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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Hebrews 11:32 - 11:38
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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Heb_11:32-38
32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, 33who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. 37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38(men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.
Heb_11:32 "Gideon" (cf. Judges 6-8)
▣ "Barak" (cf. Judges 4-5)
▣ "Jephthah" (cf. Judges 11-12)
▣ "David" (cf. 1Sa_16:1)
▣ "Samuel" (cf. 1Sa_1:20)
Heb_11:33 "Righteousness" See Special Topic at Heb_1:9.
▣ "shut the mouths of lions" This could refer to Samson, David, Daniel, or an unknown event.
Heb_11:34 "quenched the power of fire" This reference to rescue from fire may refer specifically to Daniel 3 or to some other unknown historical event. There is even a possibility that this rescue is mentioned in 1Co_13:3. However, there is a Greek manuscript problem related to 1Co_13:3. The ancient Greek manuscripts P46, à , A, and B have "that I should boast" (kauchçsômai) or C, D, F, G, K, and L have "that I should be burned" (kauthçsomai). The first has (1) the better manuscripts and (2) the term is used often by Paul.
▣ "from weakness were made strong" (cf. 2Co_12:9)
Heb_11:35 "Women received back their dead by resurrection" Theologically speaking this is not resurrection, but resuscitation (cf. 1Ki_17:17-23; 2Ki_4:31-37). There has only been one resurrection that resulted in an eternal body, Jesus.
NASB, NKJV
NRSV "a better resurrection"
TEV, NJB "a better life"
The reference is the honor and victory of a martyr's death. In the mystery of God's plan and will for this fallen planet some are physically restored (i.e., "women received back their dead by resurrection") and some are not. The first is great and wonderful, but the second is an even more powerful testimony of faith, faith to the end.
This may relate to spiritual rewards, but if it does the key is the heart of faith, not the circumstances of one's death. Believers are called on to live boldly for their faith (in YHWH and Jesus). The victory is their faithfulness! YHWH is faithful to His promises; Jesus is faithful in His actions; believers must be faithful in their walk of faith. For "better" see full note at Heb_7:7.
Heb_11:36 "mockings and scourgings" This is possibly a reference to the Maccabean period (cf. 1Ma_1:62-64; 1Ma_7:34; 2Ma_6:18-20; 2Ma_7:1-42).
Heb_11:37 "They were stoned" Tradition says that Jeremiah was stoned in Egypt by the Jews. A priest (not the OT writer) named Zechariah is recorded as being stoned in 2Ch_24:20-21; Luk_11:51.
▣ "sawn in two" Tradition (Ascension of Isa_5:1-14) says that Isaiah was put into a hollow log and sawed in two by Manasseh's order.
▣ "They were tempted" This seems a rather general statement amidst several very specific statements of persecution and torture. The ancient Papyrus manuscript P46 omits the phrase. Textual critics have conjectured that since the connected phrase "they were sawn in two" (epristhçsan) is very similar to this phrase "they were tempted" (epeirasthçan) that possibly a scribal addition occurred early in the textual traditions. There are many variations in the Greek manuscripts (order of the terms, tense of the terms). The United Bible Societies' fourth edition Greek text omits the phrase.
▣ "put to death with the sword" (i.e., 1Ki_19:10; 1Ki_19:14; Jer_2:30; Jer_26:23).
Heb_11:38 This describes the terrible history of the persecution of God's followers. Why should the current readers be surprised at their persecutions?