Hebrews 11:28

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Through faith {G4102} he kept {G4160} the passover {G3957}, and {G2532} the sprinkling {G4378} of blood {G129}, lest {G3363} he that destroyed {G3645} the firstborn {G4416} should touch {G2345} them {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

By trusting, he obeyed the requirements for the Pesach, including the smearing of the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Isra’el.

Berean Standard Bible

By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.

American Standard Version

By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hebrews 11:28 highlights Moses' exemplary faith in instituting the Passover, a pivotal act of obedience that secured divine protection for the Israelite firstborn against the devastating tenth plague in Egypt. This verse underscores that Moses' adherence to God's specific command—to observe the Passover ritual and apply the lamb's blood—was a tangible expression of his unwavering trust, demonstrating how active faith leads to salvation and deliverance from impending judgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the renowned "Hall of Faith" in [Hebrews 11](/hebrews/11 "Hebrews 11 - The Hall of Faith"), a chapter dedicated to showcasing Old Testament figures whose lives exemplified profound trust in God. Following the accounts of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the author turns to Moses, whose life is presented as a series of faith-driven decisions that progressively reveal God's redemptive plan. [Hebrews 11:23-27](/hebrews/11-23-27 "Hebrews 11:23-27 - Moses' Early Faith") details Moses' earlier choices of faith, such as his parents' hiding him, his refusal to be called Pharaoh's son, and his choosing to suffer with God's people. [Hebrews 11:28](/hebrews/11-28 "Hebrews 11:28 - Moses and the Passover") then focuses on the climactic moment of the Passover, which served as the immediate precursor to Israel's exodus from Egypt, a theme continued in [Hebrews 11:29](/hebrews/11-29 "Hebrews 11:29 - Crossing the Red Sea"). The author uses Moses' actions to illustrate that true faith is not merely belief but active obedience to God's commands, even in the face of grave danger.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for [Hebrews 11:28](/hebrews/11-28 "Hebrews 11:28 - Moses and the Passover") is the night of the tenth and final plague in Egypt, as recorded in [Exodus 12](/exodus/12 "Exodus 12 - The First Passover"). After nine plagues failed to persuade Pharaoh to release the Israelites, God announced the most severe judgment: the death of every firstborn in Egypt. To protect His people, God instituted the Passover ritual, commanding each Israelite household to sacrifice a lamb, smear its blood on the doorposts and lintel, and eat the roasted lamb in haste, prepared for departure. This was a radical and counter-cultural act, as lambs were sacred animals to the Egyptians. The "destroyer" (often understood as an angel of death or God's direct judgment) would "pass over" any house marked by the blood, sparing its inhabitants. This event was not merely a historical incident but the foundational act of Israel's national identity, establishing their deliverance from bondage and their covenant relationship with God. The cultural significance of blood in ancient Near Eastern sacrificial systems, symbolizing life and atonement, is crucial here, as it was the visible sign of God's covenant protection.
* **Key Themes:** [Hebrews 11:28](/hebrews/11-28 "Hebrews 11:28 - Moses and the Passover") contributes significantly to several overarching themes within Hebrews and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates the theme of **obedient faith**, demonstrating that genuine faith is active and expressed through adherence to God's specific instructions, no matter how unusual or demanding they may seem. Moses' "keeping" of the Passover was a direct act of trust in God's promise of protection. Secondly, the verse highlights **divine protection and deliverance**, showing God's sovereign power to save His people from judgment and death. The blood on the doorposts was the visible sign of God's differentiating grace, separating Israel from Egypt's fate. This act of deliverance laid the groundwork for Israel's identity as a redeemed people. Thirdly, the "sprinkling of blood" introduces the profound **significance of blood as a means of atonement and preservation of life**. This Old Testament ritual serves as a crucial **typological foreshadowing** of the ultimate redemptive work of Jesus Christ, whose shed blood provides the definitive means of salvation and protection from eternal judgment, a theme central to the entire book of [Hebrews](/hebrews "The Book of Hebrews").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **faith (Greek, _pístis'_):** G4102. This term denotes not merely intellectual assent but a profound moral conviction and reliance upon God's truthfulness. In the context of [Hebrews 11](/hebrews/11 "Hebrews 11 - The Hall of Faith"), _pístis_ is presented as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen, an active trust that compels obedience. Moses' _pístis_ was his unwavering conviction that God's seemingly strange command regarding the Passover would indeed result in the promised protection.
* **kept (Greek, _poiéō'_):** G4160. The Greek verb here signifies "to make or do" in a broad sense, implying active performance and diligent execution. The perfect tense (implied by "kept") suggests that Moses had done and continued to ensure the fulfillment of the Passover ritual. This highlights that Moses' faith was not passive belief but an active, deliberate, and sustained act of obedience in carrying out God's precise instructions for the Passover.
* **destroyed (Greek, _olothreúō'_):** G3645. This word conveys the sense of spoiling or slaying, referring to the agent of divine judgment, often understood as the "destroyer" or "angel of death" mentioned in [Exodus 12:23](/exodus/12-23 "Exodus 12:23 - The Destroyer"). The use of this strong verb emphasizes the absolute and devastating nature of the impending judgment from which the Israelites were spared only by the blood of the Passover lamb.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Through faith he kept the passover,"**: This clause immediately attributes Moses' actions to his faith. It was not by human wisdom or military might, but by his profound trust in God's word, that Moses diligently observed and ensured the implementation of the Passover ritual. The act of "keeping" implies both the institution of the festival and the meticulous adherence to its specific requirements.
* **"and the sprinkling of blood,"**: This phrase specifies the crucial element of the Passover ritual that provided protection. The "sprinkling of blood" refers to the application of the lamb's blood to the doorposts and lintel of the Israelite homes, as commanded by God in [Exodus 12:7](/exodus/12-7 "Exodus 12:7 - Blood on the Doorposts"). This act, seemingly simple, was the divinely appointed sign that marked a household as protected from judgment.
* **"lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them."**: This final clause states the purpose and outcome of Moses' faithful obedience. The "destroyer" (referring to the agent of the tenth plague) was poised to strike down every firstborn in Egypt. The blood on the doorposts served as a visible barrier, ensuring that the judgment would "pass over" those homes, thereby preventing any harm from coming to the Israelite firstborn. This highlights God's power to deliver and His faithfulness to those who obey.

