Hebrews 11 22

Hebrews 11:22 kjv

By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

Hebrews 11:22 nkjv

By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

Hebrews 11:22 niv

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.

Hebrews 11:22 esv

By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

Hebrews 11:22 nlt

It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.

Hebrews 11 verses

Hebrews 11 22 Meaning

Hebrews 11:22 highlights Joseph's profound faith, which remained steadfast even in the hour of his death. Despite his great power and comfort in Egypt, he prophesied about God's future deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt – an event that would occur centuries later. His faith was so real that he gave specific, binding instructions for his bones to be carried out of Egypt and buried in the Promised Land. This act was a tangible demonstration of his absolute conviction in God's covenant promises to his forefathers and the future inheritance of his people in Canaan, showing that his heart was always set on God's divine plan rather than his earthly success.

Hebrews 11 22 Context

Hebrews 11:22 is a concise part of the extensive "Hall of Faith" chapter (Heb 11), which illustrates the nature and power of faith through the lives of Old Testament saints. This verse immediately follows the accounts of Isaac and Jacob, emphasizing how God's covenant promises, initially given to Abraham, continued through generations. Joseph's inclusion demonstrates that faith is not just for grand, direct callings, but also sustains one through trials, success, and even at the brink of death. Despite Joseph's unique journey – being sold into slavery, rising to become the second most powerful man in Egypt, and bringing his family into prosperity – his faith was never rooted in his present exalted status. His final act demonstrates that he regarded God's future promise to Israel, regarding their return to Canaan, as far more significant than his Egyptian comforts or burial traditions. This highlighted to the original Jewish Christian readers of Hebrews that true faith transcends earthly allegiances and temporary dwellings, grounding hope firmly in God's unseen promises and the better, heavenly country being sought.

Hebrews 11 22 Word analysis

• By faith (Πίστει - Pistei): This dative singular form, meaning "through faith" or "by means of faith," introduces the verse, directly attributing Joseph's subsequent actions to his active and living faith. It is the defining characteristic of all the heroes in this chapter. His actions were not a result of human wisdom or mere desire, but of a divinely imparted and cultivated trust in God.
• Joseph (Ἰωσὴφ - Iōsēph): Refers to the renowned son of Jacob, significant in the Old Testament for his dream-interpreting abilities, his suffering, and his rise to power in Egypt. His prominence in Egypt makes his ultimate choice to be buried in Canaan even more impactful.
• when he was dying (ἀποθνῄσκων - apothnēskōn): A present active participle, conveying that his actions and statements were made during his final moments, while in the process of dying. This detail underscores the steadfastness and enduring nature of his faith, demonstrating its power and clarity even in the face of physical decline and death. It shows his faith was not merely for prosperity but extended through the ultimate transition.
• made mention of (ἐμνημόνευσεν - emnēmoneusen): The aorist indicative verb meaning "he remembered" or "he brought to mind," specifically implying he "made solemn mention" or "prophetically declared." It was not a casual reference but a deliberate and significant statement rooted in divine assurance. This declaration served as a testament and a future prophecy for his descendants.
• the exodus (τῆς ἐξόδου - tēs exodou): From `ἔξοδος` (exodos), meaning "a way out," "a departure," specifically referring to the historical event of Israel's departure from Egypt. Joseph's foresight speaks to his clear understanding of God's overarching plan and covenant promise, even before the oppression and a long period of time before its fulfillment.
• of the Israelites (τῶν υἱῶν Ἰσραήλ - tōn huiōn Israēl): Literally "of the sons of Israel," referring to the descendants of Jacob (Israel). This emphasizes the corporate nature of God's covenant and promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the destiny of the entire nation, not just Joseph's personal well-being.
• and gave directions concerning (καὶ περὶ... ἐνετείλατο - kai peri... eneteilato): `ἐντέλλομαι` (entellomai) is "to command, to give a solemn injunction." This signifies not a mere request or suggestion, but a strong, binding instruction, a dying wish carrying the weight of prophetic authority and a sacred trust. It underscores the importance of this command to Joseph.
• the burial of his bones (τῶν ὀστέων αὐτοῦ - tōn osteōn autou): Literal physical bones. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the disposition of one's remains was deeply significant. For Joseph, this was not just about respecting a tradition, but a profound symbolic act. His desire for his bones to rest in the Promised Land affirmed his belief that his identity and destiny, along with that of his people, were inextricably linked to God's promised land and not to Egypt. His physical remains became a tangible prophecy and a witness to generations.

• "By faith Joseph, when he was dying": This phrase underscores the unwavering and enduring nature of Joseph's faith. It was a faith that was active and resolute, not merely in prosperity or when healthy, but powerfully demonstrated at life's most vulnerable point—facing death. This highlights true faith's capacity to transcend physical limitations and the fear of mortality, focusing instead on divine certainty.
• "made mention of the exodus of the Israelites": This shows Joseph's prophetic insight and unshakeable conviction in God's long-term plan for His people. Living in splendor in Egypt, he could have chosen to forget his heritage, but he accurately foresaw a national deliverance that would take place centuries after his death. His declaration affirmed the reliability of God's promise to Abraham (Gen 15:13-16) regarding the sojourn and subsequent return of his descendants to the land.
• "and gave directions concerning the burial of his bones": This action concretized his prophetic mention into a solemn, physical commitment. His command was not just a sentimental wish, but a visible sign of his conviction that God's covenant was certain and that Israel would indeed inherit Canaan. By insisting on being buried outside Egypt, he implicitly rejected Egypt as his eternal home, proclaiming by this act that his true allegiance and future hope, and that of his descendants, lay with the land promised by God. His bones would serve as a constant reminder to the enslaved Israelites of the promised liberation and their destiny.

Hebrews 11 22 Bonus section

The symbolism of "bones" in this context goes beyond mere physical remains; it embodies the very essence of Joseph's person, his legacy, and his identity inextricably linked to God's covenant. For the ancient Hebrews, an honorable burial was important, but to command a specific, delayed burial far from one's place of death underscored a theological point. Joseph's dying instruction implicitly challenged the powerful Egyptian view of death and the afterlife, where grand pyramids and elaborate mummification rituals tied one to Egypt. By desiring burial in Canaan, Joseph declared his hope was in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and in the fulfillment of His promises, not in Egyptian permanence. This act also served as a profound encouragement to the Israelites who would remain in Egypt, a living, albeit silent, testament and reminder from their esteemed ancestor that God had promised deliverance and a land. It demonstrated that earthly success, comfort, or even impending death could not diminish the certainty of God's word and the hope of His people.

Hebrews 11 22 Commentary

Hebrews 11:22 reveals Joseph as a powerful example of enduring faith that transcends time, place, and personal success. Despite holding the highest position in Egypt and enjoying earthly prestige, Joseph’s heart was firmly fixed on God’s unseen covenant promises to his forefathers. His final, deliberate acts—prophesying Israel’s exodus and demanding his bones be carried to the Promised Land—were profound expressions of this faith. These acts affirmed God's faithfulness to His word regarding the nation of Israel and their inheritance, centuries before the events transpired. Joseph's "bones" became a tangible, silent witness to generations, reinforcing hope in the future fulfillment of God's divine plan, signaling to enslaved Israel that their true home and destiny were not in Egypt, but in the land promised by God. His life teaches that true faith always looks beyond immediate circumstances to the ultimate, eternal promises of God.