Passover – Tampering of Scriptures

In an effort to support an 8-day observance of Passover and Unleavened Bread from Abib 14 to 21, many self-proclaimed followers of Yahweh manipulate the straightforward message conveyed in certain scriptural passages.

For example, they cite Exodus 12:14 as evidence, claiming it has been misinterpreted. They argue that Passover Day, which falls on Abib 14, is neither a Festival Day, a High Sabbath, nor the first day of Unleavened Bread. As a result, they treat Passover Day merely as a memorial and a preparation day.

It is also claimed that the Festival of Unleavened Bread begins on their designated High Sabbath of Abib 15 and continues for six days, ending on Abib 21, totaling seven days. Yet, it’s important to note that people begin eating unleavened bread on Passover Day, Abib 14.

Therefore, when they add the one-day observance of the Passover Memorial (Abib 14) with the seven days of the Festival of Unleavened Bread (Abib 15-21), it totals eight days of eating unleavened bread.

However, the information provided to support this eight-day practice lacks scriptural backing. Nowhere in the Scriptures is there any instruction to eat unleavened bread for a total of eight days.

We will now address Exodus 12:14 used as proof for an 8-day practice.

And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to Yahweh throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. (KJV, Exodus 12:14)

The following is an explanation for this passage from a prominent Sacred Name group:

Based on this verse, some Bible students believe that the Passover is a Sabbath and first high day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread in which no work is permitted. The King James Bible is often difficult to understand and in some cases like this one offers a poor rendition of the original meaning. Notice that a semicolon separates “memorial” from the phrase, “and you shall keep it a feast to Yahweh…” as if they are two different observances. The word “it” is added (italicized), offering further evidence that the second phrase describes a Feast apart from the Passover.

The reader must be aware that this explanation is replete with problems.

First, we must admit and agree that some Bible students do, indeed, believe that the Passover is a Sabbath and the first high day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Abib 14-20). At this point in their statement, our agreement ends. Our study will explain our disagreements as we proceed.

Second, it is stated that Exodus. 12:14 is difficult to understand and does not mean what it seems to say.

Third, the issue of poor punctuation is given for the inadequate and difficult translation.

Fourth, it is claimed the word “it” in the verse has been added, and because of this addition, further supports the idea that there is a Feast apart from the Passover.

Let us now address these three issues by turning to the Hebrew of Exodus. 12:14 and reading from right to left:

והיה           היום         הזה            לכם                  לזכרון                    וחג          אתו              <–––––––––––
it     celebrate and  memorial a for    unto you    this the    day the     to be and

     חג              ליהוה                       לדרתיכם                 חקת       עולם           תחגהו
celebrate it    forever  statute a    your generations to       Yahweh to      feast a

 The KJV without punctuation gives:

And this day shall be unto you for a memorial and ye shall keep it a feast to Yahweh throughout your generations ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

The meaning becomes quite straightforward when reading the literal English translation and the King James Version (KJV) without punctuation. It is often contrary to the interpretation provided by the Sacred Name groups.

It is important to note that the translators did not artificially insert the word “it,” as claimed. In fact, the Hebrew word for “it” is אתו, which can be found in the original text.

Therefore, the passage should not imply a separate feast distinct from Passover. Most English translations of the Scriptures have correctly included “it” in Exod. 12:14.

Allen P. Ross gives the following for אתו:

3msg   אֹתֹו   him or it  (Introducing Biblical Hebrew and Grammar, Pt. 2, Ch. 16.4)

As stated earlier, numerous instances in the English translations of Scriptures correctly have “it” where אתו appears. Note the following verses:

Exod. 12:6-7, 11, 14, 47; 16:21, 24, 33; 25:11, 24; 29:26; Lev. 23:41; Num. 9:3, 11-12. There are many more that are not listed.

Because of the lack of proper research and the need for a predetermined conclusion, the 8-day adherents refer to the Jewish version of the TANAKH for the desired translation. They provide the following translation of Exod. 12:14 for support:

This day shall be to you one of remembrance: You shall celebrate it as a festival to Yahweh throughout the ages…

The following is a commentary by a Sacred Name group given for an explanation of this version of the passage:

The TANAKH says that we are to remember to observe the Passover “as” we might an annual feast, not that it is a feast. The annual feasts of Yahweh are to be observed on appointed times, and to neglect these feasts is to neglect the will of Yahweh.

Unfortunately, the argument is fundamentally flawed, relying on a translation that misrepresents the original text. Notably, the word “as” does not appear in the Hebrew text at all; the translators have added it. Even more damaging to their view is that the word “it” has been accurately included.

To provide a fair perspective, we will present the English translation of Exod. 12:14, from the Jewish Publication Society of America, titled “The Holy Scriptures, According to the Masoretic Text: A New Translation, with the Aid of Previous Versions and with Constant Consultation of Jewish Authorities” (Philadelphia, 1917).

We have slightly adjusted the translation to reflect the name Yahweh accurately in this passage.

And this day shall be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to Yahweh; throughout your generations ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.

It is evident that the passage clearly supports a 7-day observance of Abib 14-20, even when viewed from the Jewish perspective and considering their punctuation.

To provide further clarification, we will present the English translation from the Greek Septuagint (LXX).

And this day shall be to you a memorial, and ye shall keep αὐτὴν (auten; it) a feast to Yahweh through all your generations; ye shall keep αὐτὴν (auten; it) a feast for a perpetual ordinance.

Notice that the word “it” is represented by the Greek word αὐτὴν.

In conclusion, what does all of this mean? What would be a reasonable and accurate translation of Exod. 12:14, to help someone understand the truth about the Festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread? Based on the Hebrew and Greek texts, the following would provide a clearer and more correct translation:

And this day (Abib 14) shall be unto you for a memorial, and you shall celebrate it (Abib 14) a Khag (Festival) to Yahweh; throughout your generations you shall celebrate it by a statute for a world-age lasting time.

When all the evidence is considered, it is clear that Exodus 12:14 explicitly describes the Festival of Passover. Therefore, Passover, which falls on Abib 14, is not only a memorial but also a High Sabbath and a Khag, or Festival Day.

Since unleavened bread is eaten during the Passover meal on the Khag of Passover at the beginning of Abib 14, this day can also be identified as the first Khag day of the 7-day Festival of Unleavened Bread.

The testimony from the Scriptures is unequivocal.

The Festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread is a 7-day Festival from Abib 14 through 20. This Festival’s first and last days, Abib 14 and 20, are Khag days and High Sabbaths.

Hopefully, this article will alert those seeking Yahweh’s truth regarding the Festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread and compel them to take a more proactive approach toward searching Scriptures.

At a minimum, if one has no time to search out the facts, one should present the information to their religious teachers or elders. Then, listen to their response and compare it with the plain message proclaimed by Scriptures.

Remember, we must always be diligent in searching for Yahweh’s truth, as were those of Berea in the 1st century C.E.

These (Bereans) were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11)

And lastly, we should not forget the instructions given to us in 1 Thessalonians:

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1Thes. 5:21)