What is the meaning of Hebrews 11:35? Women received back their dead Hebrews 11:35 opens with a triumphant reminder that faith sometimes ushers in breathtaking miracles: “Women received back their dead, raised to life again”. Scripture records two literal events behind this line: • 1 Kings 17:17–24—the widow at Zarephath watches Elijah pray, and “the child’s life returned to him, and he lived.” • 2 Kings 4:18–37—the Shunammite woman appeals to Elisha; her son is restored when “the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.” In both stories the mothers hold fast to God’s word through His prophets, and the Lord honors that faith with present-tense resurrection. The writer of Hebrews points to these histories to remind believers that the God who once conquered death still does. Raised to life again The clause repeats the miracle to underline God’s power over the grave. Other real-world examples reinforce the point: Jairus’s daughter (Mark 5:41-42), the widow’s son at Nain (Luke 7:14-15), and Lazarus (John 11:43-44). Each resurrection foreshadows the ultimate victory announced by Jesus: “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Hebrews celebrates faith that expects God not merely to comfort in sorrow but to reverse it. Others were tortured The verse pivots sharply: “Others were tortured.” Faith does not always yield immediate deliverance; sometimes it meets brutal opposition. Old Testament saints endured beatings (Jeremiah 20:2), stocks (Jeremiah 37:15), and stoning (2 Chronicles 24:21). Daniel’s friends faced the furnace (Daniel 3:16-18), Daniel the lions’ den (Daniel 6:16-17). The early church echoed the pattern: apostles flogged yet rejoicing (Acts 5:40-41). Hebrews honors these believers alongside the miracle-receivers, showing that both experiences grow out of the same trust in God. Refused their release Some captives were offered freedom if they would compromise. Instead they “refused their release,” choosing allegiance to the Lord over escape. Acts 4:18-20 and 5:28-29 reflect this resolve: “We must obey God rather than men.” Paul echoes it from a Roman cell: “I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13). Genuine faith clings to truth even when the exit door is unlocked. So that they might gain a better resurrection The tortured saints looked beyond temporary relief to “a better resurrection.” Unlike the earlier restorations—which still ended in physical death—this resurrection is final, bodily, eternal. Daniel 12:2 foresees it: “Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake… to everlasting life.” Jesus secures it by His own empty tomb (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). For believers, every sacrifice is weighed against the unshakeable promise: “The dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Choosing present suffering over compromise is never loss; it is an investment in forever. summary Hebrews 11:35 contrasts two equally authentic outcomes of faith. Some saints experienced dramatic, present-day victories; others embraced suffering, trusting God for everlasting reward. In both cases the Lord remained faithful. Whether He answers now with miraculous deliverance or later with “a better resurrection,” our call is the same: keep believing, because the God who conquers death still writes the final chapter. |
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