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Parashat Bo - פָּרָשַׁת בֹּא
Bo (“Come”) recounts the last three plagues that God inflicts on the Egyptians: locusts, darkness, and death of firstborns. God commands the Israelites to offer a Passover lamb sacrifice. After the last plague, Pharaoh and the Egyptians demand that the Israelites leave.
Torah Portion: Exodus 10:1-13:16
Parashat Bo is the 15th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Next read on January 16th, 2027 / 8 Sh'vat 5787
- Annual Reading
Read Annually
1:
10:1 - 10:11· 11 p’sukim
2:
10:12 - 10:23· 12 p’sukim
3:
10:24 - 11:3· 9 p’sukim
4:
11:4 - 12:20· 27 p’sukim
5:
12:21 - 12:28· 8 p’sukim
6:
12:29 - 12:51· 23 p’sukim
7:
13:1 - 13:16· 16 p’sukim
Maftir:
13:14 - 13:16· 3 p’sukim
Haftarah:
Jeremiah 46:13 - 46:28· 16 p’sukim
- Triennial Year 1
January 24th, 2026
1:
10:1 - 10:3· 3 p’sukim
2:
10:4 - 10:6· 3 p’sukim
3:
10:7 - 10:11· 5 p’sukim
4:
10:12 - 10:15· 4 p’sukim
5:
10:16 - 10:23· 8 p’sukim
6:
10:24 - 10:29· 6 p’sukim
7:
11:1 - 11:3· 3 p’sukim
Maftir:
11:1 - 11:3· 3 p’sukim
Alternate Haftarah:
Jeremiah 10:1 - 10:10· 10 p’sukim
- Triennial Year 2
January 16th, 2027
1:
11:4 - 11:10· 7 p’sukim
2:
12:1 - 12:10· 10 p’sukim
3:
12:11 - 12:13· 3 p’sukim
4:
12:14 - 12:16· 3 p’sukim
5:
12:17 - 12:20· 4 p’sukim
6:
12:21 - 12:24· 4 p’sukim
7:
12:25 - 12:28· 4 p’sukim
Maftir:
12:25 - 12:28· 4 p’sukim
Alternate Haftarah:
Jeremiah 46:13 - 46:28· 16 p’sukim
- Triennial Year 3
February 5th, 2028
1:
12:29 - 12:32· 4 p’sukim
2:
12:33 - 12:36· 4 p’sukim
3:
12:37 - 12:42· 6 p’sukim
4:
12:43 - 12:51· 9 p’sukim
5:
13:1 - 13:4· 4 p’sukim
6:
13:5 - 13:10· 6 p’sukim
7:
13:11 - 13:16· 6 p’sukim
Maftir:
13:14 - 13:16· 3 p’sukim
Alternate Haftarah:
II Samuel 7:18 - 7:29· 12 p’sukim
About Parashat Parashat Bo
Beyond the drama of the final plagues and the Exodus itself, Bo (Exodus 10:1-13:16) marks the turning point where Israel shifts from being a passive witness of God's wonders into an active covenant people charged with mitzvot. It contains what tradition identifies as the very first commandment given to Israel as a nation: Kiddush HaChodesh, the sanctification of the new moon and the establishment of a calendar, designating Nisan as the first of months. The portion institutes the enduring observance of Passover (Pesach) - the paschal lamb, blood on the doorposts, and the eating of matzah - alongside the consecration of the firstborn and the mitzvah of tefillin. Running through it are the themes of divine judgment, the hardening of Pharaoh's heart, redemption, and the lasting duty to retell the Exodus story to future generations.
The Haftarah
In most communities across the Ashkenazi and Sephardi traditions, the Haftarah for Bo is Jeremiah 46:13-28, and the consulted sources do not record a significant rite-based difference in the verse range. The thematic link is God's judgment on Egypt: where the parashah devastates Egypt through the final plagues to free Israel, Jeremiah prophesies that God will again strike Egypt down, this time through Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The haftarah closes on a redemptive note that mirrors the Exodus, reassuring the exiled people of Israel to "fear not" and promising their ultimate restoration, in contrast to Egypt's subjugation.
Notable passages and verses
Bo is the source of some of Judaism's most recited texts. Exodus 12:2, "This month shall be unto you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you" (HaChodesh hazeh lachem), is traditionally cited as the first mitzvah given to the Jewish people as a nation. The portion underlies much of the Passover Seder, including the eating of matzah and the "and you shall tell your child" verse (Exodus 13:8) recited in the Haggadah. It also contains two of the four passages physically written inside tefillin (Exodus 13:1-10 and 13:11-16). By tradition the portion has 106 verses and is typically read in January or February.
Frequently asked questions
What is Parashat Bo about?
Parashat Bo (Exodus 10:1-13:16) is the climax of the Exodus story. It completes the ten plagues with locusts, darkness, and the death of the firstborn, and culminates in Israel's liberation from Egypt. It also introduces the first national commandments, including establishing the calendar and the observance of Passover, the paschal lamb, matzah, and tefillin. With TropeTrainer you can hear and practice this reading chanted with the proper trope.
What is the Haftarah for Bo?
In most Ashkenazi and Sephardi communities the Haftarah for Bo is Jeremiah 46:13-28, which prophesies Egypt's defeat by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and echoes the parashah's theme of God's judgment on Egypt. Customs can vary, so confirm your congregation's practice. TropeTrainer lets you hear and practice this Haftarah with its cantillation.
What are the themes of Parashat Bo?
Bo centers on divine judgment, redemption, and the hardening of Pharaoh's heart, but its deeper theme is Israel's transformation into a covenant people commanded to perform mitzvot, beginning with the sanctification of the new moon, the Passover observance, the consecration of the firstborn, and tefillin. A recurring duty is retelling the Exodus story to future generations. TropeTrainer lets you hear and practice this reading with trope.
Why is Parashat Bo important for Passover?
Bo is the textual foundation of Passover: it institutes the paschal lamb, the blood on the doorposts so God would pass over Israelite homes, and the eating of matzah, and it includes the verse (Exodus 13:8) recited in the Haggadah. Much of the Seder liturgy traces directly to this portion. With TropeTrainer you can hear and practice the reading chanted with trope.
Where to go next
See the complete list of weekly parashot with links to every reading and detail page.
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