Exodus 12:24
New International Version
“Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants.

New Living Translation
“Remember, these instructions are a permanent law that you and your descendants must observe forever.

English Standard Version
You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever.

Berean Standard Bible
And you are to keep this command as a permanent statute for you and your descendants.

Berean Literal Bible
And you⁺ shall keep this word as a statute for you and for your sons unto eternity.

King James Bible
And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.

New King James Version
And you shall observe this thing as an ordinance for you and your sons forever.

New American Standard Bible
And you shall keep this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever.

NASB 1995
“And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever.

NASB 1977
“And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever.

Legacy Standard Bible
And you shall keep this event as a statute for you and your children forever.

Amplified Bible
You shall observe this event [concerning Passover] as an ordinance for you and for your children forever.

Berean Annotated Bible
And you⁺ are to keep this command as a permanent statute for you and your descendants.

Christian Standard Bible
“Keep this command permanently as a statute for you and your descendants.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Keep this command permanently as a statute for you and your descendants.

American Standard Version
And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.

English Revised Version
And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"You must follow these instructions. They are a permanent law for you and your children.

Good News Translation
You and your children must obey these rules forever.

International Standard Version
You are to observe this event as a perpetual ordinance for you and your children forever.

NET Bible
You must observe this event as an ordinance for you and for your children forever.

New Heart English Bible
You shall observe this thing for an ordinance to you and to your sons forever.

Webster's Bible Translation
And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
And you are to keep this command as a permanent statute for you and your descendants.

World English Bible
You shall observe this thing for an ordinance to you and to your sons forever.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And you have observed this thing for a statute to you and to your sons for all time;

Berean Literal Bible
And you⁺ shall keep this word as a statute for you and for your sons unto eternity.

Young's Literal Translation
'And ye have observed this thing, for a statute to thee, and to thy sons -- unto the age;

Smith's Literal Translation
And watch ye this word for a law to thee and to thy sons forever.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou shalt keep this thing as a law for thee and thy children for ever.

Catholic Public Domain Version
You shall keep this word as a law for you and for your sons, forever.

New American Bible
“You will keep this practice forever as a statute for yourselves and your descendants.

New Revised Standard Version
You shall observe this rite as a perpetual ordinance for you and your children.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And you shall observe this rite and this ordinance for yourselves and your sons for ever.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you shall keep this statement and this Law for yourselves and for your children until eternity.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And keep ye this thing as an ordinance for thyself and for thy children for ever.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Feast of Unleavened Bread
23When the LORD passes through to strike down the Egyptians, He will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway; so He will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down. 24And you are to keep this command as a permanent statute for you and your descendants. 25When you enter the land that the LORD will give you as He promised, you are to keep this service.…

Cross References
And you are to keep this command

Joshua 22:5
But be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Deuteronomy 5:32
So be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you are not to turn aside to the right or to the left.

Deuteronomy 6:17
You are to diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God and the testimonies and statutes He has given you.
as a permanent statute

Exodus 30:21
Thus they are to wash their hands and feet so that they will not die; this shall be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.”

Numbers 15:15
The assembly is to have the same statute both for you and for the foreign resident; it is a permanent statute for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same before the LORD.

Leviticus 3:17
This is a permanent statute for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.”
for you and your descendants

Genesis 17:7
I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

Deuteronomy 6:2
so that you and your children and grandchildren may fear the LORD your God all the days of your lives by keeping all His statutes and commandments that I give you, and so that your days may be prolonged.

Deuteronomy 29:14-15
I am making this covenant and this oath not only with you, / but also with those who are standing here with us today in the presence of the LORD our God, as well as with those who are not here today.
Exodus 13:10
Therefore you shall keep this statute at the appointed time year after year.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9
These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. / And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. / Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. …

Deuteronomy 11:18-20
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. / Teach them to your children, speaking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. / Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates,

Leviticus 23:4-8
These are the LORD’s appointed feasts, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times. / The Passover to the LORD begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. / On the fifteenth day of the same month begins the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. …

Numbers 9:2-3
“The Israelites are to observe the Passover at its appointed time. / You are to observe it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month, in accordance with its statutes and ordinances.”

Joshua 4:6-7
to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ / you are to tell them, ‘The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters were cut off.’ Therefore these stones will be a memorial to the Israelites forever.”

2 Kings 23:21-23
The king commanded all the people, “Keep the Passover of the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant.” / No such Passover had been observed from the days of the judges who had governed Israel through all the days of the kings of Israel and Judah. / But in the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, this Passover was observed to the LORD in Jerusalem.


Treasury of Scripture

And you shall observe this thing for an ordinance to you and to your sons for ever.

Exodus 12:14
And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

Genesis 17:8-10
And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God…

Jump to Previous
Age Children Descendants Event Forever Instructions Lasting Obey Observe Observed Order Ordinance Rite Statute
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Age Children Descendants Event Forever Instructions Lasting Obey Observe Observed Order Ordinance Rite Statute
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












And you are to keep this command
This phrase emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's instructions. In the context of Exodus 12, the command refers to the observance of the Passover, a pivotal event in Israel's history marking their deliverance from Egyptian bondage. The Passover is a type of Christ, symbolizing Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The command to keep the Passover highlights the necessity of remembering God's acts of salvation.

as a permanent statute
The term "permanent statute" indicates that this command is not temporary but is to be observed continually. This reflects the enduring nature of God's covenant with Israel. The Passover is a perpetual reminder of God's deliverance and faithfulness. In the New Testament, the Lord's Supper is instituted by Jesus as a new covenant, fulfilling the Passover and establishing a lasting ordinance for believers (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).

for you and your descendants
This phrase underscores the generational aspect of God's covenant. The command is not only for the immediate recipients but also for future generations, ensuring that the memory of God's deliverance is preserved. This reflects the biblical principle of teaching and passing down faith to subsequent generations (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). It also points to the continuity of God's promises and the inclusion of future believers in the covenant community.

