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Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.
Hebrews 11:35 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
  • KJV Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
  • NKJV Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
  • NASB Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection;
  • NLT Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Some women received their dead raised to life, while others were tortured and refused release, hoping for a better resurrection. Faith both receives deliverance and endures suffering for a greater hope.

Overview

The chapter now turns from triumphs to trials. Some saw loved ones restored to life (1 Kings 17; 2 Kings 4), while others endured torture rather than deny God, refusing rescue so they might gain "a better resurrection." This shows that faith is not measured by earthly outcomes; it may conquer or suffer, but it always looks to the resurrection hope secured in Christ.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 17

  • 1 Kgs 17:22–24And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah, and the child’s life returned to him, and he lived.
  • 2 Kgs 4:27–37When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she clung to his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for her soul is in deep distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me.”
  • Phil 3:11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
  • Acts 9:41Peter took her by the hand and helped her up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her to them alive.
  • 1 Cor 15:54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
  • Acts 24:15and I have the same hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
  • Acts 23:6Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. It is because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.”
  • John 11:40–45Jesus replied, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
  • Luke 7:12–16As He approached the town gate, He saw a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.
  • Acts 22:29Then those who were about to interrogate Paul stepped back, and the commander himself was alarmed when he realized that he had put a Roman citizen in chains.
  • Luke 14:14and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
  • John 5:29and come out—those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
  • Matt 22:30In the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven.
  • Mark 12:25When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like the angels in heaven.
  • Luke 20:36In fact, they can no longer die, because they are like the angels. And since they are sons of the resurrection, they are sons of God.
  • Acts 22:24–25the commander ordered that Paul be brought into the barracks. He directed that Paul be flogged and interrogated to determine the reason for this outcry against him.
  • Acts 4:19But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Hebrews videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Hebrews 11:35YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on HebrewsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.

How Hebrews 11:35 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.