Focused Passage

Hebrews 4:1-13

Enter God's Rest and Draw Near to the Great High Priest

Because God's promised rest still stands, believers must fear unbelief, receive God's word with faith, strive to enter rest, submit to the exposing word of God, and draw near with confidence to Jesus the great high priest.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it.

2 For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.

3 Now we who have believed enter that rest. As for the others, it is just as God has said: “So I swore on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’” And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world.

4 For somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this manner: “And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.”

5 And again, as He says in the passage above: “They shall never enter My rest.”

6 Since, then, it remains for some to enter His rest, and since those who formerly heard the good news did not enter because of their disobedience,

7 God again designated a certain day as “Today,” when a long time later He spoke through David as was just stated: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.

9 There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

10 For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.

11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.

12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Therefore οὖν G3767 Conjunction [ while ] the promise ἐπαγγελίας G1860 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular of entering εἰσελθεῖν G1525 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular rest κατάπαυσιν G2663 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular still stands καταλειπομένης G2641 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Feminine Singular let us be careful Φοβηθῶμεν G5399 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 1st Person Plural that none μή‿ G3361 Adverb . . . ποτε G4219 Conjunction . . . τις G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular of ἐξ G1537 Preposition you ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural be deemed δοκῇ G1380 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular to have fallen short [of it] ὑστερηκέναι G5302 Verb - Perfect Infinitive Active
Verse 2

Original words

For γάρ G1063 Conjunction we ἐσμεν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural also καὶ G2532 Conjunction received the good news εὐηγγελισμένοι G2097 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural just as καθάπερ G2509 Adverb they [did] κἀκεῖνοι G2548 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Plural but ἀλλ’ G235 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular message λόγος G3056 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular they heard ἀκοῆς G189 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb was of no value ὠφέλησεν G5623 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to them ἐκείνους G1565 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural vvv μὴ G3361 Adverb since they did not share συγκεκερασμένους* G4786 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural the τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular faith πίστει G4102 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular of those who τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural comprehended [it] ἀκούσασιν G191 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Dative Masculine Plural

BSB notes

  • Literally not having been united in the faith of those who heard
Verse 3

Original words

Now γὰρ G1063 Conjunction [we] who οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural have believed πιστεύσαντες G4100 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural enter Εἰσερχόμεθα G1525 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Plural . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition [that] τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular rest κατάπαυσιν G2663 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular [As for the others, ] it is just as καθὼς G2531 Adverb [God] has said εἴρηκεν G2046 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular So Ὡς G5613 Adverb I swore on oath ὤμοσα G3660 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular anger ὀργῇ G3709 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular vvv Εἰ G1487 Conjunction They shall never enter εἰσελεύσονται G1525 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular rest κατάπαυσίν G2663 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular And yet Καίτοι G2543 Conjunction [His] τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Plural works ἔργων G2041 Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural have been finished γενηθέντων G1096 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Genitive Neuter Plural since ἀπὸ G575 Preposition [the] foundation καταβολῆς G2602 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular of [the] world κόσμου G2889 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular

BSB notes

  • Psalm 95:11; also in verse 5
Verse 4

Original words

For γάρ G1063 Conjunction somewhere που G4225 Adverb He has spoken εἴρηκεν G2046 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular about περὶ G4012 Preposition the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular seventh [day] ἑβδόμης G1442 Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular in this manner οὕτως G3779 Adverb And Καὶ G2532 Conjunction on ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular seventh ἑβδόμῃ G1442 Adjective - Dative Feminine Singular day ἡμέρᾳ G2250 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular God Θεὸς G2316 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular rested κατέπαυσεν G2664 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition all πάντων G3956 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Plural works ἔργων G2041 Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural

BSB notes

  • Genesis 2:2
Verse 5

Original words

And καὶ G2532 Conjunction again πάλιν G3825 Adverb [as He says] in ἐν G1722 Preposition [the passage above] τούτῳ G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular vvv Εἰ G1487 Conjunction They shall never enter εἰσελεύσονται G1525 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular rest κατάπαυσίν G2663 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 6

