Hebrews 11:37
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—
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easily missed is that "they were tempted" isn't just about external pressure to deny their faith, but also the intense internal struggle and dread of potentially failing under unimaginable torment. This isn't a lesser suffering, but a profound agony of the soul.
This passage continues the author's catalog of faith heroes, but shifts to those who faced extreme persecution and violent deaths, rather than miraculous deliverances. The author lists horrific forms of execution like stoning, being sawn in two, and being killed by the sword, emphasizing the raw suffering these individuals endured. It also describes their destitution and mistreatment as they wandered as outcasts, highlighting their profound separation from worldly comfort and acceptance due to their faithfulness.
Imagine enduring torture, exile, and utter destitution. This verse doesn't just list terrible fates; it paints a stark picture of faith in its most challenging hours.
Hebrews 11:37 throws us headfirst into the brutal reality faced by many faithful individuals throughout history.
A Catalogue of Cruelty
These weren't mere accidents or misfortunes; they were the direct result of their unwavering commitment to God in the face of persecution. The intensity of these sufferings highlights the profound depth of their faith.
Amidst violent death and destitution, the verse mentions 'they were tempted.' What does this mean when someone is already facing such dire circumstances?
The inclusion of 'they were tempted' (or 'tried') is a crucial, though sometimes perplexing, detail in this list of sufferings.
More Than Physical Pain
Understand the original words
hystereō · Greek Adjective
Being in a state of severe hardship, lack, or poverty. It characterizes those who have forsaken worldly comforts to remain faithful to God's calling.
thlibō · Greek Verb/Adjective
To be burdened, harassed, or suffering under external pressure. It describes the physical and emotional distress endured by the faithful while living in a fallen world.
This verse paints a grim picture of suffering, but it's grounded in a long history of God's faithful enduring brutal persecution, from Old Testament prophets to early church martyrs.
c. 700-650 BC
Reign of Manasseh
King Manasseh of Judah's reign was marked by widespread idolatry and persecution of prophets. Tradition links him to the martyrdom of Isaiah by sawing.
c. 609 BC
Death of King Josiah
Josiah's reforms temporarily restored true worship, but his death in battle led to a period of instability and renewed conflict with paganism.
597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon exiled thousands of Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, marking the beginning of the exile.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, exiling the remaining population to Babylon. This event devastated the nation.
c. 167-160 BC
This passage shows Elijah feeling utterly alone and persecuted, lamenting that he is the only one left, mirroring the extreme isolation and suffering described in Hebrews 11:37.
2 Chronicles 24:20-21This directly illustrates the stoning mentioned in Hebrews 11:37, showing how Zechariah, a prophet, was killed by the people for his message, highlighting the violent rejection faced by God's messengers.
Daniel 11:33This verse speaks of those who have 'discernment' being tested and refined through suffering, including being 'burned' and 'captured,' which aligns with the severe afflictions and persecutions detailed in Hebrews 11:37.
Matthew 23:37Jesus laments over Jerusalem's history of rejecting and killing prophets, directly mentioning stoning and other violent ends, which provides a prophetic and sorrowful echo to the catalog of sufferings in Hebrews 11:37.
This chapter vividly details the tortures and temptations faced by the Maccabean martyrs, including threats and the agony of seeing loved ones suffer, directly reflecting the 'tempted,' 'afflicted,' and 'tormented' experiences described in Hebrews 11:37.
vincentHebrews 11:37: "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;"
They were stoned (ἐλιθάσθησαν)A characteristic Jewish punishment. See 2 Chronicles 24:20; Matthew 23:37; John 10:31; Acts 5:26; Acts 7:59; Acts 14:19. The verb λιθοβολεῖν is also used in Matthew, Luke, and Acts, and once in this epistle, Hebrews 12:20.Were sawn asunder (ἐπίσθησαν)N.T.o. As Isaiah, accordi…
barnesHebrews 11:37: "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;"
They were stoned - A common method of punishment among the Jews; see the notes on Matthew 21:35 , Matthew 21:44 . Thus, Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, was stoned; see 2 Chronicles 24:21 ; compare 1 Kings 21:1-14 . It is not improbable that this was often resorted to in times of popular tumult, as i…
What's easily missed is that "they were tempted" isn't just about external pressure to deny their faith, but also the intense internal struggle and dread of potentially failing under unimaginable torment. This isn't a lesser suffering, but a profound agony of the soul.
This passage continues the author's catalog of faith heroes, but shifts to those who faced extreme persecution and violent deaths, rather than miraculous deliverances. The author lists horrific forms of execution like stoning, being sawn in two, and being killed by the sword, emphasizing the raw suffering these individuals endured. It also describes their destitution and mistreatment as they wandered as outcasts, highlighting their profound separation from worldly comfort and acceptance due to their faithfulness.
This passage continues the author's catalog of faith heroes, but shifts to those who faced extreme persecution and violent deaths, rather than miraculous deliverances. The author lists horrific forms of execution like stoning, being sawn in two, and being killed by the sword, emphasizing the raw suffering these individuals endured. It also describes their destitution and mistreatment as they wandered as outcasts, highlighting their profound separation from worldly comfort and acceptance due to their faithfulness.
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This aspect highlights that faithfulness isn't just about enduring physical pain, but also about resisting the powerful internal and external pressures to turn away from God.
Maccabean Revolt
The Maccabean Revolt erupted against Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who brutally persecuted Jews for practicing their faith. This period saw many martyrs.
c. AD 30-33
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus Christ, the ultimate prophet and high priest, was crucified, an event that would become central to the early Christian message and mission.
c. AD 33-62— this verse
Early Church Persecutions
Following Jesus' ascension, the early followers faced intense persecution from both Jewish authorities and Roman officials, including stoning and sword.
"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—" — What's easily missed is that "they were tempted" isn't just about external pressure to deny their faith, but also the intense internal struggle and dread of potentially failing under unimaginable tor…
