New International Version
Hebrews 4:3
3Now 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.’ ” And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world.
Hebrews 4:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest,'" although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
- New Living Translation (NLT)For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, “In my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest,’” even though this rest has been ready since he made the world.
Context of Hebrews 4:3
1Therefore, 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. 2For 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. 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.’ ” And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” 5And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”
Read all of Hebrews 4Hebrews 4:3 word by word
Εἰσερχόμεθα γὰρ εἰς τὴν κατάπαυσιν οἱ πιστεύσαντες καθὼς εἴρηκεν· ὡς ὤμοσα ἐν τῇ ὀργῇ μου· εἰ εἰσελεύσονται εἰς τὴν κατάπαυσίν μου· καίτοι τῶν ἔργων ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου γενηθέντων.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- weεἰσέρχομαιeiserchomai · to enterG1525
- which have believedπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
- intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- restὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- restκατάπαυσιςkatapausis · restG2663
- asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
- he saidἐρῶereō · to sayG2046
- Asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- I have swornὄμνυμιomnuō · to swearG3660
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- wrathὀργήorgē · wrathG3709
- ifεἰei · if: notG1487
- althoughκαίτοιkaitoi · and yet/althoughG2543
- the worksἔργονergon · workG2041
- were finishedγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- the foundationκαταβολήkatabolē · beginningG2602
- of the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
Cross-references for Hebrews 4:3
- Hebrews 3:14We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.
- Isaiah 28:12to whom he said, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”; and, “This is the place of repose”— but they would not listen.
- Jeremiah 6:16This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
- Matthew 11:28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
- Romans 5:1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
- Hebrews 3:11So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”
- Psalms 95:11So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”
- Genesis 1:31God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
- Exodus 20:11For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
- Hebrews 9:26Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.
- Matthew 13:35So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”
- Ephesians 1:4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
- 1 Peter 1:20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
Commentaries on Hebrews 4:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3For we which have believed do enter into rest - The great spiritual blessings, the forerunners of eternal glory, which were all typified by that earthly rest or felicity promised to the ancient Israelites, we Christians do, by believing in Christ Jesus, actually possess. We have peace of conscience, and joy in the Holy Ghost; are saved from the guilt and power of sin; and thus enjoy an inward rest. But this is a rest differing from the seventh day's rest…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3For we which have believed do enter into rest - That is, it is a certain fact that believers “will” enter into rest. That promise is made to “believers;” and as we have evidence that “we” come under the denomination of believers, it will follow that we have the offer of rest as well as they. That this is so, the apostle proceeds to prove; that is, he proceeds to show from the Old Testament that there was a promise to “believers” that they would enter into…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3People who believe the good news are the true heirs of God's rest, which is the salvation offered through Christ's sacrifice. God has said: The quote from Psalm 95:11 reminds us that the unbelieving rebels in the wilderness would never enter God's place of rest (compare Hebrews 11:8, 10, 14–16; 12:22–24). since the foundation of the world: God's rest means much more than just entering Canaan (see study note on 4:4).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. For--justifying his assertion of the need of "faith," He 4:2. we which have believed--we who at Christ's coming shall be found to have believed. do enter--that is, are to enter: so two of the oldest manuscripts and Lucifer and the old Latin. Two other oldest manuscripts read, "Let us enter." into rest--Greek, "into the rest" which is promised in the ninety-fifth Psalm. as he said--God's saying that unbelief excludes from entrance implies that belief…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 4:3
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
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries