Verse of the Day
Author Spotlight
Loading featured author...
Report Issue
See a formatting issue or error?
Let us know →
They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They went around in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated
Verse Takeaways
1
Faithfulness Unto Death
The verse lists real, brutal forms of martyrdom. Commentators note that stoning was a known Jewish punishment (used on Zechariah), and a strong tradition holds that the prophet Isaiah was "sawn asunder." This highlights a crucial truth from the commentators: faith does not guarantee escape from physical harm. For some believers, God's purpose was fulfilled by their faithful endurance through death, trusting Him for ultimate victory.
See 3 Verse Takeaways
Book Overview
Hebrews
Author
Audience
Composition
Teaching Highlights
Outline
+ 5 more
See Overview
12
18th Century
Presbyterian
They were stoned. This was a common method of punishment among the Jews. See the notes on Matthew 21:35, 44.
Thus Zechariah, the so…
They were stoned (ελιθασθησαν). Like Zechariah son of Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 24:20). "A characteristic Jewish punishme…
19th Century
Anglican
They were stoned.—As Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:20–22), and—according to a Jewish tradition mentioned by Tert…
Go ad-free and create your own bookmark library
Baptist
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 Samue…
Stoning was a characteristic Jewish form of execution. Some people of faith suffered at the hands of their fellow-countrymen. To be “sawed in two” …
17th Century
Reformed Baptist
They were stoned As Naboth, by the order of Ahab, (1 Kings 21:13–19), Zachariah in the court of the Lord…
Get curated content & updates
After all our searches into the Scriptures, there is more to be learned from them. We should be pleased to think how great the number of believers …
13th Century
Catholic
Having given examples of the holy fathers of old who did many great things for the faith, the Apostle now gives examples of those who suffered for …
