Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  7000 God's people  »  7300 Institutions and culture of OT  »  7406 Passover

One of the major OT feasts. It specifically commemorates the exodus from Egypt as an act of God's deliverance. In Israel's calendar of feasts it was always celebrated with the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

The institution of the Passover

Exodus 12:25-27 The Hebrew term “Passover” derives from a verb meaning “to pass over” with the sense of “to spare”.

Celebrating the Passover

Instructions concerning its observance

See also Exodus 12:2-11,46-47; Numbers 9:1-5; Deuteronomy 16:1-8

Combined with the Feast of Unleavened Bread

Exodus 34:25

The need for ritual cleansing

John 11:55

Provision for ritual uncleanness

Numbers 9:6-13

Provision for non-Jews

Exodus 12:43-45,48-49; Numbers 9:14

Its observance in the OT

These occasions are times of spiritual renewal, when the nation remembered how the LORD had saved them:

Joshua 5:10; 2 Kings 23:21-23; 2 Chronicles 30:1-5,13-20; Ezra 6:19-21

Ezekiel's vision of the future observance of the Passover

Ezekiel 45:21-24

The Passover in the NT

Its observance

Luke 2:41-42; John 6:4; Acts 12:4

It was celebrated by Jesus Christ

Luke 22:15 At Passover time Jesus Christ himself was sacrificed and he inaugurated the Lord's Supper. See also Matthew 26:17-19 pp Mark 14:12-16 pp Luke 22:7-13; John 2:23 Jesus Christ observed the Passover like other Jews.

Jesus Christ identified with the Passover lamb

1 Corinthians 5:7 See also John 1:29,36; John 19:36 This may refer to the Passover victim; Exodus 12:46; Revelation 5:5-6

See also

1320  God as Saviour
2315  Christ as Lamb
2410  cross, the
4554  yeast
4663  lamb
6722  redemption, OT
7221  exodus, the
7335  circumcision, physical
7354  feasts and festivals
7404  ordinances
7933  Lord's Supper
7957  sacraments