Discovery BoxHebrews 11:33-38 
Context11:33 Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, 1 gained what was promised, 2 shut the mouths of lions, 11:34 quenched raging fire, 3 escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, 4 became mighty in battle, put foreign armies to flight, 11:35 and women received back their dead raised to life. 5 But others were tortured, not accepting release, to obtain resurrection to a better life. 6 11:36 And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 11:37 They were stoned, sawed apart, 7 murdered with the sword; they went about in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 11:38 (the world was not worthy of them); they wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and openings in the earth.
1 tn This probably refers to the righteous rule of David and others. But it could be more general and mean “did what was righteous.”
2 tn Grk “obtained promises,” referring to the things God promised, not to the pledges themselves.
sn Gained what was promised. They saw some of God’s promises fulfilled, even though the central promise remained unfulfilled until Christ came (cf. vv. 39-40).
3 tn Grk “quenched the power of fire.”
4 tn Or “recovered from sickness.”
5 tn Grk “received back their dead from resurrection.”
6 tn Grk “to obtain a better resurrection.”
7 tc The reading ἐπρίσθησαν (ejprisqhsan, “they were sawed apart”) is found in some important witnesses (Ì46 [D* twice reads ἐπίρσθησαν, “they were burned”?] pc syp sa Orpt Eus). Other
