What Is Passover in the Bible?

Pesach

Passover, or Pesach, is a central observance in the Bible, commemorating the deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. This celebration is deeply rooted in the events described in Exodus and has profound theological implications, particularly when connected to Yahusha (Yeshua).

Biblical Origin of Passover

The initial command for Passover is found in Exodus 12, where YAH instructed Moses and Aaron to guide the Israelites in Egypt. They were to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb so that YAH would "pass over" their homes and spare their firstborns from the final plague:

• Exodus 12:12-13: “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn—both people and animals—and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am YAHUAH. 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.”
  This passage emphasizes the blood of the lamb as a critical element for salvation from the plague.

• Exodus 12:21-23: “Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, ‘Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning. When YAHUAH goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down.’”
  These instructions highlight the role of the lamb's blood in protecting the Israelites from the plague.

Continued Observance in the Torah

Passover was intended as an ongoing observance, not a one-time event. YAH commanded the Israelites to celebrate it annually to remember His deliverance:

• Numbers 9:1-4: “YAHUAH spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the first month of the second year after they came out of Egypt. He said, ‘Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover at the appointed time. Celebrate it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month, in accordance with all its rules and regulations.’ So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover.”
  This passage reaffirms the annual celebration of Passover.

• Numbers 28:16-25: “On the fourteenth day of the first month the Passover of YAHUAH is to be held. On the fifteenth day of this month there is to be a Festival. For seven days eat bread made without yeast. On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. For seven days present a food offering to YAHUAH, and on the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.”
  Details of the Passover festival and the Feast of Unleavened Bread are provided here.

• Deuteronomy 16:1-6: “Observe the month of Aviv and celebrate the Passover of YAHUAH your Elohim, because in the month of Aviv He brought you out of Egypt by night. Sacrifice as the Passover offering to YAHUAH your Elohim an animal from your flock or herd at the place YAHUAH will choose as a dwelling for His Name. Do not eat it with bread made with yeast, but for seven days eat unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left Egypt in haste—so that all the days of your life you may remember the time of your departure from Egypt.”
  This passage connects the Passover observance to the historical context of the Exodus.

• Leviticus 23:4-8: “‘These are YAHUAH’s appointed festivals, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times: The Passover of YAHUAH begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. On the fifteenth day of that month YAHUAH’s Festival of Unleavened Bread begins; for seven days you must eat bread made without yeast. On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. For seven days present a food offering to YAHUAH. And on the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.’”
  This section establishes Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread as appointed times for sacred assembly and worship.

Theological Significance and Connection to Yahusha

The Passover lamb and its blood symbolize more than the Israelites' historical deliverance; they foreshadow a deeper spiritual reality fulfilled in the New Testament through Yahusha (Yeshua). Yahusha’s sacrifice as the ultimate Passover Lamb connects directly to the observance of Passover:

• John 1:29: “The next day John saw Yahusha coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of Elohim, who takes away the sin of the world!’”
  John the Baptist identifies Yahusha as the Lamb whose sacrifice removes the burden of sin, connecting Him to the Passover lamb.

• 1 Corinthians 5:7: “Get rid of the old yeast so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Messiah, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed.”
  Paul explicitly links Yahusha’s sacrifice to the Passover lamb, encouraging believers to live a life free from the “old yeast” of sin.

• Hebrews 9:12: “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.”
  This verse explains how Yahusha’s sacrifice provides eternal redemption, surpassing the temporary measures of the Old Covenant.

• Revelation 5:9: “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for Elohim persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.’”
  This passage highlights the universal impact of Yahusha’s sacrifice, fulfilling the role of the Passover Lamb for all humanity.

By observing Passover and understanding its fulfillment in Yahusha, believers honor both the historical and spiritual dimensions of the feast. The annual celebration of Passover serves as a reminder of YAH’s deliverance and a celebration of the ultimate redemption achieved through Yahusha. This connection deepens the understanding of Passover as not just a historical event but as a significant marker of spiritual salvation and ongoing covenant with YAH.

How to Keep Passover: Torah Instructions

1. Timing of Passover

Passover begins on the 14th day of the month of Aviv (Nisan) at twilight, marking the start of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

• Exodus 12:6: “Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight.”

New Testament Reference: Yahusha was crucified at twilight on the 14th of Aviv, fulfilling the Passover lamb’s role.

• Matthew 26:2: “You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”

2. The Passover Lamb

Each household was to select a lamb without blemish and slaughter it in the evening. The blood of the lamb was to be applied to the doorposts and lintel of each home.

• Exodus 12:7: “And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it.”

New Testament Reference: Yahusha is referred to as the “Lamb of YAH” who takes away the sins of the world.

• John 1:29: “The next day John saw Yahusha coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of YAH who takes away the sin of the world!’”

3. Eating the Passover Lamb

The lamb was to be roasted and eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. None of it was to remain until morning.

• Exodus 12:8: “Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.”

New Testament Reference: Yahusha’s Last Supper, celebrated during Passover, involved eating unleavened bread and was a precursor to His sacrifice.

• Luke 22:15: “Then He said to them, ‘With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.’”

4. Removal of Leaven

During Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread that follows, all leaven (chametz) must be removed from homes.

• Exodus 12:15: “Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses; for whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel.”

New Testament Reference: The removal of leaven symbolizes the removal of sin, which Yahusha addresses in His teachings.

• 1 Corinthians 5:7-8: “Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Messiah, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the Feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

5. The Memorial of Passover

Passover is a perpetual ordinance, a remembrance of YAHUAH’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt.

• Exodus 12:14: “So this day shall be to you a memorial; and you shall keep it as a feast to YAHUAH throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance.”

New Testament Reference: The institution of the Lord’s Supper (Eucharist) commemorates the Passover and Yahusha’s sacrifice.

• 1 Corinthians 11:24-25: “And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner, He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’”

6. Future Fulfillment

Passover will continue to be observed in the future Kingdom, as part of the worship and remembrance of YAHUAH’s deliverance.

• Zechariah 14:16: “And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, YAHUAH of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.”

New Testament Reference: The future observance of Passover is a continuation of Yahusha’s work and a reminder of His sacrifice.

• Revelation 19:9: “Then he said to me, ‘Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ And he said to me, ‘These are the true sayings of YAHUAH.’”

Conclusion

Passover is a foundational feast commemorating YAHUAH’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt. It involves the sacrifice of a lamb, the removal of leaven, and the eating of unleavened bread. This feast finds its ultimate fulfillment in Yahusha’s sacrificial death and continues to be a significant part of worship and remembrance for believers. As we observe Passover, we are reminded of YAHUAH’s redemption and Yahusha’s role as our Passover Lamb.

The Promised Land draws near! Amein Alleluyah.