Hebrews 3:16

Translations

Modern

For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?

Traditional

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

Literal

For who, having heard, rebelled? But was it not all those having come forth out of Egypt through Moses?

Latin

Quidam enim audientes exacerbaverunt: sed non universi qui profecti sunt ex Ægypto per Moysen.

Original

Greek

English

For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt?

Notes

Hebrews 3:16–19

These verses use a series of quick questions and answers, a common rhetorical method. The three questions follow the ideas in Psalm 95:8 –11: The people of Israel rebelled against God, God was angry, and God swore they would never enter his rest. The answers come from other Old Testament passages about the Israelites' rebellion in the wilderness (Numbers 14; Deuteronomy 9; Psalm 106). The author emphasizes the severe consequences of disobeying God.

Hebrews 3:12–19

The author of Hebrews points to important words from Psalm 95. These include heart, today, hear, enter, rest, and unbelief. In the ancient world, Bible teachers would cite a passage from the Old Testament and then explain it. They often highlighted key words from the passage, much like preachers do today. This style of explanation was called midrash (a type of Jewish Bible interpretation).

Hebrews 3:7–19

This passage serves as a warning, showing the negative example of those who wandered in the wilderness for forty years and died there. The wilderness wanderings symbolize disobedience to God and its consequences (see Numbers 32:7 –11; Deuteronomy 1:19 –35; Psalm 106:24 –26).

Theme notes and profiles

Moses God’s Sabbath Rest Hardened Hearts The Creation

Related verses

Numbers 14:2
All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness!
Numbers 14:30
Surely none of you will enter the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
Numbers 26:65
For the LORD had told them that they would surely die in the wilderness. Not one was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
Deuteronomy 1:38
Joshua son of Nun, who stands before you, will enter it. Encourage him, for he will enable Israel to inherit the land.
Psalm 78:17
But they continued to sin against Him, rebelling in the desert against the Most High.
Numbers 14:4
So they said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.”
Numbers 14:24
But because My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he has entered, and his descendants will inherit it.
Numbers 14:38
Of those men who had gone to spy out the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh remained alive.
Deuteronomy 1:35–36
“Not one of the men of this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your fathers,
Hebrews 3:9–10
…where your fathers tested and tried Me, and for forty years saw My works.
Romans 11:4–5
And what was the divine reply to him? “I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
Joshua 14:7–11
I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought back to him an honest report.

People

Moses: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Hebrews, Letter to the Kadesh, Kadesh-Barnea Land Moses Numbers, Book of Perseverance

Topics

Backsliders: Backsliding of Israel Procrastination: General Scriptures Concerning Unbelief: General Scriptures Concerning

Hebrews 3:16

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