Hebrews 4:4

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2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them,¹ not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:
^a“So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: ^a“And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”;

5 and again in this place: ^a“They shall not enter My rest.”

6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience,

7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:
^a“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if¹ Joshua had ^agiven them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.

9 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.

The Word Discovers Our Condition

11 ^aLet us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

12 For the word of God is ^aliving and powerful, and ^bsharper than any ^ctwo-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is ^da discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13 ^aAnd there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are ^bnaked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Commentaries:

Barnes' Notes

<< Hebrews 4:3

Hebrews 4:5 >>

Hebrews 4:4

For he spake - Genesis 2:2. "And God did rest." "At the close of the work of creation he rested. The work was done. "That" was the rest of God. He was happy in the contemplation of his own works; and he instituted that day to be observed as a memorial of "his" resting from his works, and as a "type" of the eternal rest which remained for man." The idea is this, that the notion of "rest" of some kind runs through all dispensations. It was seen in the finishing of the work of creation; seen in the appointment of the Sabbath; seen in the offer of the promised land, and is seen now in the promise of heaven. All dispensations contemplate "rest," and there must be such a prospect before man now. When it is said that "God did rest," of course it does not mean that he was wearied with his toil, but merely that he "ceased" from the stupendous work of creation. He no more put forth creative energy, but calmly contemplated his own works in their beauty and grandeur; Genesis 1:31. In carrying forward the great affairs of the universe, he always has been. actively employed John 5:17, but he is not employed in the work of "creation" properly so called. That is done; and the sublime cessation from that constitutes the "rest of God."

Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Hebrews 4:4:

Hebrews 4:9
Revelation 9:17

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Hebrews 4:5 >>

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