By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.
Parallel translations
- WEB By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
- KJV By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
- NKJV By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
- NASB By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as though seeing Him who is unseen.
- NLT It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
By faith Moses left Egypt without fearing the king's anger, sustained by seeing the invisible God. Faith perseveres by keeping its gaze on God himself.
Overview
This refers to Moses' departure from Egypt, carried out in faith rather than fear of Pharaoh. He endured "as seeing him who is invisible," his steadfastness rooted in awareness of God's presence. Faith that fixes on the unseen God outlasts every earthly threat, a perseverance later urged on the readers as they look to Jesus (12:1–2).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 26
- 2 Cor 4:18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
- Heb 11:13All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
- Heb 11:1Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.
- Exod 2:14–15But the man replied, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “This thing I have done has surely become known.”
- Exod 10:28–29“Depart from me!” Pharaoh said to Moses. “Make sure you never see my face again, for on the day you see my face, you will die.”
- Jas 5:11See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
- Exod 4:19Now the LORD had said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who sought to kill you are dead.”
- Exod 14:10–13As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching after them, and they were terrified and cried out to the LORD.
- 1 Pet 1:8Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
- Heb 10:32Remember the early days that you were in the light. In those days, you endured a great conflict in the face of suffering.
- Exod 11:8And all these officials of yours will come and bow before me, saying, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you!’ After that, I will depart.” And hot with anger, Moses left Pharaoh’s presence.
- Exod 12:11This is how you are to eat it: You must be fully dressed for travel, with your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. You are to eat in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover.
- Matt 10:22You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
- 1 Cor 13:7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
- 1 Tim 1:17Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
- Acts 2:25David says about Him: ‘I saw the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
- Matt 24:13But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
- Mark 13:13You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
- Heb 12:2–3Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- 1 Tim 6:16He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
- Ps 16:8I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
- Exod 12:37–42The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth with about 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children.
- Exod 12:50Then all the Israelites did this—they did just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron.
- Mark 4:17But they themselves have no root, and they remain for only a season. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
- Exod 13:17–21When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them along the road through the land of the Philistines, though it was shorter. For God said, “If the people face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.”
- Heb 6:15And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise.
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Christ at the center
Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.
How Hebrews 11:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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