Devine Scripture

Hebrews 11:34

What does Hebrews 11:34 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 11:34 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 11:34 means

Faith quenched fiery ordeals, delivered from the sword, turned weakness into strength, and enabled victory in battle, routing foreign armies. Stories behind these phrases include the three men in the furnace, escapes from assassination, and remarkable military turnarounds. The common thread is not uniform method but reliance on God amid danger and inadequacy. Faith acknowledges weakness yet advances, expecting God to supply courage, power, and deliverance. When God acts, the weak become strong, and the outnumbered triumph—not to glorify human heroes, but to magnify God’s faithfulness to those who trust him.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Put out the power of fire, got safely away from the edge of the sword, were made strong when they had been feeble, became full of power in war, and put to flight the armies of the nations.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

quenched the power of fire, escaped the mouth of the sword, were made powerful out of infirmities, became strong in battle, caused to give way camps of the aliens.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered strength from weakness, became valiant in battle, put to flight the armies of foreigners.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

quenched [the] power of fire, escaped [the] edge of the sword, became strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, made [the] armies of strangers give way.

Context

Continuing the catalogue of victories, the writer piles up images of divine rescue and empowerment. The movement builds to a climax in which even the dead are returned to life (verse 35a). Then, without changing subjects, the tone shifts dramatically to the sufferings of others who were equally faithful. This contrast prevents any simplistic equation of faith with immediate success and prepares readers for endurance.

v.33who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

v.34This passage

v.35Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 Samuel 17:51

    Then David ran, and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

  • 2 Chronicles 14:11

    And Asa cried unto Jehovah his God, and said, Jehovah, there is none besides thee to help, between the mighty and him that hath no strength: help us, O Jehovah our God; for we rely on thee, and in thy name are we come against this multitude. O Jehovah, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.

  • Jeremiah 26:24

    But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.

  • Job 5:20

    In famine he will redeem thee from death; And in war from the power of the sword.

  • Judges 8:4

    And Gideon came to the Jordan, andpassed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing.

  • Psalms 144:10

    Thou art he that giveth salvation unto kings; Who rescueth David his servant from the hurtful sword.

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