Hebrews 3 3

Hebrews 3:3 kjv

For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.

Hebrews 3:3 nkjv

For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house.

Hebrews 3:3 niv

Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.

Hebrews 3:3 esv

For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses ? as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.

Hebrews 3:3 nlt

But Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses, just as a person who builds a house deserves more praise than the house itself.

Hebrews 3 verses

Hebrews 3 3 Meaning

Hebrews 3:3 proclaims the profound superiority of Jesus Christ over Moses, not merely in degree but in kind. It posits that Christ is deserving of far greater glory than Moses, illustrating this by an analogy: just as the one who builds a house holds greater honor and authority than the house itself, so too is Christ greater than Moses. This verse underlines Jesus's divine identity and creative role as the one who established and oversees God's household, a position fundamentally higher than Moses's role as a servant within that household.

Hebrews 3 3 Context

Hebrews 3:3 is a pivotal verse within the broader argument of the book of Hebrews, which aims to demonstrate the supremacy of Jesus Christ. Coming after chapter 1 establishes Christ's superiority over angels, chapter 3 pivots to compare Christ with Moses. For the original Jewish-Christian audience, Moses was the preeminent figure of their heritage, revered as the great lawgiver and deliverer, mediator of the old covenant, and recipient of direct revelation from God. To assert that Christ is superior to Moses was a challenging, yet crucial, claim for them to grasp the full significance of their new faith. The immediate context of chapter 3 involves exhorting the believers to consider Jesus (Heb 3:1) and His faithfulness (Heb 3:2), preparing the ground for the comparison that Moses was a servant in God's house, while Christ is the Son over God's house. This comparison sets the stage for warnings against unbelief and disobedience by recalling Israel's wilderness wanderings.

Hebrews 3 3 Word analysis

• For he: Refers explicitly to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is the focus of the author's argument. This personal pronoun highlights His singular personage.
• has been counted worthy (Greek: axiōthēnai): The verb is passive, implying that the worthiness is not self-proclaimed but divinely conferred or recognized. Jesus's inherent value and merit are acknowledged and validated by God the Father. The term implies a profound measure of suitability or fitness for honor and recognition.
• of more glory (Greek: doxēs pleionos): Doxa encompasses honor, splendor, inherent excellence, and divine majesty. Pleionos denotes a greater amount or higher degree, indicating a quantitative and qualitative superiority. This is not merely a small increment but a significant elevation.
• than Moses: Direct comparison with Moses, who, in Jewish tradition, was highly esteemed and given significant glory as God's chosen leader and lawgiver. This phrase directly challenges the potential over-veneration of Moses by the audience.
• —as much more as: Introduces an illustrative analogy. The phrasing emphasizes a profound, disproportionate difference rather than a slight distinction, setting up a clear hierarchy.
• the builder (Greek: ho kataskeuasastautos): Literally "the one who thoroughly built" or "constructed." This refers to the architect, designer, and actual creator. It points to Christ as the ultimate originator and master designer of the divine household. The word indicates deliberate, comprehensive construction.
• of a house (Greek: tou oikou): In this analogy, 'house' represents God's dwelling place, which can refer to the spiritual community of God's people (Israel and, by extension, the church), or the entire cosmos that God has ordered.
• has more honor (Greek: timēn pleiona): Timē means honor, value, respect, or even price. It is parallel to doxa (glory), reiterating the theme of worthiness and due recognition. The repetition of pleiona emphasizes the vastness of the distinction.
• than the house itself (Greek: tou oikou autou): Emphasizes the creation versus the creator. The creation (the house/Moses's ministry within it) derives its significance from its creator (the builder/Christ). The created thing cannot be superior to its source and master.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For he has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses": This phrase asserts Christ's superior worth and standing directly. The divine attribution ("counted worthy") is key, indicating a fundamental truth about Jesus's being, not just a matter of status. This challenges the deeply entrenched veneration of Moses among Jewish believers, repositioning Christ as the supreme figure of divine revelation and leadership.
• "—as much more as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself": This entire analogy provides the explanatory power for the previous statement. It illustrates why Jesus is more glorious. It posits an irrefutable principle: the creator (builder) is always greater, intrinsically and functionally, than what is created (the house). This isn't merely a difference in rank, but in essence and origin. It powerfully contrasts Moses as a part of the created house (a servant within God's people) with Christ as the divine architect and builder of that house (God's people).

Hebrews 3 3 Bonus section

The concept of "the house of God" in Scripture refers broadly to the people of God, often synonymous with Israel and, in the New Testament, with the Church. While Moses was faithful in the construction and management of the literal Tabernacle (a type of God's dwelling) and also faithfully led God's people (the spiritual house), he was fundamentally an instrument used by God. Christ, however, is not merely an instrument or a resident; He is the inherent builder and the owner of the house, indicating His divine nature. This implies a significant polemic against any notion that Moses or the Mosaic Law represents the pinnacle of God's revelation or salvific work, effectively reorienting the audience's primary allegiance from the law and its mediators to Christ, the Living Law and the Ultimate Mediator.

Hebrews 3 3 Commentary

Hebrews 3:3 concisely establishes Jesus Christ's absolute supremacy over Moses. It asserts that Christ's glory is not simply a little more, but substantially more, echoing the profound truth established earlier in the letter about His divinity. The analogy of the builder and the house is critical: Moses was indeed a highly esteemed servant and foundational figure within God's house, acting faithfully according to divine commands. However, Christ built that house (or authored the new order), making Him superior in every conceivable way—in origin, authority, creative power, and eternal duration. This comparison elevates Christ beyond even the most revered human prophet, presenting Him as the very Son of God who oversees and empowers the spiritual household of believers. Practical application involves recognizing that our devotion and faith must rest ultimately in the One who established all things, rather than in any created vessel, no matter how distinguished their service. It invites a transfer of ultimate loyalty and hope from the old order, represented by Moses, to the living, reigning Son.