Given the fact that the Maccabean martyrs fulfill all three identifying traits listed in Hebrews 11:35 and the linguistic contacts of tympanizō and empaigmon with Second Maccabees, there can be no doubt that Hebrews 11:35 is referring to the Maccabean martyrs as described in the deuterocanonical book of Second Maccabees. Several early Protestant Bibles recognized this by placing a cross-reference to Second Maccabees in this passage.
