Luke 24:11 But their words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.

◄ Luke 24:11 ►

New International Version
But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

New Living Translation
But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it.

English Standard Version
but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

Berean Standard Bible
But their words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.

Berean Literal Bible
And their words appeared before them like folly, and they did not believe them.

King James Bible
And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

New King James Version
And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.

New American Standard Bible
But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe the women.

NASB 1995
But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them.

NASB 1977
And these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them.

Legacy Standard Bible
But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they were not believing them.

Amplified Bible
But their report seemed to them like idle talk and nonsense, and they would not believe them.

Christian Standard Bible
But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.

American Standard Version
And these words appeared in their sight as idle talk; and they disbelieved them.

Contemporary English Version
The apostles thought it was all nonsense, and they would not believe.

English Revised Version
And these words appeared in their sight as idle talk; and they disbelieved them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The apostles thought that the women's story didn't make any sense, and they didn't believe them.

Good News Translation
But the apostles thought that what the women said was nonsense, and they did not believe them.

International Standard Version
But what they said seemed nonsense to them, so they did not believe them.

Majority Standard Bible
But their words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.

NET Bible
But these words seemed like pure nonsense to them, and they did not believe them.

New Heart English Bible
These words seemed to them to be nonsense, and they did not believe them.

Webster's Bible Translation
And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

Weymouth New Testament
But the whole story seemed to them an idle tale; they could not believe the women.

World English Bible
These words seemed to them to be nonsense, and they didn’t believe them.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and their sayings appeared before them as idle talk, and they were not believing them.

Berean Literal Bible
And their words appeared before them like folly, and they did not believe them.

Young's Literal Translation
and their sayings appeared before them as idle talk, and they were not believing them.

Smith's Literal Translation
And their words appeared before them as idle talk, and they believed them not.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And these words seemed to them as idle tales; and they did not believe them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But these words seemed to them a delusion. And so they did not believe them.

New American Bible
but their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them.

New Revised Standard Version
But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And these words appeared in their eyes as delusions; and they did not believe them.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And these words appeared as insanity in their eyes and they did not believe them.

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

Godbey New Testament
And their words appeared before them like a dream; and they doubted them.

Haweis New Testament
And their declarations seemed in their view as a mere fancy, and they gave them no credence.

Mace New Testament
which however appear'd to them such a delirious tale, they could not give credit to any of them.

Weymouth New Testament
But the whole story seemed to them an idle tale; they could not believe the women.

Worrell New Testament
And these words appeared in their view as idle talk; and they were disbelieving them.

Worsley New Testament
and their words appeared to them as an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Resurrection
…10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11But their words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women. 12Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. And after bending down and seeing only the linen cloths, he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Mark 16:11
And when they heard that Jesus was alive and she had seen Him, they did not believe it.

John 20:25
So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.”

Matthew 28:17
When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted.

Acts 12:15
“You are out of your mind,” they told her. But when she kept insisting it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”

John 20:9
For they still did not understand from the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.

Matthew 16:21
From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Mark 9:31
because He was teaching His disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after three days He will rise.”

John 2:22
After He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. Then they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Luke 9:22
“The Son of Man must suffer many things,” He said. “He must be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

John 12:16
At first His disciples did not understand these things, but after Jesus was glorified they remembered what had been done to Him, and they realized that these very things had also been written about Him.

1 Corinthians 15:5-7
and that He appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve. / After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. / Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

Psalm 78:32
In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; despite His wonderful works, they did not believe.

Isaiah 53:1
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

Jeremiah 5:12
They have lied about the LORD and said: “He will not do anything; harm will not come to us; we will not see sword or famine.

Ezekiel 12:28
Therefore tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘None of My words will be delayed any longer. The message I speak will be fulfilled, declares the Lord GOD.’”

Treasury of Scripture

And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

idle.

