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

God promised his people that they could go to his special place of rest. That promise is still true for us today. So we must be very careful. Do not fail to arrive in that place. We certainly do not want that to happen. 2We have heard God's good news, just like God's people in the wilderness heard his message. But that message did not help them, because they did not believe it. They did not trust God, like those who obeyed him. 3But those of us who trust God do enjoy his special place of rest. This is what God said: ‘Because I was very angry with them, I promised this: “They will never arrive in my special place of rest.” ’ God said that, even though he had finished his work when he made the world.

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 4:11So we must do everything possible to arrive in God's special place of rest. God's people in the wilderness did not obey him. We must not be like them. If we do not obey God, we also will fail to arrive in that place.
• Hebrews 2:1So we must be very careful. We must continue to remember the message that we have heard about God's Son. Then we will not go in the wrong direction, and turn away from God.
• Hebrews 12:15Remember that God is very kind. Nobody should refuse to let God help them. Make sure that nobody among you causes trouble so that people turn against God. A person who is angry against God is like poison. He spoils many other people's lives so that God does not accept them.
• Hebrews 13:7Remember your leaders, who taught God's message to you. Think about the way in which they have lived and the good things that they have done. They have trusted God, so you should have faith like they have.
• Proverbs 14:16A wise person is careful to keep away from trouble. But a fool is careless and he thinks that he is always right.
• Proverbs 28:14If you are afraid to do wrong things, God will bless you. But trouble will happen to anyone who refuses to obey.
• Jeremiah 32:40I will make a covenant with them that will continue for ever. I will promise always to do good things for them. They will want to respect me and obey me so that they never turn away from me again. That is what I will do for them.
• Romans 11:20That is true. God broke them off because they did not believe in Christ. God has accepted you as part of the tree because you do believe in Christ. So do not become proud. Instead, be afraid.
• 1 Corinthians 10:12If you think that you are standing strongly, be careful! Do not fall down!
• Hebrews 4:9So we see this: God still has a place ready for his people, where they can rest. They will rest as God rested on the seventh day.
• Numbers 14:34You explored the land of Canaan for 40 days. Now you will have trouble for 40 years, because of your sins. Each day becomes one year! You will know that I am not with you, but I am against you.
• 1 Samuel 2:30Because of what you have done, the Lord, Israel's God, says this to you: “I promised your family and your ancestors that they would serve me as priests for ever.” But now the Lord says, “That will never happen! I will give honour to people who respect me. But I will curse people who insult me.
• Romans 3:3But you may say, ‘Some Jews did not believe God's messages as they should have done. Because of that, maybe God will not do what he said he would do.’
• 2 Timothy 2:13Even if we no longer trust him, he will still be someone that people can trust. He will always remain true to his nature.’
• Hebrews 4:3But those of us who trust God do enjoy his special place of rest. This is what God said: ‘Because I was very angry with them, I promised this: “They will never arrive in my special place of rest.” ’ God said that, even though he had finished his work when he made the world.
• Hebrews 3:11Because of that, I promised to punish them. Because I was angry with them, I said, “They will never arrive in my special place of rest.” ’

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