Hebrews 11:24-26
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It's not just that Moses chose not to be an Egyptian prince; he actively refused that identity. This wasn't a passive lack of interest, but a decisive act of disowning a prestigious title for a much harder, but divinely chosen, path.
By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage shifts focus from Moses' infancy, highlighting his parents' faith in saving him, to Moses himself as an adult. It describes his deliberate choice, driven by faith, to reject the privilege of being considered Pharaoh's grandson and instead identify with his enslaved people. This decision sets the stage for his later leadership and his "choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God" rather than embracing the fleeting comforts of Egypt.
Imagine having the world at your fingertips – wealth, status, power. Moses had this, but he chose differently. What does this say about true belonging?
The verse highlights a pivotal moment for Moses. 'When he was grown up' (around 40 years old, as Acts 7:23 notes) wasn't just about reaching adulthood; it was about reaching maturity in understanding and conviction.
He "refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter." This wasn't a passive sidestepping; it was an active rejection of a privileged Egyptian identity. It was choosing to disown the very status that defined him in Pharaoh's court.
This decision stemmed from faith. It meant believing in something unseen – God's promises to his people – over the visible comforts and prestige of Egypt. It was a declaration that his true family and future lay with the enslaved Israelites, not the ruling Egyptians.
What's worth more than a palace and a throne? The author of Hebrews points to something intangible yet incredibly valuable.
The text doesn't stop at Moses' refusal; it explains why. He chose 'rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.'
This reveals a profound understanding of value. The 'pleasures of sin' here aren't just about outright evil acts but refer to the tempting comforts and indulgences of the Egyptian court – a life that separated him from God's people and, by extension, from God's purposes.
He saw these temporary Egyptian 'treasures' as far less valuable than the 'reproach of Christ.' This 'reproach' wasn't just about being shamed or looked down upon; it was about sharing in the suffering that came with identifying with God's chosen, a path that ultimately led to Christ. His faith focused on an eternal 'recompense of reward' rather than fleeting earthly gain.
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Understand the original words
laō tou theou · Greek Noun phrase
A term describing God's covenant people, set apart for His purposes, redeemed by His grace, and called to bear His name and reflect His character in the world.
hamartias apolausin · Greek Noun phrase
Actions or experiences that provide temporary gratification but are contrary to God's moral law; they are inherently deceptive and ultimately lead to death.
oneidismos · Greek Noun
Disgrace, shame, or mockery endured on account of one's allegiance to God or His anointed. It implies suffering for righteousness' sake.
Christos · Greek Noun
The Messiah or the Anointed One of God; in this context, it refers to the identification of the suffering of God's people with the suffering of Christ.
misthapodosia · Greek Noun
The compensation or prize granted by God to those who persevere in faith, focusing on eternal rather than temporal gain.
Moses' decision to renounce his privileged Egyptian upbringing was a profound act of faith, choosing solidarity with God's oppressed people over the temporary comforts of the Egyptian court, all in anticipation of God's promised reward.
~1527 BC
Birth of Moses
Moses is born to Israelite parents in Egypt during a time when the Pharaoh has ordered all newborn Hebrew boys to be killed.
~1527 BC
Moses placed in the Nile
Moses' mother places him in a basket on the Nile to save him, where he is found and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter.
c. 1487 BC— this verse
Moses grows up in Pharaoh's court
Moses is raised as an Egyptian prince, receiving the best education available in Egypt, yet aware of his Hebrew heritage.
c. 1487 BC
Moses intervenes in an Egyptian-Hebrew conflict
Moses sees an Egyptian striking a Hebrew and kills the Egyptian, then flees Egypt after realizing his action is known.
c. 1450 BC
Moses encounters the Burning Bush
While tending sheep in Midian, Moses encounters God in a burning bush, receiving his divine commission to deliver the Israelites.
c. 1447 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
Led by Moses, the Israelites depart from Egypt after God sends ten plagues upon the Egyptians, culminating in the death of their firstborn.
This passage narrates the events surrounding Moses' early life, including his adoption and his first act of identifying with the oppressed Israelites by defending one of them.
Acts 7:22-24Stephen's speech recounts Moses' upbringing in Egypt and his initial actions, highlighting his 'growing' and his 'looking upon his brethren,' which parallels the decision described in Hebrews 11.
Philippians 3:7-9Paul describes his own re-evaluation of his life, counting his former status and privileges as loss for the sake of Christ, which mirrors Moses' choice to give up his royal status for his people.
Galatians 2:20This verse speaks of living by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave himself for us, echoing Moses' faith-driven choice to embrace the identity and suffering of God's people over his privileged Egyptian life.
ellicottHebrews 11:24: "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;"
(24) Come to years — i.e. , grown up, “when he was full forty years old” ( Acts 7:23 ). The words here used are taken from the Greek translation of Exodus 2:11 , where we first read of Moses as openly Associating himself with his oppressed people. When Moses slew the Egyptian who was “smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren,” he in act “refused to be called a son of Pharaoh’s daughter,”…
calvinHebrews 11:23-27: "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."
- By faith Moses, etc. There have been others, and those heathens, who from no fear of God, but only from a desire of propagating an offspring, preserved their own children at the peril of life; but the Apostle shows that the parents of Moses were inducted to save him for another reason, even for this, -- that as…
It's not just that Moses chose not to be an Egyptian prince; he actively refused that identity. This wasn't a passive lack of interest, but a decisive act of disowning a prestigious title for a much harder, but divinely chosen, path.
This passage shifts focus from Moses' infancy, highlighting his parents' faith in saving him, to Moses himself as an adult. It describes his deliberate choice, driven by faith, to reject the privilege of being considered Pharaoh's grandson and instead identify with his enslaved people. This decision sets the stage for his later leadership and his "choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God" rather than embracing the fleeting comforts of Egypt.
This passage shifts focus from Moses' infancy, highlighting his parents' faith in saving him, to Moses himself as an adult. It describes his deliberate choice, driven by faith, to reject the privilege of being considered Pharaoh's grandson and instead identify with his enslaved people. This decision sets the stage for his later leadership and his "choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God" rather than embracing the fleeting comforts of Egypt.
"By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wea…" — It's not just that Moses chose not to be an Egyptian prince; he actively refused that identity. This wasn't a passive lack of interest, but a decisive act of disowning a prestigious title for a m…
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Last reviewed October 2026
