Hebrews 11:33

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions,

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Οἳ διὰ πίστεως κατηγωνίσαντο βασιλείας, εἰργάσαντο δικαιοσύνην, ἐπέτυχον ἐπαγγελιῶν, ἔφραξαν στόματα λεόντων,

Transliteration

Who through pisteōs katēgōnisanto basileias, eirgasanto dikaiosynēn, epetychon epangeliōn, ephraxan stomata of leontōn,

Grammar Details

• *pisteōs*: genitive, feminine, singular - of faith
• *katēgōnisanto*: aorist middle indicative, 3rd plural - conquered/subdued
• *basileias*: accusative, feminine, plural - kingdoms
• *eirgasanto*: aorist middle indicative, 3rd plural - worked/performed
• *dikaiosynēn*: accusative, feminine, singular - righteousness
• *epetychon*: aorist active indicative, 3rd plural - obtained
• *epangeliōn*: genitive, feminine, plural - of promises
• *ephraxan*: aorist active indicative, 3rd plural - stopped/shut
• *stomata*: accusative, neuter, plural - mouths
• *leontōn*: genitive, masculine, plural - of lions

Word Meanings

• *katēgōnisanto*: conquered/subdued/overcame
• *basileias*: kingdoms/reigns/royal power
• *eirgasanto*: worked/performed/accomplished
• *dikaiosynēn*: righteousness/justice/right conduct
• *epetychon*: obtained/attained/acquired
• *epangeliōn*: promises/pledges/announcements
• *ephraxan*: stopped/shut/closed
• *stomata*: mouths/openings
• *leontōn*: lions/predatory animals