Original words

Since Ἐπεὶ G1893 Conjunction then οὖν G3767 Conjunction it remains [for] ἀπολείπεται G620 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular some τινὰς G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural to enter εἰσελθεῖν G1525 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition [His rest] αὐτήν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Feminine 3rd Person Singular and [since] καὶ G2532 Conjunction those who οἱ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Plural formerly πρότερον G4386 Adverb - Comparative heard the good news εὐαγγελισθέντες G2097 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb did not enter εἰσῆλθον G1525 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural because of δι’ G1223 Preposition [their] disobedience ἀπείθειαν G543 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 7

Original words

vvv πάλιν G3825 Adverb [God] again designated ὁρίζει G3724 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular a certain τινὰ G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular day [as] ἡμέραν G2250 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Today Σήμερον G4594 Adverb when a long τοσοῦτον G5118 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular time χρόνον G5550 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular later μετὰ G3326 Preposition He spoke λέγων G3004 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular through ἐν G1722 Preposition David Δαυὶδ G1138 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular as καθὼς G2531 Adverb was just stated προείρηται G4302 Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular Today Σήμερον G4594 Adverb if ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction you hear ἀκούσητε G191 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular voice φωνῆς G5456 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular {do} not μὴ G3361 Adverb harden σκληρύνητε G4645 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural - τὰς G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Plural hearts καρδίας G2588 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural

BSB notes

  • Psalm 95:7–8
Verse 8

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction if Εἰ G1487 Conjunction Joshua Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular had given them rest κατέπαυσεν G2664 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτοὺς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural vvv ἂν G302 Particle vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb [God] would not have spoken ἐλάλει G2980 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular later μετὰ G3326 Preposition . . . ταῦτα G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural about περὶ G4012 Preposition another ἄλλης G243 Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular day ἡμέρας G2250 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 9

Original words

There remains ἀπολείπεται G620 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular then ἄρα G686 Conjunction a Sabbath rest σαββατισμὸς G4520 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular for the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular people λαῷ G2992 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Verse 10

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction whoever G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular enters εἰσελθὼν G1525 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition [God’s] αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular rest κατάπαυσιν G2663 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular - αὐτὸς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular also καὶ G2532 Conjunction rests κατέπαυσεν G2664 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular [own] τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Plural work ἔργων G2041 Noun - Genitive Neuter Plural just as ὥσπερ G5618 Adverb - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular God [did] Θεός G2316 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition [His] τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Plural . . . ἰδίων G2398 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural
Verse 11

Original words

Let us, therefore, make every effort Σπουδάσωμεν G4704 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural . . . οὖν G3767 Conjunction to enter εἰσελθεῖν G1525 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition that ἐκείνην G1565 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular rest κατάπαυσιν G2663 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular so that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction no μὴ G3361 Adverb one τις G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular will fall πέσῃ G4098 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular by [following] ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular same αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Neuter 3rd Person Singular pattern ὑποδείγματι G5262 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular of disobedience ἀπειθείας G543 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 12

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular word λόγος G3056 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular of God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [is] living Ζῶν G2198 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction active ἐνεργὴς G1756 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction Sharper τομώτερος G5114 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - Comparative than ὑπὲρ G5228 Preposition any πᾶσαν G3956 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular double-edged δίστομον G1366 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular sword μάχαιραν G3162 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular it pierces διϊκνούμενος G1338 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular even καὶ G2532 Conjunction to ἄχρι G891 Preposition dividing μερισμοῦ G3311 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular soul ψυχῆς G5590 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction spirit πνεύματος G4151 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular - τε G5037 Conjunction joints ἁρμῶν G719 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction marrow μυελῶν G3452 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction It judges κριτικὸς G2924 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular [the] thoughts ἐνθυμήσεων G1761 Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction intentions ἐννοιῶν G1771 Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural of [the] heart καρδίας G2588 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Verse 13

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction Nothing οὐκ G3756 Adverb in all creation κτίσις G2937 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular is ἔστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular hidden ἀφανὴς G852 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular from [God’s] sight ἐνώπιον G1799 Preposition . . . αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction everything πάντα G3956 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural [is] uncovered γυμνὰ G1131 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction exposed τετραχηλισμένα G5136 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Neuter Plural before the τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural eyes ὀφθαλμοῖς G3788 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural of Him αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular to πρὸς G4314 Preposition whom ὃν G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular we [must give] ἡμῖν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular account λόγος G3056 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.