Why must the Passover lamb's bones not be broken according to Exodus 12:46? Exodus 12:46 — The Instruction “It must be eaten inside the house; you are not to take any of the meat outside the house. You must not break any of its bones.” Immediate Purposes in the First Passover • Wholeness of the sacrifice – Keeping the lamb intact underscored that an entire, flawless substitute was offered for the household. • Unity of the household – All who sheltered under the blood shared one complete lamb together; no piece was carried off, no bone fragmented. • Reverent handling – Intact bones reduced the chance of scraps being discarded carelessly; what remained was burned the next morning (Exodus 12:10), preserving holiness. Prophetic Foreshadowing of the Messiah • Psalm 34:20: “He protects all his bones; not one of them will be broken.” • John 19:33–36: Soldiers found Jesus already dead, “so they did not break His legs… ‘Not one of His bones will be broken.’” – The instruction in Exodus anticipated the crucifixion detail centuries later. • Numbers 9:12 repeats the rule for every future Passover, keeping the type consistent until its fulfillment in Christ. • 1 Corinthians 5:7 identifies Jesus as “our Passover Lamb,” linking the unbroken bones of the original lamb to the sinless, unbroken body of the Savior. Theological Significance • Integrity of Redemption – A perfect substitute purchases perfect salvation; nothing in God’s plan is fractured or incomplete. • Certainty of Prophecy – Specific, detailed predictions show the trustworthiness of Scripture from Exodus to Calvary. • Invitation to Faith – Just as Israel trusted the blood and the intact lamb, believers rest in the finished, undamaged work of Christ. Practical Takeaways • Confidence: God’s attention to detail assures that no promise fails. • Worship: The seamless sacrifice calls for wholehearted gratitude. • Unity: One Lamb, one body, draws believers together in shared redemption. |
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