Luke 24:25
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

Genesis 19:14
And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

2 Kings 7:2
Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.

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Luke 24

1. Jesus' resurrection is declared by two angels to the women who come to the tomb.
9. They report it to others.
13. Jesus himself appears to the two disciples that went to Emmaus;
36. afterwards he appears to the apostles, and reproves their unbelief;
47. gives them a charge;
49. promises the Holy Spirit;
50. and so ascends into heaven.

Berean Study Bible

But their words
This phrase refers to the testimony of the women who had visited Jesus' tomb and found it empty. In the original Greek, "words" is "rhemata," which can mean sayings or messages. The significance here is that the message of the resurrection was initially communicated through spoken testimony, highlighting the oral tradition of the early church. This underscores the importance of verbal witness in the spread of the Gospel, a practice that continues to be vital in Christian evangelism today.

seemed like nonsense
The Greek word used here is "leros," which can be translated as "idle talk" or "nonsense." This reflects the disciples' initial skepticism and disbelief. Historically, this reaction is understandable given the cultural and religious context of the time, where resurrection from the dead was an unprecedented claim. This skepticism also serves to authenticate the narrative, as it shows that even Jesus' closest followers struggled to comprehend the miraculous nature of the resurrection.

to them
This phrase personalizes the reaction, indicating that the disbelief was not just a general sentiment but was specific to the disciples. It highlights the human tendency to doubt extraordinary claims, especially when they defy natural understanding. This personal doubt is a relatable aspect of faith, reminding believers that even the most devout can struggle with doubt and disbelief.

and they did not believe
The Greek word for "believe" is "pisteuo," which means to have faith or trust. The disciples' lack of belief at this moment is significant because it contrasts with their later transformation after encountering the risen Christ. This transformation is a powerful testament to the reality of the resurrection and the work of the Holy Spirit in overcoming doubt and instilling faith.

the women
In the cultural context of the first century, women were not considered reliable witnesses. The fact that the Gospel accounts consistently highlight women as the first witnesses to the resurrection is a profound statement about the inclusivity of the Gospel message. It challenges societal norms and affirms the value and credibility of women in the early Christian community. This serves as an inspiration for the church today to uphold the dignity and contributions of all believers, regardless of gender.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) Idle tales.--The one Greek word which is thus rendered occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It is applied strictly to the trifling, half-idiotic babble of dotage.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. The utter incredulity of the friends of Jesus when these reports of his resurrection were brought to them is remarkable when contrasted with the evident dread of the Sanhedrin that something of grave moment would happen after three days had elapsed. The disciples were evidently amazed at their Master's rising from the dead. The chief priests and Jewish leaders would apparently have been surprised if something startling had not happened (see Matthew 27:63, etc., where an account is given of the measures these able but unprincipled men took, in their short-sighted wisdom, to counteract any fulfilment of the Crucified One's word - a fulfilment they evidently looked forward to as to no improbable contingency). The utter surprise of the disciples at the Resurrection, which in their Gospels they truthfully acknowledge, is no small side-proof of the genuineness of these records of the event.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

But
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

their
ταῦτα (tauta)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

words
ῥήματα (rhēmata)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4487: From rheo; an utterance, ; by implication, a matter or topic; with a negative naught whatever.

seemed
ἐφάνησαν (ephanēsan)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 5316: Prolongation for the base of phos; to lighten, i.e. Show.

like
ὡσεὶ (hōsei)
Adverb
Strong's 5616: As if, as it were, like; with numbers: about. From hos and ei; as if.

nonsense
λῆρος (lēros)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3026: Folly, nonsense, idle talk. Apparently a primary word; twaddle, i.e. An incredible story.

to
ἐνώπιον (enōpion)
Preposition
Strong's 1799: Neuter of a compound of en and a derivative of optanomai; in the face of.

them,
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

they did not believe
ἠπίστουν (ēpistoun)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 569: To be unfaithful, disbelieve, refuse belief, prove false. From apistos; to be unbelieving, i.e. disbelieve, or disobey.

[the women].
αὐταῖς (autais)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Feminine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

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NT Gospels: Luke 24:11 These words seemed to them to be (Luke Lu Lk)