“The Night to be Much Observed” ???
It has been a tradition of churches that had a historical relationship with the “World Wide Church of God” to observe the “night to be much observed”. The night after their annual “Passover” has been the time that has been determined to keep this occasion. It is interesting that there is an adamant belief among various churches that the time and purpose for this occasion is founded on Biblical evidence. The principle reason that they observe it, when they do, is to commemorate the Israelites having come out of Egypt. In considering the fact that Egypt was pictured as a type of sin, they also feel that it has to do with the fact that, as Christians, they have come out of sin. The big question is how Biblically accurate is this belief ???
The following provides the evidence that shows the difference between the term “night to be much observed” as it is found in Exodus 12:42 of the King James Translation as compared to other Bible translation and commentaries. First of all, the word “observed” leads one to an inaccurate conclusion.
Exo. 12:42 ItH1931 is a nightH3915 to be much observedH8107 unto the LORDH3068 for bringing them outH3318 from the landH4480 H776 of Egypt:H4714 thisH2088 is thatH1931 nightH3915 of the LORDH3068 to be observedH8107 of allH3605 the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 in their generations.H1755
H8107 --- shimmûr
Strong’s Definition:
From H8104; an observance: - X be (much) observed.
Evidently, the originators of the purpose and time of the occasion, that is so popular today, only used Strong’s H8107 for their conclusions! They used the word “observed” as it would relate to an event or occasion. Even though H8104 is given by Strong’s as a reference.
H8104 --- shâmar
A primitive root; properly to hedge about (as with thorns), that is, guard; generally to protect, attend to, etc.: - beware, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep (-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch (-man).
The root word (H8104) speaks to careful attention to a matter and not to a night following the passover night. Gen. 12:42 is about a God who is watching out for his people. And then the people are instructed to remember what God had done for them. The root word and the definition given by the Brown Driver Briggs Lexicon both point to a night when the Lord watches over the events of the night that resulted in the release of Israel.
H8107 --- shimmûr
BDB Definition:
1) night watch, watching, vigil
Part of Speech: noun masculine
A Related Word by BDB/Strong’s Number: from H8104
The following is a representation of exodus 12:42 from:
“Analytical Key To The Old Testament” by JOHN OWENS
(€ is representative of a Hebrew character)
12:42
€€€ n.m.s. cstr (538) a night of
€€€€ nm.p. (1037) watching
€€€£ €€€ pers.pr. 3m.s. (214-prep.-pr.n (217) It was __ by Yahweh
€€€€€€ prep.-Hi. Inf.cstr.-3 m.p. sf. (€€ 422) to bring them
€€€€ Prep.-n.f.s. cstr. (75) out of the land of
€€€€€ pr.n. paus. (595) Egypt
€€€€€-€€€ v.supra-def.art.-n.m.s. (538) so_night
€€€ def.art.-demons.adj. m.s. (260) this
€€€€€ prep.-pr.n. (217) to Yahweh
€€€€€ v.supra watching
€€€€€€ prep.-n.m.s. cstr. (481)-n.m.p. cstr. (119) by all the people of
€€€€ pr.n. (975) Israel
€€€€€ prep.-n.m.p.-3 m.p. sf. (189) throughout their generations
The following commentaries give a good understanding of Exodus 12:42
Exodus 12:42. This first passover night was a night of the Lord, much to be observed; but the last passover night, in which Christ was betrayed, was a night of the Lord, much more to be observed, when a yoke heavier than that of Egypt was broken from off our necks, and a land better than that of Canaan set before us. That was a temporal deliverance, to be celebrated in their generations; this an eternal redemption, to be celebrated world without end!
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
It is a night to be much observed unto the Lord,.... Or "a night of observations" (t), in which many things are to be observed to the honour and glory of God, as done by him, wherein his power, wisdom, goodness, truth and faithfulness, are displayed; partly by the destruction of the Egyptian firstborn, and particularly for bringing them, the children of Israel:
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
42. The night is to be observed in perpetuity as a night of watching, or of vigil, unto Jehovah; cf. Isaiah 30:29. Both the margins are preferable to the text. ל, however, cannot mean for (i.e., apparently, in return for), though it might mean with regard to; but its natural meaning here would be in order to; hence Bu. Bä. may be right in rendering, A night of watching was it for Yahweh to bring them out, &c.; Jehovah Himself was on the watch that night to protect His people from the destroyer, and to bring them safely out of Egypt: v. 41b will then be a later addition, transforming the night of vigil kept by Jehovah, into a night of vigil kept to Him (cf. Nowack, Arch. ii. 149). throughout your generations. See on v. 14.
It is difficult to understand why Strong's gives the definition as it has. It is not so difficult to understand why the KJV has mistranslated Ex. 12:42 as it has because there are other errors of miss-translation in the KJV.
Young's Literal Translation
A night of watchings it is to Jehovah, to bring them out from the land of Egypt; it is this night to Jehovah of watchings to all the sons of Israel to their generations.
JPS Tanakh 1917
It was a night of watching unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt; this same night is a night of watching unto the LORD for all the children of Israel throughout their generations.
Good News Bible
It was a night when the LORD kept watch to bring them out of Egypt; this same night is dedicated to the LORD for all time to come as a night when the Israelites must keep watch.
English Standard Version
It was a night of watching by the LORD, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the LORD by all the people of Israel throughout their generations.
Contemporary English Version
On that night the LORD kept watch for them, and on this same night each year Israel will always keep watch in honor of the LORD.
God's Word
That night the LORD kept watch to take them out of Egypt. (All Israelites in future generations must keep watch on this night, since it is dedicated to the LORD.)
There isn’t much more that could be added to make the truth of the matter more clear. The evidence shows us, when a careful study is made, that Exodus 12:42 is in reference to the Lord watching over the affairs of the night.
The" night to be much observed" as kept by the churches of God can be considered as part of their DNA. The KJV and Strong's Dictionary have made it easy for the churches to go astray. But it does seem that many are willingly committed to an understanding, that ignores the information or evidence that is so easily available. There is an aversion to fully understand the substance of the matter by many who have been called to truth.
For so many decades many commandment keeping churches have observed a celebration on the night after they have kept a “Passover”. But, how does a sincere dedication to that which is not based on truth help our growth toward becoming more and more subject to that which is good?
1Ti 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.