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’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. 2For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God. 3For 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.

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 let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.
• Hebrews 2:1So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.
• Hebrews 12:15Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.
• Hebrews 13:7Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.
• Proverbs 14:16The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence.
• Proverbs 28:14Blessed are those who fear to do wrong, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.
• Jeremiah 32:40And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me.
• Romans 11:20Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen.
• 1 Corinthians 10:12If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.
• Hebrews 4:9So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God.
• Numbers 14:34“‘Because your men explored the land for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years—a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. Then you will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy.’
• 1 Samuel 2:30“Therefore, the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi would always be my priests. But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me.
• Romans 3:3True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they were unfaithful, does that mean God will be unfaithful?
• 2 Timothy 2:13If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.
• Hebrews 4:3For 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.
• Hebrews 3:11So in my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my 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