Devine Scripture

Hebrews 3:16

What does Hebrews 3:16 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 3:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 3:16 means

The author asks who provoked God after hearing His voice, then answers: it was those who came out of Egypt under Moses. The implication is sobering—people who had experienced redemption and revelation still rebelled. Privilege and history do not immunize anyone against unbelief. Hearing is not the same as heeding; being led out is not the same as entering in. The question presses readers to self-examination: If that first redeemed generation provoked God, how much more must we guard our hearts? The issue is faith’s endurance, not merely its beginning.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For who, when they heard, did provoke? nay, did not all they that came out of Egypt by Moses?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For who, when they heard, did provoke? nay, did not all they that came out of Egypt by Moses?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Who made him angry when his voice came to them? was it not all those who came out of Egypt with Moses?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for certain having heard did provoke, but not all who did come out of Egypt through Moses;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For some who heard did provoke: but not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

(for who was it, who, having heard, provoked? but [was it] not all who came out of Egypt by Moses?

Context

The first of three rhetorical questions dissects the wilderness failure. Having re-sounded the call of “Today,” the author now identifies the culprits: the very ones delivered by Moses. This counters any complacency based on heritage or past experience. The next question (v. 17) focuses on God’s sustained displeasure and the deaths in the wilderness, and the third (v. 18) on the oath barring them from rest. The sequence narrows from who provoked, to who suffered judgment, to why the oath fell—setting up the final inference in verse 19 about unbelief.

v.15while it is said, To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

v.16This passage

v.17And with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with them that sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Hebrews 3:9

    Where your fathers triedmeby proving me, And saw my works forty years.

  • Numbers 14:30

    surely ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware that I would make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

  • Numbers 26:65

    For Jehovah had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

  • Deuteronomy 1:35

    Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see the good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers,

  • Numbers 14:24

    but my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

  • Deuteronomy 1:38

    Joshua the son of Nun, who standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage thou him; for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore Hebrews 3

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Hebrews 3.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Hebrews 3:16.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary