused to let the Israelites go, leading to the plagues, including the final plague of the death of the firstborn.

3. The Israelites
God's chosen people, who were enslaved in Egypt and instructed to observe the Passover as a sign of their faith and obedience.

4. Egypt
The land where the Israelites were enslaved and where God demonstrated His power through the plagues.

5. The Passover
The event where God passed over the houses of the Israelites marked with the blood of the lamb, sparing them from the plague of the firstborn.
Teaching Points
The Significance of the Blood
The blood on the doorposts was a sign of obedience and faith. It is a reminder that salvation comes through the blood of Christ, our Passover lamb.

God's Protection
Just as God protected the Israelites from the plague, He offers protection and deliverance to those who trust in Him.

Obedience to God's Instructions
The Israelites' obedience in applying the blood was crucial for their deliverance. Similarly, our obedience to God's Word is essential for spiritual protection and blessing.

Faith in Action
The act of applying the blood was a demonstration of faith. Our faith should be evident in our actions and choices.

The Cost of Disobedience
The Egyptians faced severe consequences for Pharaoh's disobedience. This serves as a warning of the cost of rejecting God's commands.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Exodus 12:13?

2. How does Exodus 12:13 illustrate God's protection through the blood of the Lamb?

3. What significance does the "blood" have in the context of Exodus 12:13?

4. How does Exodus 12:13 connect to Jesus' sacrifice in the New Testament?

5. How can we apply the principle of divine protection in our daily lives?

6. What does Exodus 12:13 teach about obedience and faith in God's promises?

7. How does Exodus 12:13 demonstrate God's protection and deliverance?

8. What is the significance of the blood in Exodus 12:13?

9. How does Exodus 12:13 relate to the concept of divine judgment?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 12?


(13) The blood shall be to you for a token.--Rather, the blood shall be for a token for you: i.e., it shall be a token to Me on your behalf. (See the comment on Exodus 12:7, and compare Exodus 12:23.)

Verse 13. - The blood shall be to you for a token, etc. The blood was not to be a token to the Israelites, but to God for them. Translate- "and the blood shall be as a token for you upon the houses that you are there." It shall distinguish the houses in which you dwell from the others. I will pass over you. This is the emphatic clause. God would pass by, or over the house on which the blood was, spare it, slay none of its inmates; and from this action of His, the lamb itself, and the feast whereof it was the principal part, were to be termed "the Passover." It has been proposed to connect the Hebrew pesach with the Egyptian pesh, "to stretch, or extend (protection)"; but the name "Tiphsach," borne by the place of passage over the Euphrates (1 Kings 4:24), would seem to indicate that "crossing," or "passing over" is the primary meaning of the root.

Exodus 12:13 presents a vivid, historical picture of substitutionary salvation. The lamb’s blood, applied in obedient faith, marked each household as already judged and forgiven. God Himself looked for the sign, passed over those protected, and kept the destroying plague from them while striking Egypt. The verse points forward to Jesus Christ, whose blood secures eternal rescue for all who trust Him, assuring that judgment passes over and new life begins.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The blood
הַדָּ֨ם (had·dām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed

on
עַ֤ל (‘al)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the houses
הַבָּתִּים֙ (hab·bāt·tîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1004: A house

where
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

you
אַתֶּ֣ם (’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

are staying
שָׁ֔ם (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

will
וְהָיָה֩ (wə·hā·yāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

distinguish them;
לְאֹ֗ת (lə·’ōṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - common singular
Strong's 226: A signal, as a, flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence

when I see
וְרָאִ֙יתִי֙ (wə·rā·’î·ṯî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7200: To see

the blood,
הַדָּ֔ם (had·dām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed

I will pass
וּפָסַחְתִּ֖י (ū·p̄ā·saḥ·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6452: To hop, skip over, to hesitate, to limp, to dance

over you.
עֲלֵכֶ֑ם (‘ă·lê·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

No
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

plague
נֶ֙גֶף֙ (ne·ḡep̄)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5063: A trip, an infliction

will fall
יִֽהְיֶ֨ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

on you
בָכֶ֥ם (ḇā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

to destroy you
לְמַשְׁחִ֔ית (lə·maš·ḥîṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4889: Destructive, destruction

when I strike
בְּהַכֹּתִ֖י (bə·hak·kō·ṯî)
Preposition-b | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

the land
בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (bə·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of Egypt.
מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (miṣ·rā·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa


Additonal Resources
Exodus 12:13 Blue Letter Bible
Exodus 12:13 Bible Gateway
Exodus 12:13 Bible.com

Exodus 12:13 NIV
Exodus 12:13 NLT
Exodus 12:13 ESV
Exodus 12:13 NASB
Exodus 12:13 KJV

Exodus 12:13 Study Bible
Exodus 12:13 Biblia Paralela
Exodus 12:13 Chinese Bible
Exodus 12:13 French Bible
Exodus 12:13 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Exodus 12:13 The blood shall be to you (Exo. Ex)

Exodus 12:12
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