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The Faith of Other Israelite Heroes

29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned.(A) 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days.(B) 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient,[a] because she had received the spies in peace.(C)

32 And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,(D) 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.(E) 35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection.(F) 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging and even chains and imprisonment.(G) 37 They were stoned to death; they were sawn in two;[b] they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented(H) 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains and in caves and holes in the ground.(I)

39 Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.(J)

The Example of Jesus

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,[c] and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,(K) looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of[d] the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.(L)

Footnotes

  1. 11.31 Or unbelieving
  2. 11.37 Other ancient authorities add they were tempted
  3. 12.1 Other ancient authorities read sin that easily distracts
  4. 12.2 Or who instead of

29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.(A)

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.(B)

31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.[a](C)

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon,(D) Barak,(E) Samson(F) and Jephthah,(G) about David(H) and Samuel(I) and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms,(J) administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,(K) 34 quenched the fury of the flames,(L) and escaped the edge of the sword;(M) whose weakness was turned to strength;(N) and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.(O) 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again.(P) There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging,(Q) and even chains and imprisonment.(R) 37 They were put to death by stoning;[b](S) they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword.(T) They went about in sheepskins and goatskins,(U) destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves(V) and in holes in the ground.

39 These were all commended(W) for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,(X) 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us(Y) would they be made perfect.(Z)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run(AA) with perseverance(AB) the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,(AC) the pioneer(AD) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,(AE) scorning its shame,(AF) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.(AG)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:31 Or unbelieving
  2. Hebrews 11:37 Some early manuscripts stoning; they were put to the test;