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Hebrews 11:35

ESV Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.
NIV Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even 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;
CSB Women received their dead, raised to life again. Other people were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain 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.
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.

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.
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