Exodus 12:7

And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

Exodus 12:7 (KJV)

Context

The book of Exodus tells how God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. This verse is part of the instructions for the Passover, the final plague that led to their freedom. God told each family to take a lamb without defect, kill it, and use its blood as a sign on their house.

Meaning

The blood was to be struck on the two side posts and the upper door post of each house. This visible mark showed that the family inside had obeyed God’s command. The lamb’s blood was not for decoration; it was the appointed sign of protection. When the destroyer saw the blood, he would pass over that home and spare the firstborn.

Biblical connections

This verse points forward to Jesus Christ, whom the New Testament calls the Lamb of God. Just as the Passover lamb’s blood saved the Israelites from death, Christ’s blood saves believers from the penalty of sin. The apostle Paul makes this link in 1 Corinthians 5:7, calling Christ our Passover lamb who was sacrificed for us. The blood on the doorposts also reminds us of the covenant God made with His people, a covenant sealed by sacrifice.

Application

For Christians today, the blood of Jesus is the only ground for salvation. We are not saved by our own goodness or effort, but by faith in what Christ did on the cross. The Israelites had to apply the blood to their houses; they could not simply know about it. In the same way, we must personally receive Christ and trust in His sacrifice. Obedience to God’s instructions was essential then, and faith in Christ is essential now.

Reflection

The Passover shows that God is both just and merciful. He judged Egypt, but He provided a way of escape for those who trusted Him. This verse calls us to examine our own lives. Have we placed our trust in the blood of Jesus? Do we live each day in gratitude for His deliverance? The blood on the doorposts was a private sign, seen by God and by the family. Our faith in Christ is also a personal matter, but it should be visible in how we live. As the Israelites remembered their salvation each year, we remember ours through the Lord’s Supper. The same God who delivered Israel is still our deliverer today.