Luke 24 11

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 verses

Luke 24 11 Meaning

Luke 24:11 records the immediate reaction of Jesus' disciples to the women's testimony of the empty tomb and angelic pronouncements. It reveals that the men considered the women's report of the resurrection as utterly unbelievable, mere nonsense or delirium, and consequently, they did not believe the women themselves. This verse highlights the deep-seated skepticism and difficulty, even among those closest to Jesus, in accepting the astonishing reality of the resurrection before they had their own direct encounters with the Risen Christ.

Luke 24 11 Context

Luke 24:11 is pivotal in the narrative of Jesus' resurrection. Immediately preceding it, several women, including Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, had gone to anoint Jesus' body. Finding the tomb empty, they were met by two angels who declared that Jesus had risen, reminding them of His earlier predictions (Lk 24:1-10). The women faithfully returned to Jerusalem to report this extraordinary news to the eleven apostles and the other disciples. This verse records their immediate and categorical rejection of this world-altering testimony. Historically and culturally, in first-century Judaism, women's testimony was not generally accepted as legally credible, making their report less likely to be believed by men who were perhaps also fearful and confounded. The disciples' disbelief sets the stage for the various resurrection appearances Jesus makes, validating the women's message through direct experience, and confronting their stubborn incredulity.

Luke 24 11 Word analysis

• But (Greek: δέ, de): Functions as a transition word, signaling a contrast or opposition. It highlights the sharp disagreement between the women's astounding report and the disciples' cynical reception.
• their words (Greek: οἱ λόγοι αὐτῶν, hoi logoi autōn): Refers specifically to the message the women conveyed about the empty tomb and the angelic declaration of Jesus' resurrection. It emphasizes the content of their communication.
• seemed to them (Greek: ἐφάνησαν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν, ephanēsan enōpion autōn): More than just "seemed," it suggests the impression formed "before their eyes" or "in their judgment." It conveys their subjective perception, not objective reality. This phrasing indicates how the report registered in their minds.
• like idle tales (Greek: ὡσεὶ λῆρος, hōsei lēros): This is a critical phrase. Λῆρος (lēros) means foolish talk, nonsense, babbling, or delirium. It denotes speech lacking sense, purpose, or truth, like the incoherent ramblings of a feverish person. The disciples did not just find the news improbable; they found it utterly preposterous and ridiculous, unworthy of consideration.
• and they did not believe them (Greek: ἠπίστουν αὐταῖς, ēpistoun autais): Ἠπίστουν (ēpistoun) is in the imperfect tense, indicating an ongoing state of disbelief or a persistent rejection upon hearing the news. The direct object αὐταῖς (autais, feminine plural) clearly shows that they disbelieved the women themselves, and by extension, their message. This implies a rejection not just of the message's content but of the messengers' credibility.

Word-group analysis:

• "their words seemed... like idle tales": This phrase dramatically portrays the depth of the apostles' dismissal. The report of resurrection was categorized not merely as incorrect or wishful thinking, but as utter foolishness, bereft of any truth.
• "and they did not believe them": This is the concrete result of their evaluation. Their internal judgment of "idle tales" directly led to their refusal to put any faith in the women or what they reported. It underscores a fundamental resistance to such an incredible concept without further, undeniable proof.

Luke 24 11 Bonus section

• Irony of Revelation: The first evangelists of the greatest news in human history—the women—were dismissed by the appointed leaders of Jesus' movement. This reversal of societal expectation and leadership further highlights God's choice of seemingly weak or unqualified vessels to carry profound truths.
• Foundation for later belief: This initial rejection by the disciples makes their subsequent belief, preaching, and martyrdom all the more powerful as evidence. It wasn't credulity but personal encounter and conviction that transformed their skepticism into unshakeable faith.
• A Recurring Human Struggle: The struggle of the disciples to believe echoes throughout scripture, from the Israelites' murmuring in the wilderness to the spiritual blindness critiqued by prophets. It serves as a reminder of the human heart's resistance to God's ways, even in the face of clear evidence.
• Foreshadowing Peter's Action: The verse's emphasis on their disbelief sets up Peter's decision in Luke 24:12 to run to the tomb, propelled by curiosity perhaps stirred by the women's 'idle tales', hinting at a glimmer of possibility. His subsequent amazement suggests the beginning of the cracks in their unbelief.

Luke 24 11 Commentary

Luke 24:11 lays bare the initial, raw human reaction to the miraculous. Despite having spent years with Jesus, hearing His prophecies, and witnessing His power over death, the apostles' minds were closed to the most monumental truth of their faith: the resurrection. Their dismissive "idle tales" demonstrates not just doubt, but contempt, reflecting both the cultural devaluation of women's testimony and the sheer difficulty for rational thought to grasp the supernatural. This profound unbelief, coming from the very ones who would become the pillars of the early church, inadvertently strengthens the credibility of the resurrection accounts. Had they been predisposed to believe, critics might argue fabrication. Instead, their skepticism validates that faith was not easily, or naively, acquired but often through undeniable, personal encounter with the Risen Christ.