By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights not just Moses' obedience, but his deep faith in God's promise, believing the sprinkled blood would actually protect them from a divine destroyer. It emphasizes that faith isn't passive wishing, but active, obedient trust in God's word, even when facing an unseen threat.
By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a larger argument by the author of Hebrews, showcasing individuals throughout history who lived by faith, demonstrating its power even before the full revelation of Christ. It specifically highlights Moses' leadership during the Exodus, emphasizing his obedient actions in the face of God's judgment on Egypt. The preceding verses focus on faith in general, while the following verse will pivot to the Israelites' faith in crossing the Red Sea.
The Passover wasn't just a ritual; it was a lifeline. How does God's command transform everyday actions into acts of faith?
Hebrews highlights Moses' act of "keeping the Passover" not just as following a rule, but as a profound act of faith. This faith wasn't in his own cleverness, but in the specific word of God.
Trusting the Unseen
God gave a clear command: sprinkle the blood of a lamb on the doorposts. This was the sign. The "Destroyer" was coming, and the blood was the signal for him to pass over. Moses, by leading the people to obey this command, demonstrated faith in God's promise that the blood would provide protection, even though the threat was unseen and the protection seemed fragile.
Obedience as Faith's Expression
This wasn't a passive belief. It required active obedience – the purchasing of lambs, the slaughtering, the sprinkling of blood. This meticulous attention to detail, even in the face of imminent danger and the king's defiance, shows that faith isn't just an internal feeling; it's an outward action that trusts God's stated way of deliverance.
Why blood? In this dramatic night, blood wasn't just a sacrifice, but a visible sign that spoke volumes to God and the Destroyer.
The core of the Passover protection was the . This wasn't arbitrary; it was a divine symbol ordained by God.
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A Sign for God and the Destroyer
The blood on the doorposts served a dual purpose. For the Israelites, it was a visible act of obedience, a tangible sign of their trust in God's promise. For the "Destroyer," it was a divine marker, a signal to bypass those houses. God declared, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you" (Exodus 12:13).
The Power of the Substitute
This blood represented the life of a substitute – the lamb. By sacrificing the lamb, the firstborn Israelites were spared. This foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose blood provides ultimate protection from sin and death. The Passover blood was a powerful, divinely appointed sign of redemption and safety.
Understand the original words
pascha · Greek Noun
The religious festival established by God to commemorate Israel's deliverance from Egyptian slavery, centered on the sacrifice of a lamb. It prefigures the sacrifice of Christ, the true Passover Lamb.
proscheō · Greek Verb
The shedding or application of blood as a ritual act to signify atonement, protection, or the sealing of a covenant.
olothreutēs · Greek Noun
Refers to the divine agent of judgment (often identified as the Angel of the Lord) commissioned by God to execute vengeance or death upon the unrighteous or disobedient.
This verse highlights the crucial role of faith in obedience, even when facing unseen dangers. The Passover wasn't just a ritual; it was a life-saving act of trust in God's word and His protective power.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
The Exodus from Egypt
God's people, the Israelites, are enslaved in Egypt. Moses leads them out of Egypt after God unleashes ten plagues upon the Egyptians. The final plague is the death of every firstborn son.
c. 1446 BC
Institution of the Passover
On the night of the tenth plague, God instructs Moses to institute the Passover. Israelites are to sacrifice a lamb, sprinkle its blood on their doorposts, and eat the Passover meal. This act is to be a sign for God to 'pass over' their homes, sparing their firstborn from death.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Depart Egypt
Following the death of the Egyptian firstborn, Pharaoh finally allows the Israelites to leave Egypt. They depart with haste, marking the beginning of their 40-year journey in the wilderness.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
After 40 years in the wilderness, Joshua leads the Israelites into the Promised Land. They begin the military campaigns to conquer the land promised to Abraham and his descendants.
This passage directly recounts the institution of the Passover, detailing the sprinkling of the blood and God's command to spare the Israelites' firstborn, providing the foundational narrative for Hebrews 11:28.
1 Corinthians 10:10This verse warns against grumbling, referencing the 'destroyer' who struck down the Israelites in the wilderness, echoing the concept of divine judgment and the need for protection found in the Passover story.
Romans 3:25This verse speaks of God presenting Jesus as a 'sacrifice of atonement,' which the blood of the Passover lamb prefigured, offering a theological parallel to how Christ's sacrifice provides protection from God's judgment.
John 1:29John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the 'Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,' directly linking Jesus to the sacrificial imagery of the Passover lamb whose blood protected Israel.
Exodus 12:12-13God declares His intention to 'pass through Egypt' and strike the firstborn, but explicitly states that the blood will be a sign for Him to 'pass over' the houses marked by it, highlighting the protective power of the blood as ordained by God.
ellicottHebrews 11:28: "Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them."
(28) Through faith he kept. —Rather, By faith he hath kept (see Hebrews 11:17 ). The celebration of the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood were acts of obedience, having reference to a danger as yet un seen, but present in God’s word ( Exodus 12:12 ). Lest he that destroyed.—Better, that the destroyer of the first-born may not touch them. (See Exodus 12…
wesleyHebrews 11:28: "Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them."
11:28 The pouring out of the blood - Of the paschal lamb, which was sprinkled on the door - posts, lest the destroying angel should touch the Israelites. Ex 12:12 - 18.
This verse highlights not just Moses' obedience, but his deep faith in God's promise, believing the sprinkled blood would actually protect them from a divine destroyer. It emphasizes that faith isn't passive wishing, but active, obedient trust in God's word, even when facing an unseen threat.
This passage is part of a larger argument by the author of Hebrews, showcasing individuals throughout history who lived by faith, demonstrating its power even before the full revelation of Christ. It specifically highlights Moses' leadership during the Exodus, emphasizing his obedient actions in the face of God's judgment on Egypt. The preceding verses focus on faith in general, while the following verse will pivot to the Israelites' faith in crossing the Red Sea.
This passage is part of a larger argument by the author of Hebrews, showcasing individuals throughout history who lived by faith, demonstrating its power even before the full revelation of Christ. It specifically highlights Moses' leadership during the Exodus, emphasizing his obedient actions in the face of God's judgment on Egypt. The preceding verses focus on faith in general, while the following verse will pivot to the Israelites' faith in crossing the Red Sea.
"By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them." — This verse highlights not just Moses' obedience, but his deep faith in God's promise, believing the sprinkled blood would actually protect them from a divine destroyer. It emphasizes that faith isn't…
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Last reviewed October 2026