The term "Passover-lambs" refers to the lambs that were sacrificed during the Jewish festival of Passover, a pivotal event in the religious calendar of ancient Israel, commemorating the Israelites' deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The Passover lamb holds significant theological and symbolic meaning within the biblical narrative and Christian theology.

Biblical Origin and Instructions

The institution of the Passover is detailed in the Book of Exodus. God commanded Moses and Aaron to instruct the Israelites on the observance of the Passover as a perpetual ordinance. Each household was to select a lamb without blemish, a male a year old, on the tenth day of the first month (Exodus 12:3-5). The lamb was to be kept until the fourteenth day, when it would be slaughtered at twilight (Exodus 12:6). The blood of the lamb was to be applied to the doorposts and lintels of the houses, serving as a sign for the Lord to "pass over" those homes during the final plague—the death of the firstborn in Egypt (Exodus 12:7, 12-13).

The flesh of the lamb was to be roasted and eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, and none of it was to remain until morning (Exodus 12:8-10). This meal was to be eaten in haste, with the participants dressed for travel, symbolizing the imminent exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12:11).

Symbolism and Theological Significance

The Passover lamb is rich in symbolism, representing purity, sacrifice, and redemption. The requirement for the lamb to be without blemish underscores the necessity of offering something pure and perfect to God. The application of the lamb's blood as a protective sign prefigures the concept of atonement and divine protection.

In Christian theology, the Passover lamb is seen as a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, who is referred to as the "Lamb of God" in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul explicitly connects Christ to the Passover lamb, stating, "For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" (1 Corinthians 5:7). This typology is further reinforced in the Gospel of John, where John the Baptist proclaims, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).

The sacrificial death of Jesus is understood as the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover lamb's role, providing redemption and deliverance from sin for all who believe. The blood of Christ, like the blood of the Passover lamb, is seen as a means of protection and salvation, marking believers as God's own and sparing them from spiritual death.

Passover in Jewish Tradition

In Jewish tradition, the Passover lamb continues to be a central element of the Passover Seder, although the actual sacrifice of lambs ceased with the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD. The Seder meal includes symbolic foods that recall the original Passover, and the account of the Exodus is recounted, emphasizing themes of liberation and divine intervention.

Conclusion

The Passover lamb is a profound symbol within both Jewish and Christian traditions, representing deliverance, sacrifice, and divine grace. Its significance extends beyond its historical roots, offering a rich tapestry of meaning that continues to resonate in religious observance and theological reflection.Passover-lambs (1 Occurrence)

2 Chronicles 30:17
For there were many in the congregation that were not hallowed; therefore the Levites had the charge of the slaughtering of the passover-lambs for every one not clean, to hallow them unto Jehovah.
(DBY)

Passover-lambs (1 Occurrence)
Passover-lambs. Passover, Passover-lambs. Passover-offering .
Multi-Version Concordance Passover-lambs (1 Occurrence). ...
/p/passover-lambs.htm - 6k

Passover-offering (7 Occurrences)
Passover-offering. Passover-lambs, Passover-offering. Passover-offerings . ...
Passover-lambs, Passover-offering. Passover-offerings . Reference Bible.
/p/passover-offering.htm - 8k

Lambs (107 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 30:15 Then on the fourteenth day of the second month they put the Passover
lambs to death: and the priests and the Levites were shamed, and made ...
/l/lambs.htm - 39k

Drained (38 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 35:11 And they put the Passoverlambs to death, the blood being drained
out by the priests when it was given to them, and the Levites did the ...
/d/drained.htm - 18k

Skinned (2 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 35:11 And they put the Passoverlambs to death, the blood being drained
out by the priests when it was given to them, and the Levites did the ...
/s/skinned.htm - 7k

Skinning (2 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 35:11 And they put the Passoverlambs to death, the blood being drained
out by the priests when it was given to them, and the Levites did the ...
/s/skinning.htm - 7k

Slaughtering (14 Occurrences)
... 30:17 For there were many in the congregation that were not hallowed; therefore
the Levites had the charge of the slaughtering of the passover-lambs for every ...
/s/slaughtering.htm - 11k

Consecrate (65 Occurrences)
... 30:17 For there were many in the congregation that had not sanctified themselves;
therefore the Levites had the charge of killing the passoverlambs for every ...
/c/consecrate.htm - 31k

Slaughter (121 Occurrences)
... 30:17 For there were many in the congregation that were not hallowed; therefore
the Levites had the charge of the slaughtering of the passover-lambs for every ...
/s/slaughter.htm - 40k

If Jesus is our atonement, why did He die at Passover instead of the Day of Atonement? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that Jesus is the Lamb of God? | GotQuestions.org

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