#### Literary Devices
[Hebrews 11:28](/hebrews/11-28 "Hebrews 11:28 - Moses and the Passover") employs several significant literary devices. **Typology** is central, as the Passover event itself serves as a profound type, or foreshadowing, of the ultimate redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The sacrificial lamb and its protective blood prefigure Christ, the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), whose shed blood provides true and eternal deliverance from sin and death. **Symbolism** is evident in the "sprinkling of blood," which is not merely a physical act but a powerful symbol of life, atonement, and divine protection. The blood visually represents the substitutionary sacrifice required to avert judgment. Furthermore, there is a clear **Contrast** between the fate of the Egyptian firstborn (destruction) and the Israelite firstborn (preservation), a contrast entirely determined by the presence or absence of the blood mark, emphasizing the life-or-death consequences of obedience to God's command. The narrative also uses **Metonymy**, where "the sprinkling of blood" stands for the entire Passover ritual and the covenant protection it signified.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hebrews 11:28 profoundly reinforces the biblical truth that salvation and deliverance are predicated on active faith in God's revealed will. Moses' obedience in "keeping the Passover" and ensuring the "sprinkling of blood" was not a work that earned salvation, but rather the divinely appointed means through which God's promised protection was appropriated. This event stands as a powerful testament to God's sovereign power to save and His faithfulness to His covenant promises. It also underscores the critical role of blood in the Old Testament sacrificial system as a symbol of life given for life, foreshadowing the ultimate, perfect sacrifice. The Passover, therefore, is not merely a historical event but a foundational theological paradigm for understanding redemption, highlighting that God's judgment is real, but His provision for escape is equally real and accessible through faith.

