Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

HEBREWS 11:33KJV
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Hebrews 11:33 (KJV)

What does Hebrews 11:33 mean?

Hebrews 11:33 describes how people in the past, by trusting God, accomplished remarkable things: they conquered kingdoms, acted justly, received what God had promised, and even shut the mouths of lions. The verse highlights the powerful results that came from their faith.

The writer of Hebrews is speaking to Jewish Christians, reminding them of the faith of their ancestors. This verse is part of a larger section listing examples of faith from Israel’s history, showing that ordinary people achieved extraordinary things not by their own power, but by relying on God. The specific actions mentioned—subduing kingdoms, working righteousness, obtaining promises, and stopping lions—point to well-known stories from the Hebrew Scriptures.

The Greek behind Hebrews 11:33

  • πίστις (pistis, "faith"): This word means trust or confidence, especially in God. The focus here is on the active, practical results of faith, not just belief in the abstract.
  • κατενίκησαν (katenikēsan, "subdued"): This verb means to overcome or conquer, often in the sense of military victory. It emphasizes that faith led to real, tangible triumphs.
  • ἐργάσαντο (ergasanto, "wrought"): This word means to work or accomplish, here referring to achieving justice or righteousness through faithful action.
  • ἐπέτυχον (epetychon, "obtained"): This verb means to attain or receive, highlighting that the promises of God were actually experienced by these people, not just hoped for.
  • ἔφραξαν (ephraxan, "stopped"): This means to shut or close off, used here for dramatic effect to recall stories like Daniel in the lions’ den, where faith led to miraculous protection.

Why Hebrews 11:33 matters

  • Hebrews 11:33 clarifies that faith is not just a feeling or belief, but something that leads to real-life actions and outcomes—sometimes even miraculous ones.
  • The verse connects the readers’ present struggles to the long history of God’s faithfulness, encouraging them to persevere by showing that others before them faced challenges and overcame them through faith.
  • By mentioning specific acts like stopping the mouths of lions, the verse ties the abstract idea of faith to concrete, memorable stories, making the message vivid and relatable.

Where else these words appear

“stopped” Greek G5420 · used in 3 verses

  • Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
  • 2 Corinthians 11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

“obtained” Greek G2013 · used in 4 verses

  • Romans 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
  • Hebrews 6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
  • James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

“lions” Greek G3023 · used in 9 verses

  • 2 Timothy 4:17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
  • Revelation 4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
  • Revelation 9:17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.

“wrought” Greek G2038 · used in 37 verses

  • Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
  • Acts 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
  • Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.