Hebrews 11:23

Authorized King James Version

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By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

Original Language Analysis

Πίστει By faith G4102
Πίστει By faith
Strong's: G4102
Word #: 1 of 21
persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of god or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon christ
Μωσῆς Moses G3475
Μωσῆς Moses
Strong's: G3475
Word #: 2 of 21
moseus, moses, or mouses (i.e., mosheh), the hebrew lawgiver
γεννηθεὶς when he was born G1080
γεννηθεὶς when he was born
Strong's: G1080
Word #: 3 of 21
to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate
ἐκρύβη was hid G2928
ἐκρύβη was hid
Strong's: G2928
Word #: 4 of 21
to conceal (properly, by covering)
τρίμηνον three months G5150
τρίμηνον three months
Strong's: G5150
Word #: 5 of 21
a three months' space
ὑπὸ of G5259
ὑπὸ of
Strong's: G5259
Word #: 6 of 21
under, i.e., (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (
τῶν G3588
τῶν
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 7 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πατέρων parents G3962
πατέρων parents
Strong's: G3962
Word #: 8 of 21
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
αὐτοῦ G846
αὐτοῦ
Strong's: G846
Word #: 9 of 21
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
διότι because G1360
διότι because
Strong's: G1360
Word #: 10 of 21
on the very account that, or inasmuch as
εἶδον they saw G1492
εἶδον they saw
Strong's: G1492
Word #: 11 of 21
used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl
ἀστεῖον he was a proper G791
ἀστεῖον he was a proper
Strong's: G791
Word #: 12 of 21
urbane, i.e., (by implication) handsome
τὸ G3588
τὸ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 13 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
παιδίον child G3813
παιδίον child
Strong's: G3813
Word #: 14 of 21
a childling (of either sex), i.e., (properly), an infant, or (by extension) a half-grown boy or girl; figuratively, an immature christian
καὶ and G2532
καὶ and
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 15 of 21
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
οὐκ not G3756
οὐκ not
Strong's: G3756
Word #: 16 of 21
the absolute negative (compare g3361) adverb; no or not
ἐφοβήθησαν afraid G5399
ἐφοβήθησαν afraid
Strong's: G5399
Word #: 17 of 21
to frighten, i.e., (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e., revere
τὸ G3588
τὸ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 18 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
διάταγμα commandment G1297
διάταγμα commandment
Strong's: G1297
Word #: 19 of 21
an arrangement, i.e., (authoritative) edict
τοῦ G3588
τοῦ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 20 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
βασιλέως of the king's G935
βασιλέως of the king's
Strong's: G935
Word #: 21 of 21
a sovereign (abstractly, relatively, or figuratively)

Analysis & Commentary

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. Moses' parents, Amram and Jochebed, exercised civil disobedience through faith, refusing Pharaoh's decree to kill Hebrew male infants (Exodus 1:22). They 'were not afraid' (ouk ephobēthēsan, οὐκ ἐφοβήθησαν) of the king's command, demonstrating that fear of God supersedes fear of earthly authorities. When human law contradicts divine law, believers must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).

The phrase 'they saw he was a proper child' (asteion, ἀστεῖον, 'beautiful' or 'approved by God') may indicate divine revelation that this child was destined for special purposes. Acts 7:20 says Moses was 'exceeding fair' (asteios tō theō, 'beautiful to God'). Their faith perceived God's hand on this child and acted accordingly, risking their lives to preserve God's chosen deliverer.

This account teaches that genuine faith may require resisting ungodly authority and accepting personal risk for God's purposes. The parents' faith set the stage for Moses' later leadership and Israel's deliverance. Their courageous action demonstrates that God often works through faithful individuals who refuse to compromise, trusting Him with the consequences. The preservation of Moses foreshadows the preservation of infant Jesus from Herod's massacre (Matthew 2:13-18).

Historical Context

Moses was born approximately 1526 BC during Israel's oppression in Egypt. Pharaoh had decreed that all Hebrew male infants be killed to prevent population growth that might threaten Egyptian security (Exodus 1:15-22). This genocide policy forced Hebrew parents to choose between obeying Pharaoh or preserving their children. Amram and Jochebed's defiance of this decree, hidden in Exodus but highlighted in Hebrews, demonstrates that faith sometimes requires civil disobedience when earthly authority commands what God forbids. Egyptian records confirm foreign workers (including Semitic peoples) were present in Egypt during this period, though no extant Egyptian source mentions Hebrew oppression specifically.

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