A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.(A) For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.[a](B) Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

“So I declared on oath in my anger,
    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”[b](C)

And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”[c](D) And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”(E)

Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience,(F) God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

“Today, if you hear his voice,
    do not harden your hearts.”[d](G)

For if Joshua had given them rest,(H) God would not have spoken(I) later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,[e](J) just as God did from his.(K) 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.(L)

12 For the word of God(M) is alive(N) and active.(O) Sharper than any double-edged sword,(P) it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.(Q) 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.(R) Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest(S) who has ascended into heaven,[f](T) Jesus the Son of God,(U) let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.(V) 15 For we do not have a high priest(W) who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are(X)—yet he did not sin.(Y) 16 Let us then approach(Z) God’s throne of grace with confidence,(AA) so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Notas al pie

  1. Hebrews 4:2 Some manuscripts because those who heard did not combine it with faith
  2. Hebrews 4:3 Psalm 95:11; also in verse 5
  3. Hebrews 4:4 Gen. 2:2
  4. Hebrews 4:7 Psalm 95:7,8
  5. Hebrews 4:10 Or labor
  6. Hebrews 4:14 Greek has gone through the heavens

Promised Rest for God’s People

God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God.[a] For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said,

“In my anger I took an oath:
    ‘They will never enter my place of rest,’”[b]

even though this rest has been ready since he made the world. We know it is ready because of the place in the Scriptures where it mentions the seventh day: “On the seventh day God rested from all his work.”[c] But in the other passage God said, “They will never enter my place of rest.”[d]

So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted:

“Today when you hear his voice,
    don’t harden your hearts.”[e]

Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come. So there is a special rest[f] still waiting for the people of God. 10 For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. 11 So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

Christ Is Our High Priest

14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Notas al pie

  1. 4:2 Some manuscripts read they didn’t combine what they heard with faith.
  2. 4:3 Ps 95:11.
  3. 4:4 Gen 2:2.
  4. 4:5 Ps 95:11.
  5. 4:7 Ps 95:7-8.
  6. 4:9 Or a Sabbath rest.

The Believer’s Rest

Therefore, we must fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have (A)come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did; but (B)the word [a]they heard did not benefit them, because [b]they were not united with those who listened with faith. For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,

(C)As I swore in My anger,
They certainly shall not enter My rest,”

although His works were finished (D)from the foundation of the world. For He has said (E)somewhere concerning the seventh day: “(F)And God (G)rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this passage, “(H)They certainly shall not enter My rest.” Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who previously had good news preached to them failed to enter because of (I)disobedience, He again sets a certain day, “Today,” saying [c]through David after so long a time just (J)as has been said before,

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

For (L)if [d]Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also (M)rested from his works, as (N)God did from His. 11 Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same (O)example of (P)disobedience. 12 For (Q)the word of God is (R)living and (S)active, and sharper than any two-edged (T)sword, even penetrating as far as the division of (U)soul and (V)spirit, of both joints and marrow, and (W)able to [e]judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And (X)there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are (Y)open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom [f]we must answer.

14 Therefore, since we have a great (Z)high priest who has (AA)passed through the heavens, Jesus (AB)the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our (AC)confession. 15 For we do not have (AD)a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been (AE)tempted in all things just as we are, yet (AF)without sin. 16 Therefore let’s (AG)approach the throne of grace with (AH)confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.

Notas al pie

  1. Hebrews 4:2 Lit of hearing
  2. Hebrews 4:2 One early ms it was not united with faith in those who heard
  3. Hebrews 4:7 Or in
  4. Hebrews 4:8 Gr Jesus
  5. Hebrews 4:12 Or discern
  6. Hebrews 4:13 Lit is our word

Reposo de Dios y del creyente

Por tanto, temamos, no sea que permaneciendo aún la[a] promesa de entrar en su reposo[b], alguno de vosotros parezca no haberlo alcanzado(A). Porque en verdad, a nosotros se nos ha anunciado la buena nueva, como también a ellos; pero la palabra que ellos oyeron[c] no les aprovechó por no ir acompañada por la fe en[d] los que la oyeron(B). Porque[e] los que hemos creído entramos en ese reposo, tal como Él ha dicho:

Como juré en mi ira:
«no entrarán en mi reposo(C)»,

aunque las obras de Él estaban acabadas desde la fundación del mundo(D). Porque así ha dicho en cierto lugar(E) acerca del séptimo día: Y Dios reposó en el séptimo día de todas sus obras(F); y otra vez en este pasaje: no entrarán en mi reposo(G). Por tanto, puesto que todavía falta que algunos entren en él, y aquellos a quienes antes se les anunció la buena nueva no entraron por causa de su desobediencia[f](H), Dios otra vez fija un día: Hoy. Diciendo por medio de[g] David después de mucho tiempo, como se ha dicho antes:

Si oís hoy su voz, no endurezcáis vuestros corazones(I).

Porque si Josué[h] les hubiera dado reposo(J), Dios no habría hablado de otro día después de ese. Queda, por tanto, un reposo sagrado para el pueblo de Dios. 10 Pues el que ha entrado a su reposo[i], él mismo ha reposado de sus obras(K), como Dios reposó de las suyas(L). 11 Por tanto, esforcémonos por entrar en ese reposo, no sea que alguno caiga siguiendo el mismo ejemplo(M) de desobediencia(N).

Poder de la palabra de Dios

12 Porque la palabra de Dios(O) es viva(P) y eficaz(Q), y más cortante que cualquier espada de dos filos(R); penetra hasta la división del alma y del espíritu(S), de las coyunturas y los tuétanos, y es poderosa para discernir[j] los pensamientos y las intenciones del corazón(T). 13 Y no hay cosa creada oculta a su vista[k](U), sino que todas las cosas están al descubierto[l] y desnudas(V) ante los ojos de aquel a quien tenemos que dar cuenta.

Jesús, el gran Sumo Sacerdote

14 Teniendo, pues, un gran Sumo Sacerdote(W) que trascendió[m](X) los cielos, Jesús, el Hijo de Dios(Y), retengamos nuestra fe[n](Z). 15 Porque no tenemos un sumo sacerdote(AA) que no pueda compadecerse de nuestras flaquezas, sino uno que ha sido tentado en todo como nosotros(AB), pero sin pecado(AC). 16 Por tanto, acerquémonos(AD) con confianza(AE) al trono de la gracia para que recibamos misericordia, y hallemos gracia para la ayuda oportuna.

Notas al pie

  1. Hebreos 4:1 Lit., una
  2. Hebreos 4:1 I.e., de Dios
  3. Hebreos 4:2 Lit., pero la palabra oída
  4. Hebreos 4:2 Muchos mss. dicen: por no estar ellos unidos por la fe con
  5. Hebreos 4:3 Algunos mss. antiguos dicen: Por tanto
  6. Hebreos 4:6 O, incredulidad
  7. Hebreos 4:7 O, en
  8. Hebreos 4:8 Gr., Jesús
  9. Hebreos 4:10 I.e., de Dios
  10. Hebreos 4:12 O, juzgar
  11. Hebreos 4:13 I.e., de Dios
  12. Hebreos 4:13 O, abiertas
  13. Hebreos 4:14 Lit., pasó a través de
  14. Hebreos 4:14 O, confesión, o, profesión