Hebrews 11:35Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"...Women received their dead raised to life again..." Here he speaks of the prophets Elisha and Elijah, who raised the dead.

"...Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection..." But we, they will say, were not counted worthy to see a resurrection. Yet, he says, I can point to men who were tortured and did not receive deliverance, "that they might obtain a better resurrection."

Tell me, why did they not wish to remain alive, when they could have lived? Was it not because they awaited a better life? Those who raised others chose to die themselves, so as to obtain a better resurrection, not such as the children of those women received.

"Women received their dead raised to life again." The widow of Zarephath did so through Elijah (3 Kgs 17:20-23), and the Shunammite woman through Elisha (4 Kgs 4:32-37). "Others were tortured." That is, they were beheaded, like John the Baptist (Mt 14:3-11) and James the son of Zebedee (Acts 12:2). Some, however, explained the torture as scourging with rods. "Not accepting deliverance." That is, they could have refrained from rebuking those whom they rebuked, and in this way have escaped the punishment inflicted on them. But they did not wish to do this. "That they might obtain a better resurrection." Better means not like the resurrection of those women's children, or better in comparison with other people. For the saints will be raised in splendor on the clouds to meet the Lord. In another place he calls this rising up έξανάστασις (Phil 3:11). And in general, it is unto eternal life. But the rest will remain below, and their resurrection will be unto eternal punishment.

"Women received their dead raised to life again." Thus, to the widow in Zarephath of Sidon, the prophet Elijah restored her dead son to life by prayer, 3 Kings 17:17-23. Elijah's disciple, the prophet Elisha, likewise raised the son of the Shunammite woman, 4 Kings 4:32-36.

"Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection." Such were, for example, the seven Maccabean brothers, their mother, and their teacher Eleazar, 2 Macc 6:18; 7:1-41. They were tortured for their firm faith, although they could have escaped torments and death if they had betrayed their faith.

"Women received their dead by resurrection," that is, either after or as a result of the resurrection of their dead. These were Shelomith and the widow of Zarephath, through Elijah and his disciple (1 Kgs 17:17, 22; 2 Kgs 4:17). Others, being delivered over to death, despised their own life, like the seven Maccabean brothers with their mother (2 Macc 6:1; 2 Macc 7:1). Although they did not do what their fellow believers did, they awaited and desired death. The Greek and others read, "not accepting deliverance," believing that they would be counted worthy to receive a better resurrection.

"Women received their dead by resurrection." These are the miracles of the great Elijah and Elisha. One raised the widow's son, and the other the son of the Shunammite woman. "Others were beaten, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection." This refers to Eleazar, the seven Maccabees, and their mother.

"Women received their dead raised to life again." Thus, for example, the widow of Zarephath received her child alive from the dead through Elijah, 3 Kings 17:22-23. The Shunammite received hers through Elisha, 4 Kings 4:34-35, by means of resurrection.

"Others were tortured." John the Forerunner and the Apostle James endured beheading, Acts 12:2. This too is a form of violent execution, as is the taking of life by beating with rods. Some of the prophets and righteous men before them suffered the same fate.

"Not accepting deliverance." That is, not receiving deliverance from such torment. Although it was possible for them to keep silent and not be subjected to execution, they chose to die in this way.

"Women received their dead raised to life again." See the commentary on Lk 7:11.

These women were the woman of Zarephath, 3 Kings ch. 17, and the Shunammite, 4 Kings ch. 4. The first received her dead son alive from the hands of the prophet Elijah. The Shunammite received her son from the hands of Elisha. Each of them showed great faith by her deeds.

Thus the woman of Zarephath awaited with faith the increase of provisions promised by the prophet. Before feeding her own child, she fed the prophet from a handful of flour and a little oil, the only food she had before dying with her son.

By the prayer of the prophet Elijah, the woman of Zarephath received her dead son alive again. The other woman, the Shunammite, was counted worthy of the same by the prayer of the prophet Elisha.

Here it must be noted that in the words above, the divine Paul briefly described the most glorious deeds of men beloved of God, wrought by them through faith. In what follows, he describes the virtues and sufferings of holy men. "Others," he says, among the saints "were tortured."

The words "were tortured," ἐτυμπανίσθησαν, are variously interpreted by translators from Greek. Some say they mean "were beheaded." Others say, "their skin was flayed from them." Some say, "they died after being beaten with clubs." The last interpretation must be more correct than the others.

"Women received their dead by resurrection" refers to the widow of Zarephath and the Shunammite woman. "They were beaten" refers to the priests by Saul, the prophets by Manasseh, and the martyrs by Antiochus Epiphanes.

"Women received their dead by resurrection" (Heb 11:35). These are the miracles of the great Elijah and Elisha. One raised the widow's son, and the other the son of the Shunammite woman. "Others were beaten, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection." Examples are Eleazar, the seven Maccabees, and their mother.

After this, in listing facts and results of firm faith, by which faith showed itself victorious over death, over the fear of death, or over the crushing force of this life's calamities, the Apostle probably has in mind the widow of Zarephath and the Shunammite. Believing that God could raise their children, they prayed to Him, εξ άναατάαεως; see Rom 1:4.

By those who were stretched upon special instruments of torture, τό τύμπανον; cf. 2 Macc 6:19, 28, and who would not accept the deliverance offered them in exchange for denial of the faith, the Apostle surely means the ninety-year-old Eleazar and the seven brothers with their mother.

Besides this, the Apostle also mentions other torments and forms of death.