Hebrews 11:34
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quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Quenched the violence of fire-- (Dan 3:27). Not merely "quenched the fire," but "quenched the power (so the Greek) of the fire." Dan 3:19-30 and Dan 6:12-23 record the last miracles of the Old Testament. So the martyrs of the Reformation, though not escaping the fire, were delivered from its having power really or lastingly to hurt them. escaped . . . sword--So Jephthah (Jdg 12:3); and so David escaped Saul's sword (Sa1 18:11; Sa1 19:10, Sa1 19:12); Elijah (Kg1 19:1, &c.; Kg2 6:14). out of weakness . . . made strong--Samson (Jdg 16:28; Jdg 15:19). Hezekiah (Isa. 37:1-38:22). MILTON says of the martyrs, "They shook the powers of darkness with the irresistible power of weakness." valiant in fight--Barak (Jdg 4:14-15). And the Maccabees, the sons of Matthias, Judas, Jonathan, and Simon, who delivered the Jews from their cruel oppressor, Antiochus of Syria. armies--literally, "camps" referring to Jdg 7:21. But the reference may be to the Maccabees having put to flight the Syrians and other foes.
Open source ↗The apostle having, in the close of the foregoing chapter, recommended the grace of faith and a life of faith as the best preservative against apostasy, he how enlarges upon the nature and fruits of this excellent grace. I. The nature of it, and the honour it reflects upon all who live in the exercise of it (Heb 11:1-3). II. The great examples we have in the Old Testament of those who lived by faith, and died and suffered extraordinary things by the strength of his grace (v. 4-38). And, III. The advantages that we have in the gospel for the exercise of this grace above what those had who lived in the times of the Old Testament (Heb 11:39, Heb 11:40).
Open source ↗11:34 quenched the flames of fire: See Dan 3:16-30. • escaped death by the edge of the sword: E.g., Elijah and Jeremiah (see 1 Kgs 19:2; 2 Kgs 1:1-18; Jer 26:10-16; 38:1-13).
Open source ↗Cross-references
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And he struck them ruthlessly with a great slaughter, and then went down and stayed in the cave at the rock of Etam.
to Him who gives victory to kings, who frees His servant David from the deadly sword.
And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,
Nevertheless, Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.
Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. The king sent a messenger ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the elders, “Do you see how this murderer has sent someone to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door to keep him out. Is not the sound of his master’s footsteps behind him?”
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.
In famine He will redeem you from death, and in battle from the stroke of the sword.
After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his prosperity and doubled his former possessions.
You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but You brought us into abundance.