New Living Translation
Hebrews 4:3
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 4:3 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.
- New International Version (NIV)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.
- 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.
Context of Hebrews 4:3
1God’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. 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. 4We know it is ready because of the place in the Scriptures where it mentions the seventh day: “On the seventh day God rested from all his work.” 5But in the other passage God said, “They will never enter my place of 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 3:14For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.
- Isaiah 28:12God has told his people, “Here is a place of rest; let the weary rest here. This is a place of quiet rest.” But they would not listen.
- Jeremiah 6:16This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’
- Matthew 11:28Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
- Romans 5:1Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
- Hebrews 3:11So in my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest.’”
- Psalms 95:11So in my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest.’”
- Genesis 1:31Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.
- Exodus 20:11For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
- Hebrews 9:26If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.
- Matthew 13:35This fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet: “I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.”
- Ephesians 1:4Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
- 1 Peter 1:20God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed 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
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