Charles Ellicott Commentary Hebrews 3:16

"For who, when they heard, did provoke? nay, did not all they that came out of Egypt by Moses?" — Hebrews 3:16 (ASV)

For.—The connecting link is the thought of “the provocation.” A slight change in the accentuation of the first Greek word effects a complete change in the sense: For who, when they heard, provoked? Rather, was it not all who came out of Egypt through Moses? Those who were disobedient were the people whom God, through Moses, had only recently delivered from bondage! The two exceptions (Numbers 14:30) are disregarded in the presence of the multitude of rebels.

There can be little doubt that the above translation (now generally received) presents the true meaning of the verse. It will be remembered that the oldest manuscripts give no evidence on such points as accentuation, and therefore leave our judgment free. In modern times Bengel was the first to point out the true form of the Greek word; but one of the ancient versions (the Peschito-Syriac), and at least three of the Greek Fathers, are found to give the same interpretation. It will be seen at once that, with this arrangement of the words, the present verse is similar in structure to the two following.