Hebrews 11:28

28 By faith he celebrated the passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

Hebrews 11:28 Meaning and Commentary

Hebrews 11:28

Through faith he kept the passover
Which Moses made, or appointed by divine direction; he kept it, with all its rites and ceremonies, and caused the people of Israel to observe it; and which he did, in faith of the speedy deliverance of the children of Israel, from the house of bondage; and in the faith of the Messiah, of whom the passover was a type; (See Gill on 1 Corinthians 5:7). The Syriac version reads, "through faith they kept the passover"; that is, the Israelites:

and the sprinkling of blood;
of the paschal lamb; which was received into a basin, and was sprinkled upon the lintel, and two side posts of the doors of the houses, in which the Israelites dwelt; which was done with a bunch of hyssop dipped into it:

lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them;
for the Lord, seeing the blood sprinkled, as above, when he smote the firstborn of Egypt, passed by the houses of the Israelites, so distinguished; and they were all safe within, and not one of them touched: this was typical of the blood of Christ being sprinkled upon the hearts and consciences of his people; whereby they are purified through faith; which blood is looked upon by Jehovah, so that justice passes by them; and they are all safe and secure, and will be, when others are destroyed; nor can they be hurt by the second death.

Hebrews 11:28 In-Context

26 esteeming the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he had respect to the recompense.
27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as seeing him who is invisible.
28 By faith he celebrated the passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as through dry land; of which the Egyptians having made trial were swallowed up.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, having been encircled for seven days.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Here and ver. 17, as to the offering up Isaac, the verbs are in the perfect; this is remarkable. The other facts are generally passing facts, part of the whole history; these are of standing significance, either figuratively setting the believer on a new ground, or viewed as continued till the time of the epistle: 'by faith Abraham has offered,' 'by faith he has celebrated;' only this is not possible in English. It was not external continuance, for the blood sprinkling was only once.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.