Hebrews 11:22 · Bible study
Hebrews 11:22 Commentary: Joseph's Exodus Faith
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examine why Joseph, at the height of power, commanded his bones be carried to Canaan, an act of faith in God's promise.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Joseph's dying command to carry his bones to Canaan was an act of faith in God's promise to give the land to Israel.
- Key words: τελευτῶν (dying/near his end), ἐξόδου (exodus/departure), ἐμνημόνευσεν (remembered/made mention), ἐνετείλατο (gave instructions/command).
- Main debate: Whether the command primarily expresses belief in bodily resurrection (Gill) or confidence in the national promise (Barnes, Calvin).
- Theological theme: Faith that transcends death and remains anchored to God's word despite present comfort or affliction.
- Best use: Teaching on the enduring, public nature of faith and the importance of leaving a legacy of trust in God's promises for future generations.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.
WEB World English Bible 2000
By faith Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
KJV King James Version 1769
By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
by faith, Joseph dying, concerning the outgoing of the sons of Israel did make mention, and concerning his bones did give command.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
By faith Joseph [when] dying called to mind the going forth of the sons of Israel, and gave commandment concerning his bones.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the going out of the children of Israel and gave commandment concerning his bones.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Por fe José, muriéndose, se acordó de la partida de los hijos de Israel; y dió mandamiento acerca de sus huesos.
Pela fé, José, no fim de sua vida, mencionou a saída dos filhos de Israel, e deu ordem acerca dos seus ossos.
C’ est par la foi que Joseph mourant fit mention de la sortie des fils d’ Israël, et qu’ il donna des ordres au sujet de ses os.
Durch den Glauben redete Joseph vom Auszug der Kinder Israel, da er starb, und tat Befehl von seinen Gebeinen.
Door het geloof heeft Jozef, stervende, gemeld van den uitgang der kinderen Israels, en heeft bevel gegeven van zijn gebeente.
Per fede Giuseppe, quando stava per morire, fece menzione dell’esodo de’ figliuoli d’Israele, e diede ordini intorno alle sue ossa.
Wiarą Józef umierając, o wyjściu synów Izraelskich wzmiankę uczynił i z strony kości swoich rozkazał.
Верою Иосиф, при кончине, напоминал об исходе сынов Израилевых и завещал о костях своих.
約瑟 因著信，臨終的時候，提 到 以色列 族 將來要出埃及，並 為 自己的 骸骨 留下遺命。
By faith Joseph, when his end was near, said that the children of Israel would go out of Egypt; and gave orders about his bones.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Hebrews 11:22
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Joseph's command concerning his bones was a bold act of faith in God's promise to give Canaan to Abraham's descendants. Barnes observes that Joseph had 'simple confidence in God' when there were 'no appearances that to human view justified it.' Calvin notes that Joseph's wealth and honors did not make him forget the promise because 'he had ascended up into heaven.' Gill emphasizes that Joseph's faith was 'about things not seen.' The Cambridge Bible calls the command 'a sign of his perfect conviction' that God's promise would be fulfilled. All see in this dying act a man who refused to let his comfort in Egypt weaken his grip on God's word.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Land promise confidence: Barnes and Calvin emphasize Joseph's trust in the national promise of Canaan as the primary motive.
- Resurrection hope: Gill argues that Joseph's command reflects his belief in the resurrection of the dead and his desire to be raised in the promised land.
What is clear: Joseph's dying act was an expression of faith in God's promise to bring Israel to Canaan, a future he would not live to see.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'made mention' (ἐμνημόνευσεν) | All agree that Joseph recalled God's promise of the exodus to his family. | Some emphasize the internal act of remembering (the promise fresh in his mind), others the external act of publicly declaring it to his family. |
| Connection to the resurrection | Joseph's faith looks beyond his own death to a future fulfillment. | Gill argues this explicitly shows belief in the resurrection of the body; Barnes and Calvin focus on confidence in God's faithfulness to the nation rather than individual resurrection. |
| Application to relic veneration | Joseph's bones were preserved and buried according to his command in Shechem. | Roman Catholic tradition has seen this as a precedent for venerating saints' relics; Protestant traditions (e.g., Gill, Calvin) argue that Joseph's command was a unique act tied to the land promise and not a pattern for general relic practice. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Joseph served as prime minister of Egypt at the zenith of its power (Genesis 41:39-44). He had wealth, a family, and the honor of burial in a royal tomb. Yet on his deathbed (Genesis 50:24-25), he spoke not of his achievements but of an event two centuries ahead: the exodus of Israel from Egypt.
