And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
HEBREWS 11:32KJVWhat does Hebrews 11:32 mean?
Hebrews 11:32 says that the writer does not have enough time to tell about the faith of several well-known figures from Israel’s history—Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. The verse highlights that there are many more examples of faith than those already mentioned.
The author of Hebrews, writing to Jewish Christians, is wrapping up a long list of Old Testament people who lived by faith. By naming these leaders and prophets, the writer shows that trusting God was a pattern throughout Israel’s history, not just in a few famous stories. The verse signals that the examples are too many to count, emphasizing the richness of faith in the past.
The Greek behind Hebrews 11:32
- χρόνος (chronos, transliterated as "time"): This word points to the idea that there is not enough time to tell every story, stressing the abundance of faith-filled lives.
- ἐπιλείψει (epileipsei, transliterated as "fail"): This verb means "to leave out" or "to run short," suggesting that even a long discussion would not be enough to cover all the examples.
- προφήται (prophētai, transliterated as "prophets"): This word refers to the prophets as a group, showing that the list includes not just leaders and judges but also those who spoke God’s messages.
Why Hebrews 11:32 matters
- Hebrews 11:32 clears up the idea that only a few people in Israel’s history had strong faith; instead, it points to a whole line of faithful people.
- The verse connects the stories of judges, kings, and prophets, showing that faith was not limited to one type of person or one era.
- This verse helps the reader see that the examples of faith in Hebrews 11 are just a small sample, encouraging a broader view of what it means to trust God.