* [Exodus 12:13](/exodus/12-13 "Exodus 12:13 - The Blood as a Sign")
* [1 Corinthians 5:7](/1_corinthians/5-7 "1 Corinthians 5:7 - Christ Our Passover Lamb")
* [1 Peter 1:18-19](/1_peter/1-18-19 "1 Peter 1:18-19 - Redemption Through Christ's Precious Blood")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account of Moses' faith in [Hebrews 11:28](/hebrews/11-28 "Hebrews 11:28 - Moses and the Passover") calls believers today to a similar active and obedient faith. Just as the Israelites were spared from physical death by their trust in God's specific, unusual command to apply the lamb's blood, so too are believers today saved from spiritual death and eternal judgment by trusting in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, our ultimate Passover Lamb. This verse reminds us that true faith is not a passive intellectual assent but a dynamic trust that leads to concrete actions of obedience, even when God's commands seem counter-intuitive or demand significant personal cost. It encourages us to recognize the gravity of divine judgment and the profound efficacy of God's provision for salvation. Our spiritual security is not based on our own merit or works, but on the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of Christ, which we appropriate through faith. Therefore, we are called to live lives marked by a confident reliance on Christ's atoning work, allowing His sacrifice to shape our daily choices and priorities, knowing that His blood covers us and delivers us from the dominion of darkness and the fear of condemnation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Moses' "active faith" in this verse challenge my understanding of what it means to truly believe in God?**
* **In what areas of my life might God be calling me to an act of obedience that seems counter-intuitive, similar to the Passover command?**
* **How does the "sprinkling of blood" in the Old Testament deepen my appreciation for the significance of Christ's sacrifice on the cross?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the "sprinkling of blood" in Hebrews 11:28?**

Answer: The "sprinkling of blood" refers to the specific command given by God to the Israelites on the night of the first Passover in [Exodus 12](/exodus/12 "Exodus 12 - The First Passover"). They were to sacrifice a lamb and apply its blood to the doorposts and lintel of their homes. This act was a visible sign of their obedience to God's command and served as a mark for the "destroyer" (the angel of death) to "pass over" their homes, sparing their firstborn from the final, devastating plague in Egypt. The blood symbolized life given in substitution and was the divinely appointed means of protection from judgment. Theologically, it foreshadows the atoning blood of Jesus Christ.

**Who is "he that destroyed the firstborn" mentioned in this verse?**

Answer: "He that destroyed the firstborn" refers to the agent of God's judgment during the tenth and final plague upon Egypt, as described in [Exodus 12:23](/exodus/12-23 "Exodus 12:23 - The Destroyer"). This is often understood as an angel of death or the direct, devastating hand of God Himself, executing the judgment against Pharaoh and Egypt for their refusal to release the Israelites. The phrase emphasizes the divine origin and terrifying power of this judgment, from which only the blood of the Passover lamb could provide protection.

**How does the Passover in this verse relate to the broader narrative of the Exodus?**

Answer: The Passover, as highlighted in [Hebrews 11:28](/hebrews/11-28 "Hebrews 11:28 - Moses and the Passover"), is the climactic event that directly precedes and enables the Exodus. It was the final, most severe plague that broke Pharaoh's will and led to the release of the Israelites from centuries of bondage. The Passover ritual not only provided protection from judgment but also served as the foundational act of deliverance, marking the beginning of Israel's journey as a free nation under God's direct leadership. It established a perpetual memorial for Israel, celebrating God's power to redeem and His faithfulness to His covenant people, setting the stage for their journey to the Promised Land.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[Hebrews 11:28](/hebrews/11-28 "Hebrews 11:28 - Moses and the Passover"), in its depiction of Moses' faith and the Passover, finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Passover lamb, whose blood secured physical deliverance from death, is a profound type of Christ, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Just as the Israelites were saved by the applied blood of a blameless lamb, so too are believers today saved from the judgment of sin and eternal death by the precious, atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who is our [Passover Lamb sacrificed for us](/1_corinthians/5-7 "1 Corinthians 5:7 - Christ Our Passover Lamb"). His death on the cross, the ultimate sacrifice, provides a once-for-all cleansing for sin, offering spiritual protection and eternal life to all who place their faith in Him. The "destroyer" of the firstborn in Egypt foreshadows the power of sin and death, from which Christ's blood delivers us, enabling us to [pass from death to life](/john/5-24 "John 5:24 - Passing from Death to Life") and to be [redeemed not with perishable things but with the precious blood of Christ](/1_peter/1-18-19 "1 Peter 1:18-19 - Redemption Through Christ's Precious Blood"). Thus, Moses' faithful act points directly to the greater reality of Christ's perfect work, through whom we have access to a superior covenant and an eternal deliverance.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 12:21

¶ Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.

Exodus 12:30

And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for [there was] not a house where [there was] not one dead.

Hebrews 9:19

For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

Hebrews 12:24

And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel.

1 Peter 1:2

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

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 the house of [their] fathers, a lamb for an house:

Exodus 12:14

And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.