By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Joseph's faith wasn't just about believing in a future promise; it was so powerful that even his final instructions about his bones were an active declaration of his conviction. He didn't just remember the exodus; he commanded his people to carry his bones with them, making his own remains a tangible symbol of that future hope.
By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.
English Standard Version (ESV)
As Joseph is nearing the end of his life, he doesn't just say goodbye; he revisits God's promise to Abraham's descendants about inheriting the land. Joseph's final instructions are to have his bones carried out of Egypt with them when they eventually leave, signifying his unwavering faith that God would fulfill His word and bring Israel into the Promised Land.
Joseph was a powerful man in Egypt, living a comfortable life. Yet, his final words weren't about his worldly achievements, but about a future he wouldn't see.
Hebrews places Joseph in the Hall of Faith because, even at the end of his life, his focus wasn't on the present reality of Egypt, but on God's promise of the Land of Canaan.
A Future Beyond Sight
Joseph commanded his family to carry his bones out of Egypt. This wasn't just a sentimental request; it was an act of profound faith.
He believed that God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would be fulfilled. He trusted that his descendants would indeed leave Egypt and inherit the land God had pledged to them, even though it was still centuries away.
This faith demonstrates that true faith doesn't rely on what we can see or experience right now, but on the trustworthiness of God's Word and His future promises.
Joseph didn't just mention the Israelites leaving Egypt; he specifically called it the 'exodus.' What makes this word so significant?
The term 'exodus' itself carries immense theological weight. It signifies not just a departure, but a divinely orchestrated deliverance and the beginning of a new covenant relationship between God and His people.
God's Covenant in Action
By focusing on the exodus, Joseph was reminding his family of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises. He was pointing them towards the event that would define Israel's identity as God's chosen people.
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This future exodus was linked to the promise of land. Joseph's command about his bones was a tangible expression of his belief that this covenantal future would inevitably come to pass, and that he, even in death, would be part of it.
Understand the original words
exodon · Greek Noun
The act of departing or going out, specifically used in the Bible to refer to the miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery under the leadership of Moses.
Joseph's faith, expressed in his dying command, bridges centuries, linking the promise of the land with the future exodus and demonstrating a profound trust in God's faithfulness even beyond death.
c. 1700s-1600s BC
Joseph's Life and Ministry in Egypt
Joseph, favored son of Jacob, rises to power in Egypt after overcoming betrayal by his brothers, eventually saving his family and the nation from famine. He is instrumental in settling the Israelites in the land of Goshen.
c. 1600s BC— this verse
Joseph's Death and Command
As Joseph nears death, he recalls God's promise to Abraham to give the land of Canaan to his descendants. He makes his brothers swear to carry his bones out of Egypt when God visits them, signifying his faith in the future exodus.
c. 1446 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
Under Moses' leadership, the Israelites depart from Egypt after centuries of bondage, fulfilling God's promise. Moses carries Joseph's bones with them, honoring Joseph's dying wish.
c. 1406 BC
Burial of Joseph's Bones in Canaan
After the conquest of Canaan, Joshua fulfills the oath made by Joseph's ancestors and buries Joseph's bones in Shechem, in the territory allotted to the tribe of Ephraim.
This is the specific Old Testament account that Hebrews is referencing, showing Joseph's dying faith in God's promise to lead his people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land.
Exodus 13:19This passage shows the fulfillment of Joseph's command, as Moses carried his bones with the Israelites during the Exodus, demonstrating that God's promises are trustworthy.
Joshua 24:32Here we see the ultimate fulfillment of Joseph's request, as his bones were finally laid to rest in the Promised Land in Shechem, underscoring the long-term faithfulness of God.
Acts 7:15-16Stephen recounts the story of Joseph and his bones being carried to Canaan, echoing the faith demonstrated in Hebrews and connecting it to the wider narrative of Israel's journey.
vincentHebrews 11:22: "By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones."
When he died (τελευτῶν)Comp. Genesis 1:26, lxx. The verb means to finish or close, with life understood. Always in this sense in N.T. See Matthew 2:19; Matthew 9:18; Luke 7:2, etc. Never used by Paul. Rend. "when near his end."Made mention of (περὶ - ἐμνημόνευσεν)See on Hebrews 11:15. A.V. has remembered in marg. Remembered is appropriate here.…
meyerHebrews 11:22: "By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones."
Hebrews 11:22 . The example of Joseph . Comp. Genesis 1:24-25 . Firm faith, that the promise already given to Abraham ( Genesis 15:13-16 ) should be fulfilled, was it that Joseph, when he was near to death, gave direction as to that which should be done with his bones at the time of the accomplishment of that promise. τελευτῶν ] the same as ἀποθνήσκ…
Joseph's faith wasn't just about believing in a future promise; it was so powerful that even his final instructions about his bones were an active declaration of his conviction. He didn't just remember the exodus; he commanded his people to carry his bones with them, making his own remains a tangible symbol of that future hope.
As Joseph is nearing the end of his life, he doesn't just say goodbye; he revisits God's promise to Abraham's descendants about inheriting the land. Joseph's final instructions are to have his bones carried out of Egypt with them when they eventually leave, signifying his unwavering faith that God would fulfill His word and bring Israel into the Promised Land.
As Joseph is nearing the end of his life, he doesn't just say goodbye; he revisits God's promise to Abraham's descendants about inheriting the land. Joseph's final instructions are to have his bones carried out of Egypt with them when they eventually leave, signifying his unwavering faith that God would fulfill His word and bring Israel into the Promised Land.
"By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones." — Joseph's faith wasn't just about believing in a future promise; it was so powerful that even his final instructions about his bones were an active declaration of his conviction. He didn't just *remem…
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Last reviewed October 2026