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Chapter 4

The Sabbath Rest. Therefore, let us be on our guard while the promise of entering into his rest remains, that none of you seem to have failed. For in fact we have received the good news just as they did. But the word that they heard did not profit them, for they were not united in faith with those who listened. For we who believed enter into [that] rest, just as he has said:(A)

“As I swore in my wrath,
    ‘They shall not enter into my rest,’”

and yet his works were accomplished at the foundation of the world. For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this manner, “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works”;(B) and again, in the previously mentioned place, “They shall not enter into my rest.”(C) Therefore, since it remains that some will enter into it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience, he once more set a day, “today,” when long afterwards he spoke through David, as already quoted:(D)

“Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
‘Harden not your hearts.’”

Now if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterwards of another day.(E) Therefore, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God. 10 And whoever enters into God’s rest, rests from his own works as God did from his. 11 Therefore, let us strive to enter into that rest, so that no one may fall after the same example of disobedience.

12 Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.(F) 13 No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.(G)

Jesus, Compassionate High Priest. 14 [a]Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.(H) 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.(I) 16 So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.(J)

Footnotes

  1. 4:14–16 These verses, which return to the theme first sounded in Hb 2:16–3:1, serve as an introduction to the section that follows. The author here alone calls Jesus a great high priest (Hb 4:14), a designation used by Philo for the Logos; perhaps he does so in order to emphasize Jesus’ superiority over the Jewish high priest. He has been tested in every way, yet without sin (Hb 4:15); this indicates an acquaintance with the tradition of Jesus’ temptations, not only at the beginning (as in Mk 1:13) but throughout his public life (cf. Lk 22:28). Although the reign of the exalted Jesus is a theme that occurs elsewhere in Hebrews, and Jesus’ throne is mentioned in Hb 1:8, the throne of grace (Hb 4:16) refers to the throne of God. The similarity of Hb 4:16 to Hb 10:19–22 indicates that the author is thinking of our confident access to God, made possible by the priestly work of Jesus.

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Reposo del pueblo de Dios

Por tanto, aunque la promesa de entrar en su reposo sigue vigente, cuidémonos, no sea que alguno de ustedes vaya a quedarse fuera. Porque a nosotros se nos ha anunciado las buenas noticias, lo mismo que a ellos; pero el mensaje que escucharon no les sirvió de nada, porque no se unieron en la fe a[a] los que habían prestado atención a ese mensaje. Ahora bien, en tal reposo entramos los que somos creyentes, conforme Dios ha dicho:

«Así que, en mi enojo, hice este juramento:
    “Jamás entrarán en mi reposo”».[b]

Es cierto que su trabajo quedó terminado con la creación del mundo, pues en algún lugar se ha dicho así del séptimo día: «Y en el séptimo día descansó Dios de todas sus obras».[c] Y en el pasaje citado también dice: «Jamás entrarán en mi reposo».

Aunque todavía falta que algunos entren en ese reposo, y los primeros a quienes se les anunció las buenas noticias no entraron por causa de su desobediencia, Dios volvió a fijar un día, que es «hoy», cuando mucho después declaró por medio de David lo que ya se ha mencionado:

«Si ustedes oyen hoy su voz,
    no endurezcan sus corazones».[d]

Porque si Josué les hubiera dado el reposo, Dios no habría hablado posteriormente de otro día. Por consiguiente, queda todavía un reposo especial[e] para el pueblo de Dios; 10 porque el que entra en el reposo de Dios descansa también de sus obras, así como Dios descansó de las suyas. 11 Esforcémonos, pues, por entrar en ese reposo, para que nadie caiga al seguir aquel ejemplo de desobediencia.

12 Sin duda, la palabra de Dios es viva, eficaz y más cortante que cualquier espada de dos filos. Penetra hasta lo más profundo del alma y del espíritu, hasta la médula de los huesos,[f] y juzga los pensamientos y las intenciones del corazón. 13 Ninguna cosa creada escapa a la vista de Dios. Todo está al descubierto, expuesto a los ojos de aquel a quien hemos de rendir cuentas.

Jesús, el gran sumo sacerdote

14 Por lo tanto, ya que en Jesús, el Hijo de Dios, tenemos un gran sumo sacerdote que ha atravesado los cielos, aferrémonos a la fe que profesamos. 15 Porque no tenemos un sumo sacerdote incapaz de compadecerse de nuestras debilidades, sino uno que ha sido tentado en todo de la misma manera que nosotros, aunque sin pecado. 16 Así que acerquémonos confiadamente al trono de la gracia para recibir la misericordia y encontrar la gracia que nos ayuden oportunamente.

Footnotes

  1. 4:2 no se unieron en la fe a. Var. no se combinó con fe para.
  2. 4:3 Sal 95:11; también en v. 5.
  3. 4:4 Gn 2:2.
  4. 4:7 Sal 95:7,8.
  5. 4:9 un reposo especial. Lit. un sabático.
  6. 4:12 Penetra … huesos. Lit. Penetra hasta la división de alma y espíritu, y de articulaciones y médulas.

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.

Footnotes

  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