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Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later;
Hebrews 3:5 · New American Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken,
  • KJV And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
  • BSB Now Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be spoken later.
  • NKJV And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward,
  • NLT Moses was certainly faithful in God’s house as a servant. His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later.

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

Moses was faithful within God's house as a servant, pointing forward to what God would later reveal. His role was honorable but anticipatory.

Overview

Moses is commended as a faithful 'servant' whose ministry testified to future revelation, ultimately fulfilled in Christ. The word 'servant' marks his subordinate status within the household. His faithful witness pointed beyond the old covenant to the greater word to come in the Son.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 31

  • Num 12:7My servant Moses is not so. He is faithful in all my house.
  • Heb 3:2who was faithful to him who appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house.
  • Exod 14:31Israel saw the great work which Yahweh did to the Egyptians, and the people feared Yahweh; and they believed in Yahweh, and in his servant Moses.
  • Ps 105:26He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
  • Acts 28:23When they had appointed him a day, many people came to him at his lodging. He explained to them, testifying about God’s Kingdom, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening.
  • Deut 34:5So Moses the servant of Yahweh died there in the land of Moab, according to Yahweh’s word.
  • 1 Tim 1:12And I thank him who enabled me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he counted me faithful, appointing me to service;
  • Deut 18:15–19Yahweh your God will raise up to you a prophet from among you, of your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him.
  • Heb 8:5who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses was warned by God when he was about to make the tabernacle, for he said, “See, you shall make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.”
  • Josh 1:2“Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go across this Jordan, you, and all these people, to the land which I am giving to them, even to the children of Israel.
  • John 5:46–47For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me.
  • Luke 24:44He said to them, “This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled.”
  • Luke 24:27Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
  • Josh 8:31as Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of uncut stones, on which no one had lifted up any iron. They offered burnt offerings on it to Yahweh and sacrificed peace offerings.
  • Acts 3:22–23For Moses indeed said to the fathers, ‘The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him in all things whatever he says to you.
  • 1 Pet 1:10–12Concerning this salvation, the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,
  • Heb 9:24For Christ hasn’t entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
  • Rom 3:21But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;
  • John 5:39“You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.
  • Deut 3:24“Lord Yahweh, you have begun to show your servant your greatness, and your strong hand. For what god is there in heaven or in earth that can do works like yours, and mighty acts like yours?
  • Josh 8:33All Israel, their elders and officers, and their judges, stood on both sides of the ark before the priests the Levites, who carried the ark of Yahweh’s covenant, the foreigner as well as the native; half of them in front of Mount Gerizim, and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of Yahweh had commanded at the first, that they should bless the people of Israel.
  • 1 Cor 4:2Here, moreover, it is required of stewards, that they be found faithful.
  • Luke 12:42The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times?
  • Heb 9:8–13The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn’t yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing;
  • Josh 1:7Only be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.
  • Matt 24:45“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season?
  • Acts 7:37This is that Moses, who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me.’
  • Luke 16:10–12He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
  • Josh 1:15until Yahweh has given your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they have also possessed the land which Yahweh your God gives them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession, and possess it, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.’”
  • Matt 25:21“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
  • Neh 9:14and made known to them your holy Sabbath, and commanded them commandments, statutes, and a law, by Moses your servant,

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Hebrews videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Hebrews 3:5YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on HebrewsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 3:5 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

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.