Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
They were stoned (eliqasqhsan). Like Zechariah son of Jehoiada (II Chronicles 24:20). "A characteristic Jewish punishment" (Vincent). First aorist passive indicative of liqazw (John 10:31).
They were sawn asunder (eprisqhsan). First aorist passive indicative of priw or prizw, old verb (prion, a saw). Cruel Jewish punishment (Amos 1:3) said to have been inflicted on Isaiah.
They were tempted (epeirasqhsan). First aorist passive indicative of peirazw. The MSS. vary greatly in the text here and the order of these two items. This mild word seems an anticlimax after eprisqhsan. One of the seven brothers was fried (II Macc. 7:4) and so eprhsqesan (were burned) from pimpraw (Acts 28:6) has been suggested.
With the sword (en fonw maxairhv). "In (by) slaughter of the sword" (Ionic form of the genitive maxairev as in Exodus 17:13; Numbers 21:24). The fate of unpopular prophets (I Kings 10:10; Jeremiah 26:23).
They went about (perihlqon). Constative aorist active indicative of perierxomai (picturesque compound verb). Here the sufferings of the living.
In sheep skins (en mhlwtaiv). Late word from mhlon (sheep), rough garment of prophets as Elijah (I Kings 19:13, I Kings 19:19), here only in N.T. In Byzantine Greek a monk's garb.
In goatskins (en aigeioiv dermasin). Derma, old word from derw, to flay (Matthew 21:35), here only in N.T. Aigeiov, old adjective (from aic, goat), here only in N.T.
Being destitute (usteroumenoi). Present passive participle of usterew, old verb to be left behind, used by Paul of himself (II Corinthians 11:9).
Afflicted (qlibomenoi). Present passive participle of qlibw, common verb to oppress.
Evil entreated (kakouxoumenoi). Present passive participle of kakouxew, late compound verb from obsolete kakouxov (kakov and exw), in LXX (I Kings 2:26), in N.T. only here and Hebrews 13:3. See sunkakouxeisqai in Hebrews 11:25.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Hebrews 11:37:
John 10:31
Acts 28:13
1 Corinthians 4:9
Hebrews 4:1
Hebrews 11:25
Hebrews 13:2
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