Quick Scoop

It’s called Passover because, in the Exodus story, God “passed over” the Israelite homes during the final plague in Egypt, sparing their firstborn when the doorposts were marked as instructed. The Hebrew name Pesach is commonly understood to refer to that “passing over,” and the English word Passover is a direct translation of that idea.

Why the name stuck

The name comes from the biblical account in Exodus 12 : the Israelites were told to mark their doorframes, and God would pass over those homes while striking Egypt. That event became the defining memory of the holiday, so the name reflects both the rescue and the broader story of liberation from slavery.

In plain English

  • Pass = to go over or beyond.
  • Over = not entering those homes.
  • The holiday name points to the moment of divine protection in the Exodus narrative.

Short version

Passover = the night God “passed over” the Israelite houses in Egypt.

If you want, I can also explain how the Passover seder fits into that story.