Hebrews 11:28
What does Hebrews 11:28 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 11:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 11:28 means
Moses observed the Passover and the sprinkling of blood so that the destroyer would not strike Israel’s firstborn. Faith took God’s warning and provision seriously, applying the sign he appointed. Salvation came not through Israel’s merit but through blood marked in obedience to God’s word. This event prefigures the greater deliverance through Christ, our Passover, whose blood secures believers from judgment. Faith embraces God’s way of rescue, however strange it may seem, trusting that his appointed means are effective to save.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949By faith he kept the Passover, and put the sign of the blood on the houses, so that the angel of destruction might not put their oldest sons to death.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862by faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that He who is destroying the first-born might not touch them.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752By faith he celebrated the pasch and the shedding of the blood: that he who destroyed the firstborn might not touch them.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890By faith he celebrated the passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
Context
Having shown Moses’ endurance, the author highlights the Passover as a decisive act of faith under God’s instruction. This example bridges from personal endurance to corporate protection through obedient trust in God’s revealed means. Next comes the Red Sea crossing, where faith walks a God-opened path and where unbelieving imitation results in disaster, reinforcing the difference between trusting God and presuming upon him.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 12:3
Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household:
- Hebrews 12:24
and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than that of Abel.
- Hebrews 9:19
For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses unto all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,
- Exodus 12:21
Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out, and take you lambs according to your families, and kill the passover.
- 1 Peter 1:2
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
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