The word exodos (ἔξοδος) carries weight. Vincent notes that in the New Testament it appears only here, in Luke 9:31 (of Jesus' departure in Jerusalem), and in 2 Peter 1:15 (of Peter's death). Joseph's deathbed confession of the exodus anticipates the great deliverance and, for Christian readers, the ultimate exodus accomplished by Christ. Joseph asked for an oath that his bones be carried to Canaan, a land he had not seen since he was a teenager and had not lived in for over ninety years.
Burial practices mattered deeply in the ancient Near East. To leave one's bones unburied in Egypt and demand they be moved to a contested hill country was a striking statement. Joseph's command positioned his remains as a permanent witness: every generation of Israelites would tell the story of why those bones were there. As Exodus 13:19 records, Moses later fulfilled the oath, and Joshua 24:32 records the final burial at Shechem.
Literarily, Hebrews 11:22 is the last of the patriarchs in the faith hall of fame. It follows Isaac and Jacob's deathbed blessings and precedes Moses' parents and Moses himself. The pattern builds: each generation passes the promise forward, and Joseph's bones become a tangible link between the patriarchs and the exodus generation.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Greek text is consistent across manuscript traditions.
Reception History
Early Christian writers saw Joseph's command as an example of hope in God's promises and faith that endures beyond death. In the medieval period, the verse was sometimes cited in support of venerating saints' relics. Reformers such as Calvin redirected attention to the faith itself rather than the physical remains, emphasizing Joseph's detachment from worldly power. The commentary tradition (Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill) consistently points to Joseph's disregard for his Egyptian status and his unwavering trust in God's future deliverance. For many Christians, Joseph's bones became a symbol of the certainty of God's promises, a tangible link between the patriarchs and the exodus generation.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- Faith Remembers When Circumstances Distract. Joseph had every reason to be comfortable. But he remembered (ἐμνημόνευσεν) the promise to his ancestors. His faith was not a vague hope but a specific recall of God's sworn word.
- Faith Speaks When Silence Would Be Safe. Joseph 'made mention' of the departure of Israel. He could have died quietly. Instead, he gave public instructions that tied his legacy to a future that looked impossible.
- Faith Plans for a Future It Will Not See. The command about his bones was a long-term investment in the next generation's faith. Joseph's bones would preach to his descendants for centuries.
Five-Point Outline
- Joseph faced death with clear eyes. He did not cling to his Egyptian honors; his heart was set on the promise.
- Joseph's faith was grounded in God's word. He repeated the promise that God 'will surely visit you'.
- Joseph's faith spoke to his family. He did not keep his faith private. He used his final words to encourage his brothers and their children.
- Joseph's faith took concrete action. The oath about his bones created a binding obligation. Faith that stays in the heart is not enough.
- Joseph's faith pointed beyond the grave. His bones buried in Shechem became a sign of resurrection hope and the certainty of God's deliverance.
Illustration Hooks
- A refugee who lives for decades in a prosperous country but still keeps the deed to a house in the homeland they fled, knowing one day their children will return.
- A parent facing a terminal diagnosis who writes letters to be opened by their grandchildren on future birthdays, speaking God's promises into a time they will not see.
- A missionary who, after years of fruitful work, insists on being buried in the hard soil of an unreached people group as a witness that the gospel takes root there.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- "Does this mean we should keep physical relics of saints?" (Gill notes the Roman Catholic use of this verse, but distinguishes it as a unique command from Joseph rather than a general practice.)
