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.
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:
- BSB Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain 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;
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 17:22–24Yahweh listened to the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.
- 2 Kgs 4:27–37When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, “Leave her alone; for her soul is troubled within her; and Yahweh has hidden it from me, and has not told me.”
- Phil 3:11if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
- Acts 9:41He gave her his hand, and raised her up. Calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
- 1 Cor 15:54But when this perishable body will have become imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
- Acts 24:15having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
- Acts 23:6But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. Concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!”
- John 11:40–45Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see God’s glory?”
- Luke 7:12–16Now when he came near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city were with her.
- Acts 22:29Immediately those who were about to examine him departed from him, and the commanding officer also was afraid when he realized that he was a Roman, because he had bound him.
- Luke 14:14and you will be blessed, because they don’t have the resources to repay you. For you will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous.”
- John 5:29and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.
- Matt 22:30For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like God’s angels in heaven.
- Mark 12:25For when they will rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
- Luke 20:36For they can’t die any more, for they are like the angels, and are children of God, being children of the resurrection.
- Acts 22:24–25the commanding officer commanded him to be brought into the barracks, ordering him to be examined by scourging, that he might know for what crime they shouted against him like that.
- Acts 4:19But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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.