What does Hebrews 11:35 mean?

The first phrase in this verse completes a list begun in verse 33. This catalog of feats was given to remind the reader of God's incredible blessing on the faith of Old Testament believers. Heroes were listed, such as Gideon and Samson (Hebrews 11:32). Accomplishments such as military success and miraculous survival were also given to support the writer's main point (Hebrews 11:33–34). That general idea is that God rewards true faith—which means trust. The sign given at the start of this verse is the most potent of all: resurrection from death.

Prior verses mentioned "Samuel and the prophets," and the miracle of resurrection occurred in the ministries of two of the Old Testament's greatest prophets, Elijah and Elisha. Both were credited with raising a dead person back to life. Elijah did so for a widow's son (1 Kings 17:17–24) and Elisha for a Shunammite woman's child (2 Kings 4:18–37). This, of course, represents the ultimate victory: a conquering of death itself!

This verse also transitions into a list which is less positive, but equally important. The purpose of this entire letter has been to encourage persecuted Christians to "hold fast" to their faith (Hebrews 3:6; 10:23). After describing the faithful, trusting, steadfast examples of heroes of the Old Testament, the writer of Hebrews begins to remind his readers just what those earlier figures had to endure in order to achieve those results. The point, as intended here, is that God was faithful to these believers, and they trusted Him despite their suffering. Since they were able to endure, and we have all the more reasons to believe, we ought to be faithful, as well.