Hebrews 11 28

Hebrews 11:28 kjv

Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

Hebrews 11:28 nkjv

By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

Hebrews 11:28 niv

By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

Hebrews 11:28 esv

By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

Hebrews 11:28 nlt

It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.

Hebrews 11 verses

Hebrews 11 28 Meaning

Hebrews 11:28 affirms that Moses, by faith, faithfully instituted and observed the Passover, along with the specific command for the sprinkling of blood. This act of faith was a direct response to God's instruction, serving as a divinely ordained safeguard, ensuring that the angel of death, referred to as the "destroyer," would not harm the firstborn within the households marked by the blood of the sacrificed lamb, during the climactic tenth plague upon Egypt. It demonstrates faith as obedient action, leading to God's promised protection and deliverance.

Hebrews 11 28 Context

Hebrews chapter 11 is often called the "Hall of Faith" or the "Faith Chapter," as it presents a powerful series of examples demonstrating what it means to live by faith. The author recounts the faithful acts of various Old Testament figures, from Abel to the prophets, illustrating how their trust in God, even when facing unseen realities or future promises, empowered them to obey His commands and endure hardship.

Verse 28 is embedded within the section describing Moses' faith, beginning at verse 23. Moses' earlier acts of faith are highlighted: his preservation by his parents (v. 23), his renunciation of royal privileges (v. 24), his choice to suffer with God's people (v. 25), his valuation of the promised recompense (v. 26), and his courageous departure from Egypt without fear of Pharaoh's wrath (v. 27). Building on this narrative, verse 28 details a critical act of Moses' faith: his diligent implementation of God's specific instructions for the Passover. This act was pivotal in Israel's exodus and the immediate salvation of their firstborn from the tenth plague, which represented the final and most devastating blow to Egyptian gods and Pharaoh's authority. Historically, the Passover not only served as a memorial of this deliverance but also prefigured the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, the true Passover Lamb. The Jewish audience to whom Hebrews was written would have been intimately familiar with the significance of Passover, making Moses' faithful execution of it a compelling example.

Hebrews 11 28 Word analysis

• By faith (Greek: Πίστει - Pistei): This is the instrumental dative of pistis, meaning "by means of faith" or "through faith." It emphasizes faith not merely as belief, but as an active principle and a way of life that prompts obedience to God's directives. It underscores the recurring theme of Hebrews 11, where faith is the foundation of all righteous actions in God's eyes.

• he (Implied: Moses): The subject is Moses, explicitly introduced in verse 23 and continuing through verses 24, 27, and 28. This reinforces that it was Moses' personal faith in God's word that enabled him to fulfill his role.

• made / kept (Greek: πεποίηκεν - pepoieken): This is the perfect active indicative form of poieō, "to do, to make, to perform." The perfect tense denotes a completed action with enduring results, emphasizing Moses' faithful execution of the command that established the Passover as an ordinance to be kept throughout generations. It implies deliberate and thorough adherence to God's instruction, not merely a passive acknowledgement.

• the Passover (Greek: τὸ πάσχα - to Pascha): Derived from the Hebrew Pesakh (פֶּסַח), meaning "passing over." It refers to both the annual feast and, critically in this context, the historical event in Egypt where God "passed over" the houses marked with blood. This was the central act of Israel's deliverance.

• and the sprinkling (Greek: καὶ τὴν προσχυσιν - kai tēn proschysin): This refers to the specific act of applying the blood. Proschysis means "sprinkling" or "pouring towards," signifying a directed application. This was a physical act of obedience directly linked to the promise of protection.

• of blood (Greek: τοῦ αἵματος - tou haimatos): The vital liquid representing life. In ancient Israelite worship and practice, blood held profound theological significance, serving as a medium for atonement, covenant initiation, and purification (Lev 17:11, Ex 24:8). Here, it functioned as the divine sign for deliverance from judgment.