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

2. Israelites
The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who were enslaved in Egypt and were the recipients of God's deliverance through the Passover.

3. Egypt
The land where the Israelites were enslaved and from which God delivered them through a series of plagues, culminating in the Passover.

4. Passover
The event where God spared the Israelites' firstborns by passing over their homes marked with the blood of a lamb, leading to their liberation from Egypt.

5. Perpetual Statute
A command given by God to be observed continually by the Israelites and their descendants, signifying the importance of remembrance and obedience.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Remembrance
The command to keep the Passover as a perpetual statute highlights the importance of remembering God's deliverance and faithfulness. As believers, we are called to remember Christ's sacrifice and live in gratitude.

Generational Faithfulness
The instruction to observe this command for future generations underscores the responsibility of passing down faith and obedience to our children and grandchildren.

Obedience to God's Commands
The perpetual nature of the statute reminds us of the importance of obedience to God's commands, which are given for our good and His glory.

Symbolism of the Passover
The Passover serves as a powerful symbol of redemption and deliverance, pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our Passover Lamb.

Living in Light of Redemption
Just as the Israelites were called to live in light of their deliverance from Egypt, we are called to live in the freedom and new life provided through Christ.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Exodus 12:24?

2. How can we "keep this command as a permanent statute" in our lives today?

3. What does Exodus 12:24 teach about the importance of remembering God's deliverance?

4. How does Exodus 12:24 connect to Jesus as our Passover Lamb?

5. In what ways can families implement the principles of Exodus 12:24 at home?

6. Why is it crucial to pass down God's commands to future generations?

7. How does Exodus 12:24 emphasize the importance of tradition in faith practice?

8. What historical evidence supports the events described in Exodus 12?

9. How does Exodus 12:24 relate to the concept of covenant in the Bible?

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

11. Exodus 6:7–9: If the Israelites still doubt Moses, what empirical proof did he provide to convince them then or later?

12. What is the summary of the Exodus from Egypt?

13. How does Numbers 36:6-9 align with earlier accounts of inter-tribal marriages that appear unregulated or unrestricted?

14. Numbers 15:15-16: How does one law for both Israelites and foreigners reconcile with other passages that treat outsiders differently?
What Does Exodus 12:24 Mean
And you

• The verse begins by placing the responsibility squarely on the people standing before Moses—real men, women, and families. God is speaking personally, not abstractly (cf. Deuteronomy 30:19 “I have set before you life and death… choose life”).

• Scripture often personalizes obedience: “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). Each listener is called to respond.


are to keep

• “Keep” is the language of continual guarding, like tending a flame. Obedience is not a one-time act but an ongoing posture (John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments”; 1 Samuel 15:22 “To obey is better than sacrifice”).

• The Passover instructions that precede this command (Exodus 12:1-23) were lifesaving; keeping them would forever remind Israel that salvation and obedience are inseparable.


this command as a permanent statute

• “Permanent” means enduring through every season of Israel’s life. A statute is fixed; it does not drift with culture or circumstance (Exodus 12:14 “a lasting ordinance for the generations to come”; Leviticus 23:14 “a permanent statute throughout your generations”).

• The Passover becomes a standing reminder that redemption is anchored in a historical act—God’s deliverance through the blood of the lamb—echoed in the New Covenant as believers “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).

• Practical take-away: truth worth remembering is truth worth rehearsing—God builds permanence into worship so we do not forget.


for you and your descendants

• Faith is meant to run downstream into every generation (Psalm 78:4-7 “We will… tell the next generation…”).

• Parents are custodians of God’s story; children are the next custodians (Deuteronomy 6:6-7 “These words… you shall teach them diligently to your children”).

• The New Testament echoes the same heartbeat: “For the promise is for you and your children” (Acts 2:39); Timothy’s faith first lived in his grandmother and mother (2 Timothy 1:5).

• Passing on the Passover meant passing on a worldview—reminding each generation that they, too, are personally rescued people who must personally obey.


summary

Exodus 12:24 presses three timeless truths into God’s people: personal responsibility (“And you”), ongoing obedience (“are to keep”), enduring remembrance (“a permanent statute”), and generational discipleship (“for you and your descendants”). The God who literally delivered Israel commands that His saving work be rehearsed and relived so that every generation trusts, obeys, and remembers.

(24) This thing.--Not the sprinkling of the blood, which was never repeated after the first occasion, but the sacrifice of the lamb, commanded in Exodus 12:21.

Verse 24. To thee and to thy children. The change from the plural to the singular is curious, Perhaps, we are to understand that Moses insisted on the perpetuity of the ordinance to each of the elders severally.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And you are to keep
וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֖ם (ū·šə·mar·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

this
הַזֶּ֑ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

command
הַדָּבָ֣ר (had·dā·ḇār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

as a perpetual
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

ordinance
לְחָק־ (lə·ḥāq-)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2706: Something prescribed or owed, a statute

for you
לְךָ֥ (lə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

and your descendants.
וּלְבָנֶ֖יךָ (ū·lə·ḇā·ne·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son


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OT Law: Exodus 12:24 You shall observe this thing (Exo. Ex)
Exodus 12:23
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