Passover: Who Really Did the Killing?

The first Passover, as recorded in Exodus 12, raises significant theological and ethical questions. It has prompted reflection on divine justice, the fate of the innocent, and the character of God. Most English translations seem to suggest that Yahweh went from house to house, killing the firstborn—except in homes where the blood was on the doorposts. In those cases, He would “pass over” and move on to the next.

But the original Hebrew text tells a different story. It does not say that Yahweh killed anyone, nor does it describe Him simply skipping over certain homes because of the blood. This teaching takes a closer look at what the Hebrew actually says happened that night.

By examining some basic Hebrew grammar and comparing this account with other parts of Scripture, it becomes clear: it was the destroyer—identified as the devil—who carried out the killing. And far from merely “passing over” homes with blood on the doorposts (a phrase that can sound like passive avoidance), Yahweh took an active role in guarding those inside. He stood between the destroyer and the protected, much like a mother bird hovering over her young, shielding them from danger.

The first Passover was a foreshadowing of something greater. In his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul wrote that Christ is our Passover. Just as Yahweh protected every household marked with blood during the exodus, Jesus Christ now actively protects you from the evil one—the destroyer who still seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. You can rest confidently knowing that Jesus is ever-present, constantly working to ensure that your life is full, guarded, and more than abundant.