Luke 24:11 kjv
And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
Luke 24:11 nkjv
And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.
Luke 24:11 niv
But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
Luke 24:11 esv
but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
Luke 24:11 nlt
But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn't believe it.
Luke 24 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Luke 24:11 | the women considered their words but dismissed them as | Luke 24:11 (Disbelief of disciples) |
| Acts 1:3 | the disciples’ testimony seemed like nonsense | Acts 1:3 (Jesus' post-resurrection appearances) |
| Mark 16:10 | He appeared to Mary Magdalene, who reported it, but they disbelieved | Mark 16:10 (Disbelief at Emmaus) |
| John 20:25 | the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" He replied, | John 20:25 (Thomas’ skepticism) |
| John 20:20 | the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. | John 20:20 (Witness confirmation) |
| 1 Cor 15:3-5 | Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried | 1 Cor 15:3-5 (Resurrection account) |
| 1 Cor 15:14 | if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith | 1 Cor 15:14 (Implication of no resurrection) |
| 1 Cor 15:16-17 | For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised | 1 Cor 15:16-17 (Grave implications) |
| Matt 28:11-15 | reports of the resurrection were considered falsehoods | Matt 28:11-15 (Guard’s report) |
| Ps 88:5-7 | deep in Sheol, among the dead | Ps 88:5-7 (Depth of death) |
| Isa 26:19 | Your dead will live; your bodies will rise. Awaken and sing, you dwellers in dust | Isa 26:19 (Resurrection hope) |
| Dan 12:2 | Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will wake | Dan 12:2 (Daniel's prophecy) |
| John 11:23-24 | Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha answered | John 11:23-24 (Martha's understanding) |
| Acts 2:24 | But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, | Acts 2:24 (Peter’s Pentecost sermon) |
| Rom 1:4 | and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. | Rom 1:4 (Resurrection declaration) |
| Heb 12:2 | Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. | Heb 12:2 (Endurance through shame) |
| Phil 3:10 | I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death | Phil 3:10 (Paul's desire) |
| 1 Pet 1:3 | Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead | 1 Pet 1:3 (Living hope) |
| Rev 1:18 | I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. | Rev 1:18 (Christ's living power) |
| John 2:19 | Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” | John 2:19 (Jesus' prediction) |
| Luke 9:45 | But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it. | Luke 9:45 (Disciples' prior misunderstanding) |
Luke 24 verses
Luke 24 11 Meaning
The women, upon hearing from the disciples, dismissed their account as foolish talk or empty tales. This indicates a disbelief stemming from the sheer magnitude and strangeness of the event—Jesus' resurrection. Their initial reaction highlights the human struggle with accepting the miraculous, especially when presented secondhand by those who themselves seemed disoriented.
Luke 24 11 Context
This verse appears in Luke 24, describing the events following Jesus' resurrection. The women have come from the empty tomb with the incredible news that angels appeared to them, announcing Jesus is alive. They reported this to the eleven and to all the others, who heard this message from the women but did not initially believe them, dismissing their account as wild or nonsensical stories. This disbelief, both from the other disciples and later from Thomas, highlights the challenging nature of the resurrection for human understanding and the eventual necessity for direct evidence. The wider context of the chapter shows the disciples struggling to comprehend Jesus’ claims and predictions about his suffering, death, and resurrection, making their reaction to the women’s news understandable, albeit a moment of spiritual blindness.
Luke 24 11 Word Analysis
αἱ (hai): Greek for "the" (feminine plural). Articles pointing to specific women who encountered the angels.
γυναῖκες (gunaikes): Greek for "women." Refers to Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and possibly others mentioned in Luke 24:10.
δὲ (de): Greek for "but" or "and." A conjunctive particle indicating a contrast or transition.
εἶναι (einai): Greek infinitive for "to be." Implies they considered the message itself.
ὥς (hōs): Greek for "as" or "like." Used here to liken their words to something else.
λάøjι (lagōn): Greek for "empty tales" or "idle chatter" (found in some textual traditions, with varying readings like λῆρος (lēros), meaning "nonsense" or "trifles"). This word signifies utter disbelief and devaluation of the report. It suggests the report seemed absurd, frivolous, or completely untrue, not even worthy of serious consideration.
ἀπ’ (ap'): Greek preposition, a shortened form of ἀπό (apo), meaning "from."
αὐτῶν (autōn): Greek for "them" (genitive plural). Referring back to the women.
Group analysis: The phrase "ὥς λόγοι κενός" (hōs logoi kenos) or variations thereof, captures the essence of incredulity. The disciples, despite their own post-resurrection encounters (though not yet fully detailed in this immediate sequence for the broader group of "eleven and all the others"), when hearing from the women, are overwhelmed by the report's extraordinariness and find it incredible. This immediate reaction sets up the later, more specific accounts of the disciples' experiences, including their initial doubt.
Luke 24 11 Bonus Section
The varied readings in ancient manuscripts for "empty tales" (like logoi kenos or lēros) underscore the importance of textual criticism. However, the consensus meaning points to extreme disbelief. This initial dismissal by the disciples is reminiscent of Old Testament prophets who faced skepticism and opposition. It highlights the persistent human tendency to rationalize or reject supernatural claims, even when delivered by credible messengers. The subsequent encounters Jesus had with his disciples, particularly the well-known incident with Thomas in John 20:24-29, serve as the necessary follow-up, addressing this very skepticism and providing undeniable proof.
Luke 24 11 Commentary
The reaction of the eleven disciples and others, as recorded by Luke, is crucial. They, too, like the women earlier at the tomb (who initially trembled and were terrified, Mark 16:8), struggle to grasp the reality of the resurrection. Their dismissal as "empty tales" reveals the psychological barrier. The resurrection was a concept so radically outside their previous experience and understanding that it initially sounded like fantasy. This disbelief is not a flaw in their character but a realistic portrayal of human reaction to the unprecedented. It underscores the necessity for overwhelming evidence to overcome such ingrained skepticism. This human element makes the subsequent confirmation of the resurrection even more impactful, demonstrating that faith was ultimately grounded not in blind acceptance but in verifiable truth.