Hebrews 11:23 - Exposition

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw that he was a proper ( ἀστεῖον , the word used of the child in Exodus 2:2 , there translated "goodly," and in Acts 7:20 , "fair") child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. Here the usual following of the LXX . again appears in the hiding being attributed to both parents (this is certainly the meaning of πατέρων , not—as some interpret because of the masculine form—father and grandfather). In the Hebrew it is the mother only that is spoken of as hiding him; whereas in the LXX . the verbs are in the plural, ἰδόντες δὲ , etc., though with no expressed nominative. It is not necessary to understand a special faith in the fulfillment of the promises through the child thus hidden to be implied, though it may be so intended. But the mere fearlessness in obeying the dictates of heart and conscience in the face of danger, and the mere reliance on Providence, thus displayed, expressed faith.