Definition: And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip [it] in the blood that [is] in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that [is] in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Exodus 12:22. It's a really important and symbolic passage about God’s judgment on Egypt. Here’s what it means in simple terms: The Basic Story: Egypt is Suffering: In the past, Egypt was living in a terrible state of chaos and oppression. They were constantly plagued by plagues and disasters. God Wants to Free Them: God decided that He wanted to free the Israelites (the Jewish people) from this suffering. A Special Ritual – The Blood Offering: To show His power and to stop the bad things happening, God instructed them to perform a specific ritual: they would dip a bunch of hyssop (a type of herb) in blood and throw it into a basin. This was a sacrifice – a tangible offering of remorse and repentance. What’s Happening in the Verse: “And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop…” : They are gathering this specific herb. “…and dip [it] in the blood that [is] in the bason…” : This is crucial! They're literally dipping the hyssop in the blood. The “bason” is a large, sturdy beam or post that forms part of the door of Pharaoh’s palace. It’s like a physical representation of the doorway. “…and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that [is] in the bason…” : They are throwing the blood onto the lintel (the horizontal beam above the doorway) and the two side posts. This is the core of the ritual – it’s a symbolic act of atonement and making amends for their past wrongdoings. “And none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.” : This is the final, crucial part. They are not allowed to leave the palace until the sun rises – it’s a promise that the punishment will be lifted and they can finally enter freely. What It Means (The Big Picture): This verse speaks of God's judgment on Egypt's sins. It’s about: Repentance: God is showing that He desires forgiveness and doesn't want to continue the suffering. Remorse: By offering a sacrifice – this blood – it demonstrates that they understand the consequences of their actions. A Promise of Freedom: The verse guarantees that God will eventually allow them to leave and live in freedom. In short, it’s a powerful image of God's justice being served through a symbolic act of atonement. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of this verse in more detail? Give you some background on the significance of hyssop? Compare it to another story or concept?