Hebrews 11 37

Hebrews 11:37 kjv

They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

Hebrews 11:37 nkjv

They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented?

Hebrews 11:37 niv

They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated?

Hebrews 11:37 esv

They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated ?

Hebrews 11:37 nlt

Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated.

Hebrews 11 verses

Hebrews 11 37 Meaning

Hebrews 11:37 describes the extreme suffering endured by certain heroes of faith who remained steadfast in their belief. These individuals faced various forms of brutal execution and profound physical and material privation, illustrating the depth of their commitment and the harsh reality of their persecution for righteousness. The verse serves as a testament to their unwavering trust in God amidst the direst circumstances, even when their faith did not result in immediate worldly deliverance or escape from suffering.

Hebrews 11 37 Context

Hebrews chapter 11, often called the "Faith Hall of Fame" or "Roll Call of Faith," showcases numerous Old Testament figures who lived by faith. It begins by defining faith and then illustrates it through the lives of Abraham, Sarah, Moses, and others, highlighting how their trust in God shaped their lives and actions. Verses 32-35a present positive outcomes of faith, where believers "gained what was promised" or "quenched the power of fire."

However, Hebrews 11:35b shifts abruptly, transitioning from victories and deliverances to intense suffering and martyrdom. This shift is crucial for the original audience of the epistle, who were Hebrew Christians facing increasing persecution and tempted to abandon their faith (Heb 10:32-39, Heb 12:3-4). Verses 35b-38 detail various severe trials, persecutions, and deaths experienced by believers, many of whom are unnamed. This particular verse, 11:37, is a concentrated list of extreme tortures and deprivations. It underscores that true faith may not always lead to worldly comfort or deliverance, but rather can lead to profound suffering and death, yet it remains steadfast because their hope is fixed on something "better"—a heavenly resurrection (v. 35) and a city "whose designer and builder is God" (v. 10). The historical context points to both Old Testament persecutions (e.g., during the Maccabean period) and possible legends of martyrs, such as Isaiah being sawn asunder, serving as powerful examples to encourage perseverance.

Hebrews 11 37 Word analysis

• They were stoned (ἐλιθάσθησαν, elithasthēsan): From lithazō, meaning "to stone." This was a common form of capital punishment, particularly for religious offenses like blasphemy or idolatry in the Old Testament. Stephen in Acts 7 provides a New Testament example of stoning for Christ. This brutal method resulted in slow, painful death, indicating extreme malice towards the victims.
• they were sawn asunder (ἐπρίσθησαν, epristhēsan): From prizō, meaning "to saw in two." This is an extremely horrific and excruciating method of execution, suggesting immense cruelty. While not explicitly mentioned in the canonical Old Testament as an execution method, ancient tradition (e.g., Martyrdom of Isaiah, writings of Justin Martyr and Tertullian) holds that the prophet Isaiah was sawn in two under the reign of King Manasseh. This suggests that the author of Hebrews and his audience were familiar with such an account.
• were tempted (ἐπειράσθησαν, epeirasthēsan): From peirazō, meaning "to test, to try, to tempt." This word has various shades of meaning. In this context, placed amidst other forms of severe torture and death, it primarily signifies being severely tested or tried in their faith, perhaps through specific forms of severe physical and mental anguish designed to make them renounce their God, or even by literal "testing" with fire (as some manuscript traditions suggest a variant "were burned," epyrothēsan, which aligns with 35b). The former interpretation implies relentless pressure on their convictions, urging apostasy, rather than simple enticement to sin. It shows that psychological torment and severe trials of faith were also part of their suffering.
• were slain with the sword (ἐσφάγησαν, esphagēsan): From sphazō, meaning "to slaughter, to slay," often with a sword. This signifies violent death, often in battle or by execution, sometimes in a sacrificial context. Many prophets and faithful individuals in the Old Testament perished by the sword (e.g., Elijah's complaint that prophets were slain with the sword in 1 Kings 19:10, or Uriah in Jer 26:23). It indicates direct, brutal extermination for their faith.
• they wandered about (περιῆλθον, periēlthon): From perierchomai, meaning "to go around, to wander, to travel about." This denotes a state of homelessness, displacement, and perpetual itinerancy due to persecution. They had no settled place, constantly forced to move to avoid their tormentors. This speaks of the complete loss of stability and security.
• in sheepskins (ἐν μηλωταῖς, en mēlōtais): Referring to coats made of sheep's wool or skin. This type of clothing was associated with prophets like Elijah (2 Kings 1:8), who lived an austere, detached life. It symbolizes renunciation of worldly comforts and identifying with the wild, prophetic witness. For these sufferers, it signifies extreme poverty, deprivation, and living as outcasts.
• and goatskins (ἐν αἰγείοις δέρμασιν, en aigeiois dermasin): Similarly, clothing made of goat hide. Together with sheepskins, this reinforces the image of people stripped of all normal apparel, forced to wear rough, basic animal hides, living primitively due to their destitute state, a sign of abject poverty and exile from settled society.
• being destitute (ὑστερούμενοι, hysteroumenoi): From hystereō, meaning "to lack, to be wanting, to be behind, to come short." This emphasizes a state of utter poverty and want, lacking fundamental necessities of life such as food, shelter, and proper clothing. Their material needs were unmet because of their faithfulness.
• afflicted (θλιβόμενοι, thlibomenoi): From thlibō, meaning "to press, to crowd, to oppress, to afflict." This refers to internal and external pressure, distress, or persecution. It denotes being weighed down, oppressed, or subjected to intense physical or emotional distress.
• tormented (κακουχούμενοι, kakochoumenoi): From kakochocheō, meaning "to ill-treat, to torment, to maltreat." This implies enduring harsh treatment, suffering from severe physical or psychological abuse, hardship, and misery. It highlights the direct malicious actions inflicted upon them.