- "How can I have faith like Joseph when my life is comfortable?" (Joseph's faith was tested by comfort, not hardship. What promises of God do you take for granted?)
- "What does it mean to leave a 'bone' as a legacy of faith for my children?" (Not necessarily a physical object, but a clear instruction, a commitment, a story that ties them to God's promises.)
Leading a Discussion
Hebrews 11:22 brings us to the deathbed of Joseph, a man who had everything in Egypt, power, wealth, family. Yet his final words were not about his possessions or achievements. He spoke of the exodus, an event still hundreds of years away. And he gave strict orders about his bones.
Discussion Questions
- Read Genesis 50:24-25. What does Joseph say to his brothers? Why would he make them swear an oath about his bones?
- Look at the Greek word exodos in Hebrews 11:22. Where else does it appear in the New Testament (Luke 9:31, 2 Peter 1:15)? How might those connections enrich your understanding of Joseph's faith?
- Why do you think the author of Hebrews includes Joseph in this hall of faith? What is the specific act of faith being commended?
- How did Joseph's command encourage the Israelites during their years of slavery (Exodus 13:19)? How might it have shaped their faith?
- What 'bones' are you leaving for the next generation? Think of vows, commitments, or reminders of God's promises that you want your family or church to carry forward.
- Joseph's faith looked forward to a promise he would not see fulfilled. What promises of God are you trusting in that still seem distant?
- This passage shows faith as public, specific, and forward-looking. Which of these three qualities challenges you most personally?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 50:24 | Joseph said to his brothers, “I am dying, but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land to the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” |
| Genesis 50:25 | Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” |
| Exodus 13:19 | Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the children of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones away from here with you.” |
| Joshua 24:32 | They buried the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, in Shechem, in the parcel of ground which Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of silver. They became the inheritance of the children of Joseph. |
| Acts 7:16 | and they were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver from the children of Hamor of Shechem. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke proposes that a sarcophagus in the British Museum, commonly called Alexander's coffin, is more likely Joseph's own. He adds that if the hieroglyphics on it are ever deciphered, this conjecture might prove to be correct.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights that Joseph's faith rested solely on God's promise when no outward events supported it. His command about his bones shows such firm confidence in the promised land that he bound the people by oath to carry his remains there.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary notes that the writer deliberately chose a rare word for "dying" from the Greek version of Genesis. Joseph's command about his bones was not a mere burial wish but a powerful sign that he absolutely trusted God to keep His promise to bring Israel into Canaan.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Geneva Notes emphasize that Joseph's faith was most visible at his death, when he looked ahead to the Israelites' future exodus and gave orders about his own bones. This command was not about burial but a confident confession that God would keep His promise to bring the people to Canaan.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights Joseph's humility in choosing to be buried with his fathers rather than among Egypt's royalty, and his care to prevent idolatry. His command about his bones shows faith that Israel would leave Egypt, and also belief in the resurrection and the heavenly inheritance Canaan represented.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights that Joseph's dying request about his bones was an act of faith. Though he held high office in Egypt, he did not call it home. He trusted God's promise of Canaan and looked ahead to the resurrection and the heavenly inheritance that land foreshadowed.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange emphasizes that the blessings of Isaac and Jacob were not mere pious wishes but acts of faith that actively determined the future. He sees the patriarchs’ confidence displayed in blessing what was still to come, with faith itself shaping history. Jacob’s worship while leaning on his staff further shows the devout frame of mind in which such blessings were uttered.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry draws out one thread through all these examples: genuine faith makes a person live as a stranger
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent highlights that the Greek verb for "when he died" means to finish or close, and that "made mention of" is better translated "remembered" because Joseph, facing death, recalled God's specific promises about Canaan and the exodus. He also notes that the word for "departing" is rare in the New Testament.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley draws attention to Joseph's specific instruction about his bones: they were to be taken from Egypt and brought into the promised land. For him, this detail shows Joseph's confident faith that God would keep His covenant and bring Israel home.