The Lamb

The lamb serves as Scripture's enduring emblem of substitutionary atonement, seen first in Abel's offering that pleased God and then in the Passover where its blood delivered the people from destruction. John the Baptist points to Jesus as the Lamb of God whose perfect sacrifice takes away the sin of the world, fulfilling what earlier lambs could only foreshadow. In heaven the saints worship this Lamb as worthy because his blood has purchased redemption for all who believe, revealing the heart of God's redemptive work.

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Symbolizes: Innocence, substitutionary sacrifice, Christ

Old Testament Type

The Passover lamb whose blood protected Israel from death (Exodus 12)

New Testament Fulfillment

Jesus Christ, 'the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world' (John 1:29)

Key Passages

Abel's Lamb

Genesis 4:4

A⁴nd Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

Passover Lamb

Exodus 12:3-7

S³peak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:

⁴ And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. ⁵ Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: ⁶ And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. ⁷ And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

Lamb of God

John 1:29

T²⁹he next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Worthy is the Lamb

Revelation 5:12

S¹²aying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Did You Know?

The Lamb is one of the most powerful symbols of Jesus in Scripture, appearing from Genesis to Revelation.

In the Old Testament, the Passover lamb's blood protected Israel from the angel of death.

John the Baptist called Jesus 'the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.'