who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,
Parallel translations
- WEB who, through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
- KJV Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
- NKJV who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
- NASB who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,
- NLT By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Through faith these conquered kingdoms, did justice, obtained promises, and shut the mouths of lions. God gave his people great victories as they trusted him.
Overview
This verse begins a summary of faith's triumphs drawn from Israel's history—military victories, righteous rule, fulfilled promises, and deliverance such as Daniel's from the lions (Daniel 6). These were not human achievements but the fruit of trusting God. Faith lays hold of God's power and his promises, the same faith that finds its fullness in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Heb 6:12–15Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
- Ps 144:1–2Of David. Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
- Heb 10:36You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
- 2 Tim 4:17But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion.
- 2 Sam 5:4–25David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.
- Ps 144:10to Him who gives victory to kings, who frees His servant David from the deadly sword.
- Gal 3:16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” meaning One, who is Christ.
- Judg 14:5–6Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Suddenly a young lion came roaring at him,
- Heb 11:4–8By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
- 1 Pet 5:8Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
- Dan 6:20–23When he reached the den, he cried out in a voice of anguish, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
- Heb 11:17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son,
- Ps 18:32–34It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way clear.
- 2 Sam 8:1–14Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah from the hand of the Philistines.
- 1 Sam 17:33–36But Saul replied, “You cannot go out against this Philistine to fight him. You are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”
- Ps 91:13You will tread on the lion and cobra; you will trample the young lion and serpent.
- 2 Sam 7:11–17and have done since the day I appointed judges over My people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD declares to you that He Himself will establish a house for you.
- Ps 44:2–6With Your hand You drove out the nations and planted our fathers there; You crushed the peoples and cast them out.
- Josh 6:1–13Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.
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Christ at the center
Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.
How Hebrews 11:33 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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