Hebrews 11 26

Hebrews 11:26 kjv

Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Hebrews 11:26 nkjv

esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

Hebrews 11:26 niv

He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

Hebrews 11:26 esv

He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

Hebrews 11:26 nlt

He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.

Hebrews 11 verses

Hebrews 11 26 Meaning

Hebrews 11:26 states that Moses chose to identify with God's people, enduring reproach for Christ's sake, which he considered more valuable than all the material wealth and prestige of Egypt. His decision was motivated by a steadfast focus on the future recompense that God had promised. It highlights the believer's call to value eternal spiritual reward above transient worldly gain and to embrace suffering that comes with loyalty to Christ.

Hebrews 11 26 Context

Hebrews chapter 11, often called the "Hall of Faith," celebrates heroes of faith who, by believing in God's promises despite not seeing their fulfillment in their lifetime, acted courageously and endured great hardship. This chapter serves as an encouragement to the original Jewish Christian readers who were facing persecution and considering abandoning their faith to return to Judaism. The author's direct aim is to prevent apostasy by demonstrating that faith always looks beyond the present trials to God's unseen, future realities.Verse 26 specifically focuses on Moses's pivotal choices during his youth in Egypt. As the adopted son of Pharaoh's daughter, Moses possessed immense privilege, power, and access to all the "treasures of Egypt." However, driven by faith, he chose to identify with his enslaved Hebrew people, deliberately renouncing his royal status and earthly advantages. This was not a passive decision but an active choice to suffer, implicitly understanding that aligning with God's despised people meant inheriting their reproach, which the author remarkably identifies as "the reproach of Christ." This connects Moses's suffering to the future suffering of Jesus and, by extension, to the suffering experienced by Christians, urging the readers to emulate Moses's long-sighted, Christ-centered faith.

Hebrews 11 26 Word analysis

• He considered: From Greek ἐγήσατο (hegēsato), meaning to reckon, account, judge, or regard. It implies a deliberate mental calculation and valuing, a conscious assessment and conclusion. This was an active intellectual choice, not a passive preference.
• the reproach: From Greek ὀνειδισμός (oneidismos), meaning a disgrace, an insult, a reproach, or scorn. It refers to the shame, contumely, or contempt suffered due to association with Christ or God's people. This highlights the social and personal cost of his decision.
• of Christ: From Greek Χριστοῦ (Christou). This is profoundly significant as Moses lived centuries before Jesus's incarnation. It implies either the pre-existent Christ, the Suffering Servant (Messiah) identified in Old Testament prophecy, or the suffering that is intrinsically connected to God's purposes, which ultimately culminate in Christ's cross. It means suffering for being associated with God's Anointed Plan/Redemption. This establishes a continuity of suffering for God's people across different dispensations. Moses saw Christ by faith.
• greater riches: From Greek μείζονα πλοῦτον (meizona plouton). Meizona means greater, larger, more excellent. Plouton means wealth, riches. This denotes a superior quality and quantity of wealth, indicating Moses's internal evaluation of spiritual and eternal values as far surpassing material gain.
• than the treasures: From Greek θησαυροὺς (thēsaurous), meaning collected wealth, stored riches, valuable things. These were tangible, immediate, and culturally powerful assets of a leading world empire.
• of Egypt: Refers to the material, cultural, and political wealth, prestige, and power of the most advanced civilization of its time.
• for he was looking: From Greek ἀπέβλεπεν (apeblepen). This imperfect tense verb indicates a continuous, fixed, and resolute gaze, a deliberate turning away from other things towards something. It's a focused perspective, emphasizing a clear, long-term vision. This implies intentionality and spiritual discernment.
• to the reward: From Greek τῆς μισθαποδοσίας (tēs misthapodosias). This word means a payment of wages, recompense, or reward. It speaks of the promised future payment for loyal service, often implying God's divine compensation. This is the ultimate motivator, grounding faith in a guaranteed future benefit from God.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• He considered the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: This phrase encapsulates a radical revaluation of values. Moses consciously assigned a higher spiritual worth to suffering for God and His Messiah than to the immense, tangible wealth of the most powerful earthly empire. This wasn't merely giving something up, but actively gaining something far superior in his estimation. It implies foresight and a recognition of the temporary nature of worldly glory compared to eternal spiritual realities.
• for he was looking to the reward: This clause provides the motivation for Moses's profound choice. His forward-looking faith was not irrational but founded on a clear expectation of God's future promised recompense. It reveals that the "reward" (God's faithfulness and ultimate blessing/inheritance) was the object of his fixed attention, driving him to make present sacrifices for future eternal gain. This "looking" transcends simple sight, implying hope, trust, and deep conviction.

Hebrews 11 26 Bonus section

The concept of "the reproach of Christ" being present and understood by Moses centuries before Christ's incarnation reveals a deeper theological truth: God's redemptive plan centered on Christ was not a last-minute invention but was woven into the fabric of salvation history from the beginning. This suggests that the patriarchs and prophets, by faith, apprehended aspects of God's Messiah and His suffering, albeit imperfectly, even if the explicit term "Christ" might have been a later revelation. Moses, therefore, shared a spiritual bond with Christians across millennia, enduring for the same ultimate King and Kingdom. His suffering was "of Christ" because it was the suffering involved in delivering God's chosen people, pointing towards the greater redemption wrought by Christ. It implies that genuine faithfulness across all dispensations is fundamentally Christ-centered, focused on God's redemptive work, and expectant of divine compensation.

Hebrews 11 26 Commentary

Hebrews 11:26 offers a profound principle of faith: true wisdom lies in re-evaluating worth based on God's eternal perspective. Moses, by divine inspiration, looked beyond immediate circumstances and earthly advantages to embrace the long-term, unseen realities of God's kingdom. His choice was an act of profound discernment, seeing "the reproach of Christ"—the future suffering intrinsically linked to God's redemptive plan—as infinitely more valuable than all the fleeting treasures of a mighty human empire. This radical valuation stemmed from a confident "looking to the reward," acknowledging God's faithfulness to His promises. The verse powerfully teaches that discipleship involves deliberate choices to forsake worldly allurements for identification with Christ and His suffering, confident in the surpassing worth of God's eternal recompense. It calls believers to weigh suffering for Christ as true wealth, anchored in a hope that will not disappoint. This serves as an eternal example for enduring persecution, valuing spiritual identity over material comfort, and prioritizing divine promises above all earthly certainties.