Hebrews 11:33

31 By faith ^athe harlot Rahab did not perish with those who¹ did not believe, when ^bshe had received the spies with peace.

32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of ^aGideon and ^bBarak and ^cSamson and ^dJephthah, also of ^eDavid and ^fSamuel and the prophets:

33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, ^astopped the mouths of lions,

34 ^aquenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

35 ^aWomen received their dead raised to life again. Others were ^btortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and ^aof chains and imprisonment.

37 ^aThey were stoned, they were sawn in two,¹ were tempted, were slain with the sword. ^bThey wandered about ^cin sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—

38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, ^ain dens and caves of the earth.

39 And all these, ^ahaving obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,

40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be ^amade perfect apart from us.

Commentaries:

Forerunner Commentary
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What Does Hebrews 11:33 Mean?

These faithful individuals were just like us when God began working with them. A mixed bag, they grew, trying to rely on God more and more, allowing their faith to be tested and stretched. Though they failed a great deal, God patiently worked with them, and they did not give up. When God originally called them, they were not strong enough to accomplish what they eventually did. Out of weakness they were made strong—strong in faith. They waxed in valor, increasing and growing. As II Corinthians 12:9 states, "My strength is made perfect in weakness." Like Paul, who learned humility and patience when God told him no, they discovered that God continued to supply strength through their weaknesses, doing His work through them.

Hebrews 11:32-34

In a way, Samson was a narcissist. From his birth, he was the "special boy," a miracle child. His parents likely doted on him because of this miraculous beginning. Scripture tells us that his parents caved to his every desire, and despite this, he does not treat them with a great deal of respect. For example, when he desires to marry, he tells his father, "Give me that Philistine girl as my wife!" He did not entreat or ask: "Dad, I'd like to go down to Timnah and see this woman. Do you think this is good? Do you think you could please arrange it for me?" No, it was, "Get me this woman!"

But behind the scenes, God was working with him. Even so, Samson's attitude throughout most of his judgeship was quite selfish. His pursuit of his carnal desires is a case in point. He pigheadedly and foolishly blundered into situations that a little wiser person, one less sure of himself, would have approached a bit more cautiously. Also, in many of these situations, Samson is proud, touchy, quick to anger, and swift to knock others on the head with the jawbone of an ass.

Only at the very end of his life, when he volunteers to sacrifice himself to gain a victory for Israel—after being severely humbled by blinding, slavery, and mockery of the Philistines—does he make a real breakthrough. Then he dies.

Finally, God had brought him to the point where he said, "God, if you will it, I will do what needs to be done to give Israel a victory." God says, "That is the attitude I was looking for all along. Go!"

Richard T. Ritenbaugh
The Poor in Spirit

Hebrews 11:33-34

"Out of weakness" - They were just like us when God began to work with them, and it is probably a good thing that He did not show us their entire lives. They were a mixed bag, but they grew, trying to rely on God more and more. They allowed their faith to be tested and stretched. They failed a great deal, but God patiently worked with them, and they did not give up.

II Corinthians 12:9 tells us, "My strength is made perfect in weakness." His strength is our salvation through our weaknesses, and that suits God just fine because it does wonders for our attitude about ourselves and others. Paul asked God three times to heal him, and God said, "No, no, no." He learned humility because God said no. He also learned to be patient, and that, despite his weaknesses, God continued to supply his strength and his daily needs. Paul realized that, though he was weak and perhaps in pain or somewhat disabled, God continued to do His work through him. God's strength was made perfect through Paul's weaknesses.

John W. Ritenbaugh
Faith (Part One)

Hebrews 11:33-34

This passage contains two examples. Whenever God originally called these people, they were not strong enough to do what they eventually did. Out of weakness they were made strong—strong in faith. They waxed in valor, which means they "increased" or "grew."

John W. Ritenbaugh
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Nineteen)

**Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Hebrews 11:33:**

2 Thessalonians 2:3

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What Does Hebrews 11:33 Mean?

Hebrews 11:32-34

Hebrews 11:33-34

Hebrews 11:33-34

Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Hebrews 11:33:

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

**Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Hebrews 11:33:**

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning