Hebrews 4:1

Hebrews 4:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.

Context of Hebrews 4:1

Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still remains and is freely offered today, let us fear, in case any one of you may seem to come short of reaching it or think he has come too late. 2For indeed we have had the good news [of salvation] preached to us, just as the Israelites also [when the good news of the promised land came to them]; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not united with faith [in God] by those who heard. 3For we who believe [that is, we who personally trust and confidently rely on God] enter that rest [so we have His inner peace now because we are confident in our salvation, and assured of His power], just as He has said, “As I swore [an oath] in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest,” [this He said] although His works were completed from the foundation of the world [waiting for all who would believe].

Hebrews 4:1 word by word

Φοβηθῶμεν οὖν μήποτε καταλειπομένης ἐπαγγελίας εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν κατάπαυσιν αὐτοῦ, δοκῇ τις ἐξ ὑμῶν ὑστερηκέναι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Let usφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
• thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• lestμήποτεmēpote mē pote · lestG3379
• a promiseἐπαγγελίαepaggelia · promiseG1860
• being leftκαταλείπωkataleipō · to leave behindG2641
• of enteringεἰσέρχομαιeiserchomai · to enterG1525
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• restὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• restκατάπαυσιςkatapausis · restG2663
• anyτιςtis · oneG5100
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• youσύsu · youG4771
• should seemδοκέωdokeō · to thinkG1380
• to come short of itὑστερέωhustereō · to lackG5302

Cross-references for Hebrews 4:1

• Hebrews 4:11Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience [as those who died in the wilderness].
• Hebrews 2:1For this reason [that is, because of God’s final revelation in His Son Jesus and because of Jesus’ superiority to the angels] we must pay much closer attention than ever to the things that we have heard, so that we do not [in any way] drift away from truth.
• Hebrews 12:15See to it that no one falls short of God’s grace; that no root of resentment springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
• Hebrews 13:7Remember your leaders [for it was they] who brought you the word of God; and consider the result of their conduct [the outcome of their godly lives], and imitate their faith [their conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things, the Provider of eternal salvation through Christ, and imitate their reliance on God with absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].
• Proverbs 14:16A wise man suspects danger and cautiously avoids evil, But the fool is arrogant and careless.
• Proverbs 28:14Blessed and favored by God is the man who fears [sin and its consequence] at all times, But he who hardens his heart [and is determined to sin] will fall into disaster.
• Jeremiah 32:40I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will do them good and not turn away from them; and I will put in their heart a fear and reverential awe of Me, so that they will not turn away from Me.
• Romans 11:20That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by your faith [as believers understanding the truth of Christ’s deity]. Do not be conceited, but [rather stand in great awe of God and] fear [Him];
• 1 Corinthians 10:12Therefore let the one who thinks he stands firm [immune to temptation, being overconfident and self-righteous], take care that he does not fall [into sin and condemnation].
• Hebrews 4:9So there remains a [full and complete] Sabbath rest for the people of God.
• Numbers 14:34According to the number of days in which you spied out the land [of Canaan], forty days, for each day, you shall bear and suffer a year for your sins and guilt, for forty years, and you shall know My displeasure [the revoking of My promise and My estrangement because of your sin].
• 1 Samuel 2:30Therefore the Lord God of Israel declares, ‘I did indeed say that your house and that of [Aaron] your father would walk [in priestly service] before Me forever.’ But now the Lord declares, ‘Far be it from Me—for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be insignificant and contemptible.
• Romans 3:3What then? If some did not believe or were unfaithful [to God], their lack of belief will not nullify and make invalid the faithfulness of God and His word, will it?
• 2 Timothy 2:13If we are faithless, He remains faithful [true to His word and His righteous character], for He cannot deny Himself.
• Hebrews 4:3For we who believe [that is, we who personally trust and confidently rely on God] enter that rest [so we have His inner peace now because we are confident in our salvation, and assured of His power], just as He has said, “As I swore [an oath] in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest,” [this He said] although His works were completed from the foundation of the world [waiting for all who would believe].
• Hebrews 3:11So I swore [an oath] in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest [the promised land].’ ”

Commentaries on Hebrews 4:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Let us therefore fear - Seeing the Israelites lost the rest of Canaan, through obstinacy and unbelief, let us be afraid lest we come short of the heavenly rest, through the same cause. Should seem to come short of it - Lest any of us should actually come short of it; i.e. miss it. See the note on the verb , to seem, Luke 8:18; (note). What the apostle had said before, relative to the rest, might be considered as an allegory; here he explains and applies…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Let us therefore fear - Let us be apprehensive that we may possibly fall of that rest. The kind of “fear” which is recommended here is what leads to caution and care. A man who is in danger of losing his life or health should be watchful; a seaman that is in danger of running on a lee-shore should be on his guard. So we who have the offer of heaven, and who yet are in danger of losing it, should take all possible precautions lest we fail of it. Lest a…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Humble, cautious fear is urged, lest any should come short of the promised rest, through unbelief. (1-10) Arguments and motives to faith and hope in our approaches to God. (11-16) Verses 1-10 The privileges we have under the gospel, are greater than any had under the law of Moses, though the same gospel for substance was preached under both Testaments. There have been in all ages many unprofitable hearers; and unbelief is at the root of all unfruitfulness…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1let us be careful: Fearing God means having a deep respect and awe for God and God's will. Missing out on God's promises would be a great tragedy.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-16Let Us Strive to Obtain It by Him, Our Sympathizing High Priest. 1. Let us ... fear--not with slavish terror, but godly "fear and trembling" (Php 2:12). Since so many have fallen, we have cause to fear (He 3:17-19). being left us--still remaining to us after the others have, by neglect, lost it. his rest--God's heavenly rest, of which Canaan is the type. "To-day" still continues, during which there is the danger of failing to reach the rest. "To-day,"…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 4:1

• Backsliders
• Faith
• Procrastination
• Regeneration
• Rest
• Salvation
• Unbelief

In the dictionaries

• Discerner
• Example
• Fall
• Naked
• Powerful
• Rest
• Asunder
• Congregation
• Fair
• Faithful; Faithfulness

Commentaries on Hebrews 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings