Amplified Bible
Hebrews 4:2
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.
Hebrews 4:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
Context of Hebrews 4:2
1Therefore, 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. For 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]. 4For somewhere [in Scripture] He has said this about the seventh day: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”;
Read all of Hebrews 4Hebrews 4:2 word by word
καὶ γάρ ἐσμεν εὐηγγελισμένοι καθάπερ κἀκεῖνοι· ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ὠφέλησεν ὁ λόγος τῆς ἀκοῆς ἐκείνους μὴ συγκεκερασμένους τῇ πίστει τοῖς ἀκούσασιν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- ·καίkai · andG2532
- untoεὐαγγελίζομαιeuaggelizō · to speak good newsG2097
- us wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- as well asκαθάπερkathaper · just asG2509
- unto themκἀκεῖνοςkakeinos · and that oneG2548
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- the wordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- preachedἀκοήakoē · hearingG189
- didὠφελέωōpheleō · to helpG5623
- notοὐou · noG3756
- themἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
- notμήmē · notG3361
- being mixed withσυγκεράννυμιsugkerannumi · to uniteG4786
- faithπίστιςpistis · faithG4102
- in them that heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
Cross-references for Hebrews 4:2
- Acts 3:26It was for you first of all that God raised up His Servant and Son [Jesus], and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”
- Acts 13:46And [at the same time] Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and confidently, saying, “It was necessary that God’s message [of salvation through faith in Christ] be spoken to you [Jews] first. Since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, now we turn to the Gentiles.
- Galatians 3:8The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the good news [of the Savior] to Abraham in advance [with this promise], saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”
- Galatians 4:13On the contrary, you know that it was because of a physical illness that I [remained and] preached the gospel to you the first time;
- 1 Peter 1:12It was revealed to them that their services [their prophecies regarding grace] were not [meant] for themselves and their time, but for you, in these things [the death, resurrection, and glorification of Jesus Christ] which have now been told to you by those who preached the gospel to you by the [power of the] Holy Spirit [who was] sent from heaven. Into these things even the angels long to look.
- Romans 10:16But they did not all pay attention to the good news [of salvation]; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”
- Romans 2:25Circumcision [the sign of the covenant of Abraham] is indeed of value if you practice the Law; but if you habitually break the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision [it is meaningless in God’s sight].
- 1 Corinthians 13:3If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.
- 1 Timothy 4:8For physical training is of some value, but godliness (spiritual training) is of value in everything and in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.
- Hebrews 4:6Therefore, since the promise remains for some to enter His rest, and those who formerly had the good news preached to them failed to [grasp it and did not] enter because of [their unbelief evidenced by] disobedience,
- Hebrews 3:12Take care, brothers and sisters, that there not be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to trust and rely on the Lord, a heart] that turns away from the living God.
- Hebrews 11:6But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:5for our good news [regarding salvation] came to you not only in word, but also in [its inherent] power and in the Holy Spirit and with great conviction [on our part]. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your benefit.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13And we also thank God continually for this, that when you received the word of God [concerning salvation] which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of [mere] men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe [exercising its inherent, supernatural power in those of faith].
- 2 Thessalonians 2:12in order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe the truth [about their sin, and the need for salvation through Christ], but instead took pleasure in unrighteousness.
- James 1:21So get rid of all uncleanness and all that remains of wickedness, and with a humble spirit receive the word [of God] which is implanted [actually rooted in your heart], which is able to save your souls.
Commentaries on Hebrews 4:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2For unto us was the Gospel preached - · For we also have received good tidings as well as they. They had a gracious promise of entering into an earthly rest; we have a gracious promise of entering into a heavenly rest. God gave them every requisite advantage; he has done the same to us. Moses and the elders spoke the word of God plainly and forcibly to them: Christ and his apostles have done the same to us. They might have persevered; so may we: they…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto them - This translation by no means conveys the sense of the original. According to this it would seem that the “gospel,” as we understand it, or the whole plan of salvation, was communicated to “them,” as well as to “us.” But this is by no means the idea. The discussion has reference only to “the promise of rest,” and the assertion of the apostle is that this “good news” of a promise of rest is made to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2This good news is the message of salvation (Hebrews 2:3–4). They lacked the faith of those who listened to God. Some manuscripts say they didn’t combine what they heard with faith. In both cases, the listeners had weak faith and did not trust God's promise.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. gospel preached ... unto them--in type: the earthly Canaan, wherein they failed to realize perfect rest, suggesting to them that they should look beyond to the heavenly land of rest, to which faith is the avenue, and from which unbelief excludes, as it did from the earthly Canaan. the word preached--literally, "the word of hearing": the word heard by them. not being mixed with faith in them that heard--So the Syriac and the Old Latin Versions, older…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 4:2
In the dictionaries
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
Amplified Bible — © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631
Commentaries