The Promise of Rest

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, (A)let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, [a]not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:

(B)“So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ”

although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: (C)“And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this place: (D)“They shall not enter My rest.”

Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:

(E)“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”

For if [b]Joshua had (F)given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 4:2 NU, M since they were not united by faith with those who heeded it
  2. Hebrews 4:8 Gr. Jesus, same as Heb. Joshua

Therefore, since the promise of entering His rest remains, let us fear lest any of you should seem to come short of it. For the gospel was preached to us as well as to them. But the word preached did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed have entered this rest, as He has said,

“As I have sworn in My wrath,
    ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”[a]

However, His works have been finished since the creation of the world. For He spoke somewhere about the seventh day like this: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.”[b] And again in the present passage He said, “They shall not enter My rest.”[c]

Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and they to whom it was first preached did not enter due to unbelief, again He establishes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David, after so long a time, as it has been said:

“Today, if you will hear His voice,
    do not harden your hearts.”[d]

For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have later spoken of another day. Therefore a rest remains for the people of God. 10 For whoever enters His rest will also cease from his own works, as God did from His.

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