Words-group analysis:

• "They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword:" This grouping highlights methods of capital punishment and torture, emphasizing the brutality and variety of ways these faithful individuals were killed or severely injured. It shows the extreme nature of the enemies' desire to crush their faith by inflicting ultimate suffering. The sequence demonstrates progression from common execution to barbaric cruelty.
• "they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;" This group describes the persistent state of life for those who survived immediate execution but were forced into a life of abject poverty, homelessness, and relentless suffering. Their very existence was a testimony to their enduring faith, enduring a daily dying, cut off from society and its comforts, dressed in the garments of prophets in the wilderness. It portrays their continuous suffering and extreme marginalization as a direct result of their commitment to God.

Hebrews 11 37 Bonus section

The suffering depicted in Hebrews 11:37 is immediately followed by Hebrews 11:38, which describes these persecuted believers as "those of whom the world was not worthy." This striking declaration elevates their status; despite their outwardly pitiable circumstances, their profound faith made them more valuable than the world that rejected them. This is a profound reversal of worldly values, where success and comfort are praised, but here, extreme suffering for God is honored. It highlights the divine perspective on worth and the radical counter-cultural nature of the Christian faith. These unsung heroes of faith, who suffered in ways most cannot fathom, provide a sobering reminder of the ultimate cost of discipleship and the unseen glory awaiting those who remain faithful unto the end.

Hebrews 11 37 Commentary

Hebrews 11:37 presents a stark and painful reality that faith does not always lead to immediate divine rescue from suffering but often calls for profound endurance through it. Unlike earlier verses in the chapter that focused on faith's triumphs, this verse vividly portrays its trials. The diverse and cruel forms of suffering—stoning, sawing, the sword—attest to the intense malice faced by these faithful individuals, likely referencing known figures and legends from Jewish history, such as the supposed martyrdom of Isaiah. The debated inclusion of "tempted" alongside these deaths suggests that mental and spiritual torment, attempts to force apostasy, were as real a trial as physical torture.

Beyond the immediate execution, the verse depicts a life of constant tribulation for those who escaped death. To "wander about in sheepskins and goatskins" speaks to utter destitution and homelessness, portraying them as societal outcasts who forfeited all worldly comfort for their convictions. This attire evokes the wilderness prophets, linking their suffering to a holy, detached, prophetic life, yet also highlights extreme poverty. Being "destitute, afflicted, tormented" captures a state of continuous, multi-faceted hardship – lacking necessities, burdened by oppression, and enduring ongoing abuse.

This vivid portrayal of suffering serves several crucial purposes for the original Christian audience. First, it reassures them that their contemporary trials are not unique, but part of a historical lineage of faith. Second, it deepens the meaning of "faith," showing that it is not merely intellectual assent but a profound commitment that endures beyond comfortable circumstances, even unto death. Third, by illustrating the immense sacrifices made by their spiritual ancestors, the author strengthens their resolve, challenging them to consider the "better things" for which these heroes suffered—the eternal inheritance and a heavenly homeland, which they believed would be granted even if it wasn't realized on Earth (Heb 11:35b, 11:13-16). This verse powerfully teaches that perseverance in faith, despite intense adversity and without immediate tangible reward, is a high form of devotion.