Bible Strands
Hebrews 11:27
By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The author of Hebrews addresses Jewish Christians tempted to abandon their faith under persecution. He cites Moses’ departure from Egypt as a concrete example of steadfast commitment amid royal threat.
The words — Πίστει (Pistei) translates literally as "by faith," and φοβηθεὶς (phobētheis) means "having feared" or "fearing." The text states Moses acted through faith and did not fear the king’s anger.
The thread — The contrast between visible and invisible reality appears in 2 Corinthians 4:18, which commands fixing eyes on the unseen rather than the temporary. Hebrews 11:13 records the same pattern of faith seeing promises without receiving them in life.
Why it lands — The text demands a practical shift of focus from immediate threats to the unseen reality of God. It requires readers to persevere in obedience despite visible danger, not by ignoring fear but by acting on a different conviction.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Cross-references
- 2 Corinthians 4:18 So 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.
- Hebrews 11:13 All 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.
- Exodus 2:14 But 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.”
- Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.
- Exodus 4:19 Now the LORD had said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who sought to kill you are dead.”
- Exodus 10:28 “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.”
- Exodus 14:10 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw the Egyptians marching after them, and they were terrified and cried out to the LORD.
- James 5:11 See 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.
- Exodus 11:8 And 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.
- Exodus 12:11 This 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.