PASSOVER   ETYMOLOGY

Passover begins on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nissan. “In the 10 th day of this month (Nissan) they shall take to them every man a lamb, . . . a lamb for an house, . . . and ye shall keep it up until the 14 th day of the same month; and . . . kill it . . . And . . . take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses.  For I will pass through the land of Egypt and will smite all firstborn . . . And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses, . . . and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you” Exodus 12:3-7, 12-13.

The primary observances of Passover are related to the Exodus from Egypt after 400 years of slavery. This story is told in Exodus, Ch. 1-15. Many of the Passover observances are instituted in Chapters. 12-15. 

The name "Passover" refers to the fact that God "passed over" the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt. In Hebrew, it is known as Pesach, which is based on the Hebrew root meaning "pass over".

The word “pass over” has a deeper meaning here than the idea of stepping or leaping over something to avoid contact. The word used here is pasah, which means “to spread wings over” in order to protect.

‘O Jerusalem! Jerusalem! . . . How often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen does gather her brood under her wings’ Luke 13:34?  It was not merely that the Lord passed by the houses of the Israelites, but that He stood on guard, protecting each blood-sprinkled door!  “The Lord . . . will not suffer the destroyer to come in”.

Exodus 12:23.