• lest / so that… not (Greek: ἵνα μὴ - hina mē): A purpose clause indicating the intended negative outcome that was to be avoided. The observance of the Passover with blood-sprinkling had the explicit purpose of preventing the dire consequence of judgment.

• he that destroyed / the destroyer (Greek: ὁ ὀλοθρεύων - ho olothreuōn): This is a present active participle acting as a noun, meaning "the one who is destroying" or "the destroyer." This agent is clearly identified in Ex 12:23 as an instrument of God's judgment against the firstborn of Egypt. It signifies an active, divine force bringing about death and destruction as a judicial act.

• should touch them / would not touch them (Greek: θίγῃ αὐτοὺς - thigē autous): Thigō means "to touch" or "to lay hold of," often implying harmful contact or a striking. "Them" refers specifically to the firstborn of Israel. This phrase highlights the immediate and specific protection God offered to those who, by faith, obeyed His command to apply the blood. The divine "touch" meant judgment and death; avoiding it meant divine preservation.

• Word-Group Analysis:

  • By faith he made the Passover and the sprinkling of blood: This phrase highlights the active nature of faith. It was not just an intellectual assent but an obedient, practical carrying out of God's specific and detailed instructions for the Passover. This was a highly public and demanding act that demonstrated Moses' profound trust in God's promise amidst the growing chaos of the plagues.
  • lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them: This defines the explicit purpose and protective power inherent in God's command. The "destroyer" represented divine judgment, targeting Egypt's firstborn as a direct consequence of Pharaoh's refusal to let God's "firstborn" (Israel) go. The sprinkling of blood acted as a visible, faith-response mechanism that demarcated God's people for His divine pass-over, preventing the angel of judgment from executing wrath upon their households. This points to God's sovereign distinction between those who obey and those who resist.

Hebrews 11 28 Bonus section

The institution of the Passover, commanded and executed by faith, presented a direct polemic against the numerous Egyptian deities associated with life, fertility, birth, and protection, such as Ra (sun god), Hapi (Nile god), Isis (goddess of motherhood and life), and Osiris (god of the underworld and life after death). By striking down every firstborn, God demonstrated His absolute supremacy over these false gods and over the life-force of Egypt itself, exposing their impotence to protect. Pharaoh, often considered a living deity or divine intermediary, saw his own "firstborn" heir fall, dismantling his spiritual authority. Moses' faithful act of applying blood highlighted God's specific, personal, and efficacious protection in stark contrast to the widespread fear and powerlessness gripping Egypt despite their pantheon. This also sets a precedent for how corporate faith, as exercised by a leader like Moses, can lead to widespread deliverance for an entire people, underlining the importance of God's chosen leaders faithfully enacting divine decrees for the community's salvation.

Hebrews 11 28 Commentary

Hebrews 11:28 showcases Moses' unwavering faith through his decisive action in instituting the Passover. This was not a passive belief but a meticulous adherence to God's precise and demanding instructions amidst a national crisis. The command for the Passover and the specific application of blood on the doorposts represented a life-or-death choice; faith was the absolute prerequisite for compliance. Moses' obedience validated his deep trust in God's word—that by following these unseen, unconventional rituals, they would be miraculously protected from the "destroyer."

The act of sprinkling the blood carried immense theological weight. It marked the home as consecrated, demonstrating both Israel’s identification with the sacrificial lamb and their reliance on God's covenant grace. This protection was directly against the "destroyer," a divine agent of judgment that visited every un-marked firstborn. This episode vividly illustrates that God's deliverance often comes through obedient adherence to His prescribed means. Furthermore, the Passover serves as a powerful type, pointing forward to Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate "Passover Lamb" (1 Cor 5:7), whose shed blood on the cross institutes the new covenant, offering ultimate redemption and eternal protection from spiritual death for all who, by faith, appropriate His sacrifice. Just as the blood on the doorposts secured physical deliverance for Israel's firstborn, Christ's blood secures spiritual deliverance and eternal life for all believers.