And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 'This is the rule for the Passover meal: No foreigner may eat it.'
God is establishing the sacred boundaries for who can participate in the Passover celebration, restricting it to those who belong to His covenant community.
📚 Historical Context
This verse comes after God's dramatic rescue of Israel from Egypt through the ten plagues, culminating in the death of Egypt's firstborn while Israel was protected by lamb's blood on their doorposts. God is now giving Moses and Aaron specific instructions about how the Passover should be observed going forward. The restriction against 'strangers' (foreigners) eating the Passover was meant to preserve the sacred nature of this covenant meal that commemorated Israel's unique relationship with God.
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