John Calvin 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 some, when they had heard, etc. David spoke of the fathers as though that whole generation was unbelieving; however, it appears that some who truly feared God mingled with the wicked.

The apostle mentions this to modify what David had said more severely, so that we may know that the word is preached to all for this purpose: that all should obey it with one accord. This also shows that the whole people were justly condemned for unbelief when the community was torn and mutilated by the defection of the majority.

But by saying that some provoked, even though they were by far the majority, the apostle’s aim was not only to avoid causing offense but also to encourage the Jews to imitate those who believed. It was as if he had said, “As God forbids you to follow the unbelief of the fathers, so He sets before you other fathers whose faith is to be your example.”

This softens what otherwise might have seemed too harsh—namely, if they had been commanded to completely dissent from their fathers.

The phrase To come out by Moses, means through Moses, for he was the agent of their deliverance. But there is an implied comparison between the benefit God had bestowed on them through Moses and the participation in Christ previously mentioned.