Hebrews 11:32What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets;
The setting
Rome or Asia Minor, ~64 AD. The author pauses mid-sermon, realizing he could spend hours on each hero but time is running short...
The emotion here: passionate urgency, like a preacher who has too much good material for one sermon
The original word
epileisei (ἐπιλείψει) — to run out completely, like water from a broken jar
Why it matters
This rhetorical device was common in ancient speeches when orators had too many examples to cite
Read with care
What most readers miss in Hebrews 11:32
The author is literally saying 'I'm running out of time' — this was probably preached, not just written
Common misconceptionPeople think this is just a list of perfect heroes, but most of these men had major failures — Gideon doubted, Samson was prideful, David committed adultery. Faith doesn't require perfection.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Hebrews 11:32
Bible Genome reading
Hebrews 11:32 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Hebrews 11:32 comes from the book of Hebrews, written during the early_church period. These words are attributed to Paul. The dominant emotion in this verse is worship, with a comfort power of 40% and a tone that is reverent. It belongs to the dialogue genre of biblical literature. Key themes include faith heroes, testimony, time limitation. Notable phrases: What more shall I say; time would fail me; Gideon, Barak, Samson.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same worship
“Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one:”
— Deuteronomy 6:4
“and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”
— Deuteronomy 6:5
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1
“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”
— John 14:6
“Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM."”
— John 8:58
Your reflection
What does Hebrews 11:32 mean to you, today?
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