The Meaning of Exodus 34:18 Explained

Exodus 34:18

KJV: The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt.

YLT: 'The feast of unleavened things thou dost keep; seven days thou dost eat unleavened things, as I have commanded thee, at an appointed time, the month of Abib: for in the month of Abib thou didst come out from Egypt.

Darby: The feast of the unleavened bread shalt thou keep: seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread, as I have commanded thee, at the appointed time of the month Abib; for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt.

ASV: The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, at the time appointed in the month Abib; for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The feast  of unleavened bread  shalt thou keep.  Seven  days  thou shalt eat  unleavened bread,  as I commanded  thee, in the time  of the month  Abib:  for in the month  Abib  thou camest out  from Egypt. 

What does Exodus 34:18 Mean?

Study Notes

Abib
First month i.e. April.

Context Summary

Exodus 34:18-35 - Moses Brings The Renewed Tables Of The Law
For forty days, with no sustenance from bread or water, Moses abode on the Mount-absorbed with a passion of love and awe-not counting the hours which passed like a dream. He talked with God as a man face to face with His friend; but he was completely unaware of the marvelous transformation which this holy intercourse was effecting. At God's dictation he wrote out the covenant, as we have it in this Book, and finally God gave him the two tables of stone, on which He had imprinted His autograph.
With these in his hand Moses descended to the plain, unconscious that his face shone. See 2 Corinthians 3:18, r.v. The Apostle urges that we, as Christians, should first behold, and then reflect the glory of Jesus. We must be mirrors, for the purpose of shedding His light among our fellow-men; and in the effort to do this we shall become transfigured into His glorious beauty from one degree to another. The crowning glory of that transfiguration will be our unconsciousness: "He wist not." [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 34

1  The tablets are replaced
5  The name of the Lord proclaimed
8  Moses entreats God to go with them
10  God makes a covenant with them, repeating certain duties
28  Moses after forty days on the mount, comes down with the tablets
29  His face is radiant, and he covers it with a veil

What do the individual words in Exodus 34:18 mean?

- The Feast of Unleavened Bread you shall keep Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread as I commanded you in the appointed time of the month of Abib for in the month of Abib you came out from Egypt
אֶת־ חַ֣ג הַמַּצּוֹת֮ תִּשְׁמֹר֒ שִׁבְעַ֨ת יָמִ֜ים תֹּאכַ֤ל מַצּוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוִּיתִ֔ךָ לְמוֹעֵ֖ד חֹ֣דֶשׁ הָאָבִ֑יב כִּ֚י בְּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָֽאָבִ֔יב יָצָ֖אתָ מִמִּצְרָֽיִם

אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
חַ֣ג  The  Feast 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חַג  
Sense: festival, feast, festival-gathering, pilgrim-feast.
הַמַּצּוֹת֮  of  Unleavened  Bread 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: מַצָּה  
Sense: unleavened (bread, cake), without leaven.
תִּשְׁמֹר֒  you  shall  keep 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
שִׁבְעַ֨ת  Seven 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: שֶׁבַע  
Sense: seven (cardinal number).
יָמִ֜ים  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
תֹּאכַ֤ל  you  shall  eat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
מַצּוֹת֙  unleavened  bread 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: מַצָּה  
Sense: unleavened (bread, cake), without leaven.
צִוִּיתִ֔ךָ  I  commanded  you 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
לְמוֹעֵ֖ד  in  the  appointed  time 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֹועֵד  
Sense: appointed place, appointed time, meeting.
חֹ֣דֶשׁ  of  the  month 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: the new moon, month, monthly.
הָאָבִ֑יב  of  Abib 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָבִיב  
Sense: fresh, young barley ears, barley.
בְּחֹ֣דֶשׁ  in  the  month 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: the new moon, month, monthly.
הָֽאָבִ֔יב  of  Abib 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָבִיב  
Sense: fresh, young barley ears, barley.
יָצָ֖אתָ  you  came  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
מִמִּצְרָֽיִם  from  Egypt 
Parse: Preposition-m, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.