Hebrews 11 · Verse 33

Hebrews 11:33

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Hebrews 11:33, King James Version

Hebrews 11:33 in other translations

BSBwho through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,
WEBwho through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
ASVwho through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
YLTwho through faith did subdue kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped mouths of lions,
DARBYwho by faith overcame kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped lions' mouths,
BBEWho through faith overcame kingdoms, did righteousness, got their reward, kept the mouths of lions shut,
WebsterWho through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

What does Hebrews 11:33 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
33. subdued kingdoms--as David did (2Sa 8:1, &c.); so also Gideon subdued Midian (Jud 7:1-25). wrought righteousness--as Samuel did (1Sa 8:9; 12:3-23; 15:33); and David (2Sa 8:15). obtained promises--as "the prophets" (He 11:32) did; for through them the promises were given (compare Da 9:21) [Bengel]. Rather, "obtained the fulfilment of promises," which had been previously the object of their faith (Jos 21:45; 1Ki 8:56). Indeed, Gideon, Barak, &c., also obtained the things which God promised. Not "the promises," which are still future (He 11:13, 39). stopped the mouths of lions--Note the words, "because he believed in his God." Also Samson (Jud 14:6), David (1Sa 17:34-37), Benaiah (2Sa 23:20).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 33. Who through faith subdued kingdoms. That is, those specified in the previous verses, and others like them. The meaning is, that some of them subdued kingdoms, others obtained promises, etc. Thus, Joshua subdued the nations of Canaan; Gideon this Midianites; Jephtha the Ammonites; David the Philistines, Amalekites, Jebusites, Edomites, etc.

Wrought righteousness. Carried the laws of justice into execution, particularly on guilty nations. They executed the great purposes of God in punishing the wicked, and in cutting off his foes.

Obtained promises. Or obtained promised blessings, (Bloomfield, Stuart;) that is, they obtained, as a result of their faith, promises of blessings on their posterity in future times.

Stopped the mouths of lions. As Samson, Jud 14:6; David, 1Sam 17:34, seq.; and particularly Daniel, Dan 6:7, seq. To be able to subdue and render harmless the king of the forest--the animal most dreaded in early times--was regarded as an eminent achievement.

(a) "promises" Gal 3:16 (b) "lions" Dan 6:22

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms - As Joshua, who subdued the seven Canaanitish nations; and David, who subdued the Moabites, Syrians, Ammonites, and Edomites. 2 Samuel 8, etc. Wrought righteousness - Did a great variety of works indicative of that faith in God without which it is impossible to do any thing that is good. Obtained promises - This is supposed to refer to Joshua and Caleb, who, through their faith in God, obtained the promised land, while all the rest of the Israelites were excluded; to Phineas also, who, for his act of zealous faith in slaying Zimri and Cosbi, got the promise of an everlasting priesthood; and to David, who, for his faith and obedience, obtained the kingdom of Israel, and had the promise that from his seed the Messiah should spring. Stopped the mouths of lions - Daniel, who, though cast into a den of lions for his fidelity to God, was preserved among them unhurt, and finally came to great honor.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 11:32-38

After all our searches into the Scriptures, there is more to be learned from them. We should be pleased to think, how great the number of believers was under the Old Testament, and how strong their faith, though the objects of it were not then so fully made known as now. And we should lament that now, in gospel times, when the rule of faith is more clear and perfect, the number of believers should be so small, and…

Read the full comment on Hebrews 11:32-38 →

Hebrews 11:33 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οἳhoiwhoG3739
διὰdiathroughG1223
πίστεωςpisteōsfaithG4102
κατηγωνίσαντοkatēgōnisantoconqueredG2610
βασιλείας,basileiaskingdoms,G932
εἰργάσαντοeirgasantoadministeredG2038
δικαιοσύνην,dikaiosunēnjustice,G1343
ἐπέτυχονepetuchonobtainedG2013
ἐπαγγελιῶν,epangeliōnpromises,G1860
ἔφραξανephraxanshutG5420
στόματαstomata[the] mouthsG4750
λεόντων,leontōnof lions,G3023

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Hebrews 11:33

  • Hebrews 6:12-15

    That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

  • Psalms 144:1-2

    A Psalm of David. Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.

  • 2 Timothy 4:17

    Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

  • Hebrews 10:36

    For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

  • Hebrews 11:4-8

    By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. …

  • 2 Samuel 5:4-25

    David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah. And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. …

  • Psalms 144:10

    It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.

  • Judges 14:5-6

    Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.

  • Galatians 3:16

    Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

  • 1 Peter 5:8

    Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

  • Daniel 6:20-23

    And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.

  • 1 Samuel 17:33-36

    And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
through.
Jos 6:1-13:33; 2Sa 5:4-25; 8:1-14; Ps 18:32-34; 44:2-6; 144:1,2,10
wrought.
4-8,17
obtained.
6:12-15; 10:36; 2Sa 7:11-17; Ga 3:16
stopped.
Jud 14:5,6; 1Sa 17:33-36; Ps 91:13; Da 6:20-23; 2Ti 4:17; 1Pe 5:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Hebrews 11:32

    And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

  • Hebrews 11:33

    Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

  • Hebrews 11:34

    Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Read all of Hebrews 11

Hebrews 11:33 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Que por fe ganaron reinos, obraron justicia, alcanzaron promesas, taparon las bocas de leones,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
qui par la foi subjuguèrent des royaumes, accomplirent la justice, obtinrent les choses promises, fermèrent la gueule des lions,
German
Elberfelder 1871
welche durch Glauben Königreiche bezwangen, Gerechtigkeit wirkten, Verheißungen erlangten, der Löwen Rachen verstopften,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
qui per fidem vicerunt regna, operati sunt justitiam, adepti sunt repromissiones, obturaverunt ora leonum,