Referenced Verses

• Judg 14:5-6 : 5 Samson went down to Timnah. When he approached the vineyards of Timnah, he saw a roaring young lion attacking him. 6 The LORD’s Spirit empowered him and he tore the lion in two with his bare hands as easily as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.
• 1 Sam 17:33-36 : 33 But Saul replied to David,“You aren’t able to go against this Philistine and fight him! You’re just a boy! He has been a warrior from his youth!” 34 David replied to Saul,“Your servant has been a shepherd for his father’s flock. Whenever a lion or bear would come and carry off a sheep from the flock, 35 I would go out after it, strike it down, and rescue the sheep from its mouth. If it rose up against me, I would grab it by its jaw, strike it, and kill it. 36 Your servant has struck down both the lion and the bear. This uncircumcised Philistine will be just like one of them. For he has defied the armies of the living God!”
• Ps 144:1-2 : 1 By David. The LORD, my protector, deserves praise– the one who trains my hands for battle, and my fingers for war, 2 who loves me and is my stronghold, my refuge and my deliverer, my shield and the one in whom I take shelter, who makes nations submit to me.
• Ps 144:10 : 10 the one who delivers kings, and rescued David his servant from a deadly sword.
• Dan 6:20-23 : 20 As he approached the den, he called out to Daniel in a worried voice,“Daniel, servant of the living God, was your God whom you continually serve able to rescue you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel spoke to the king,“O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and closed the lions’ mouths so that they have not harmed me, because I was found to be innocent before him. Nor have I done any harm to you, O king.” 23 Then the king was delighted and gave an order to haul Daniel up from the den. So Daniel was hauled up out of the den. He had no injury of any kind, because he had trusted in his God.
• Gal 3:16 : 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture does not say,“and to the descendants,” referring to many, but“and to your descendant,” referring to one, who is Christ.
• 2 Tim 4:17 : 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed for all the Gentiles to hear. And so I was delivered from the lion’s mouth!
• Heb 6:12-15 : 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises. 13 Now when God made his promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself, 14 saying,“Surely I will bless you greatly and multiply your descendants abundantly.” 15 And so by persevering, Abraham inherited the promise.
• Heb 10:36 : 36 For you need endurance in order to do God’s will and so receive what is promised.
• Heb 11:4-8 : 4 By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, and through his faith he was commended as righteous, because God commended him for his offerings. And through his faith he still speaks, though he is dead. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he was not to be found because God took him up. For before his removal he had been commended as having pleased God. 6 Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with reverent regard constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, and he went out without understanding where he was going.
• Heb 11:17 : 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He had received the promises, yet he was ready to offer up his only son.
• 1 Pet 5:8 : 8 Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.
• 2 Sam 5:4-9 : 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign and he reigned for forty years. 5 In Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned for thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah. 6 David Occupies Jerusalem Then the king and his men advanced to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who lived in the land. The Jebusites said to David,“You cannot invade this place! Even the blind and the lame will turn you back, saying,‘David cannot invade this place!’” 7 But David captured the fortress of Zion(that is, the City of David). 8 David said on that day,“Whoever attacks the Jebusites must approach the‘lame’ and the‘blind’ who are David’s enemies by going through the water tunnel.” For this reason it is said,“The blind and the lame cannot enter the palace.” 9 So David lived in the fortress and called it the City of David. David built all around it, from the terrace inwards. 10 David’s power grew steadily, for the LORD God of Heaven’s Armies was with him. 11 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons. They built a palace for David. 12 David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. 13 David married more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he arrived from Hebron. Even more sons and daughters were born to David. 14 These are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. 17 Conflict with the Philistines When the Philistines heard that David had been designated king over Israel, they all went up to search for David. When David heard about it, he went down to the fortress. 18 Now the Philistines had arrived and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 19 So David asked the LORD,“Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The LORD said to David,“March up, for I will indeed hand the Philistines over to you.” 20 So David marched against Baal Perazim and defeated them there. Then he said,“The LORD has burst out against my enemies like water bursts out.” So he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men picked them up. 22 The Philistines again came up and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 23 So David asked the LORD what he should do. This time the LORD said to him,“Don’t march straight up. Instead, circle around behind them and come against them opposite the trees. 24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, act decisively. For at that moment the LORD is going before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 25 David did just as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from Gibeon all the way to Gezer.
• 2 Sam 7:11-17 : 11 and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. Instead, I will give you relief from all your enemies. The LORD declares to you that he himself will build a dynastic house for you. 12 When the time comes for you to die, I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He will build a house for my name, and I will make his dynasty permanent. 14 I will become his father and he will become my son. When he sins, I will correct him with the rod of men and with wounds inflicted by human beings. 15 But my loyal love will not be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will stand before me permanently; your dynasty will be permanent.’” 17 Nathan told David all these words that were revealed to him.
• 2 Sam 8:1-9 : 1 David Subjugates Nearby Nations Later David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. David took Metheg Ammah from the Philistines. 2 He defeated the Moabites. He made them lie on the ground and then used a rope to measure them off. He put two-thirds of them to death and spared the other third. The Moabites became David’s subjects and brought tribute. 3 David defeated King Hadadezer son of Rehob of Zobah when he came to reestablish his authority over the Euphrates River. 4 David seized from him 1,700 charioteers and 20,000 infantrymen. David cut the hamstrings of all but a hundred of the chariot horses. 5 The Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, but David killed 22,000 of the Arameans. 6 David placed garrisons in the territory of the Arameans of Damascus; the Arameans became David’s subjects and brought tribute. The LORD protected David wherever he campaigned. 7 David took the golden shields that belonged to Hadadezer’s servants and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 From Tebah and Berothai, Hadadezer’s cities, King David took a great deal of bronze. 9 When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, 10 he sent his son Joram to King David to extend his best wishes and to pronounce a blessing on him for his victory over Hadadezer, for Toi had been at war with Hadadezer. He brought with him various items made of silver, gold, and bronze. 11 King David dedicated these things to the LORD, along with the dedicated silver and gold that he had taken from all the nations that he had subdued, 12 including Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek. This also included some of the plunder taken from King Hadadezer son of Rehob of Zobah. 13 David became famous when he returned from defeating the Edomites in the Valley of Salt; he defeated 18,000 in all. 14 He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s subjects. The LORD protected David wherever he campaigned.
• Ps 18:32-34 : 32 The one true God gives me strength; he removes the obstacles in my way. 33 He gives me the agility of a deer; he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain. 34 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend even the strongest bow.
• Ps 44:2-6 : 2 You, by your power, defeated nations and settled our fathers on their land; you crushed the people living there and enabled our ancestors to occupy it. 3 For they did not conquer the land by their swords, and they did not prevail by their strength, but rather by your power, strength and good favor, for you were partial to them. 4 You are my king, O God! Decree Jacob’s deliverance! 5 By your power we will drive back our enemies; by your strength we will trample down our foes! 6 For I do not trust in my bow, and I do not prevail by my sword.
• Ps 91:13 : 13 You will subdue a lion and a snake; you will trample underfoot a young lion and a serpent.
• Josh 6:1-9 : 1 Now Jericho was shut tightly because of the Israelites. No one was allowed to leave or enter. 2 The LORD told Joshua,“See, I am about to defeat Jericho for you, along with its king and its warriors. 3 Have all the warriors march around the city one time; do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns. 5 When you hear the signal from the ram’s horn, have the whole army give a loud battle cry. Then the city wall will collapse and the warriors should charge straight ahead.” 6 So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and instructed them,“Pick up the ark of the covenant, and seven priests must carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark of the LORD.” 7 And he told the army,“Move ahead and march around the city, with armed troops going ahead of the ark of the LORD.” 8 When Joshua gave the army its orders, the seven priests carrying the seven rams’ horns before the LORD moved ahead and blew the horns as the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed behind. 9 Armed troops marched ahead of the priests blowing the horns, while the rear guard followed along behind the ark blowing rams’ horns. 10 Now Joshua had instructed the army,“Do not give a battle cry or raise your voices; say nothing until the day I tell you,‘Give the battle cry.’ Then give the battle cry!” 11 So Joshua made sure they marched the ark of the LORD around the city one time. Then they went back to the camp and spent the night there. 12 Bright and early the next morning Joshua had the priests pick up the ark of the LORD. 13 The seven priests carrying the seven rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD marched along blowing their horns. Armed troops marched ahead of them, while the rear guard followed along behind the ark of the LORD blowing rams’ horns.