Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Parallel translations
- WEB who, through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
- BSB who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut 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 6:12–15That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
- Ps 144:1–2Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
- Heb 10:36For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
- 2 Tim 4:17Notwithstanding 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.
- 2 Sam 5:4–25David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
- Ps 144:10It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.
- Gal 3:16Now 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.
- Judg 14:5–6Then 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.
- Heb 11:4–8By 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.
- 1 Pet 5:8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
- Dan 6:20–23And 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?
- Heb 11:17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
- Ps 18:32–34It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.
- 2 Sam 8:1–14And after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.
- 1 Sam 17:33–36And 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.
- Ps 91:13Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
- 2 Sam 7:11–17And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
- Ps 44:2–6How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.
- Josh 6:1–13Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none 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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