Hebrews 4 - Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

4 Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still holds and is offered [today], let us be afraid [[a]to distrust it], lest any of you should [b]think he has come too late and has come short of [reaching] it.

2 For indeed we have had the glad tidings [Gospel of God] proclaimed to us just as truly as they [the Israelites of old did when the good news of deliverance from bondage came to them]; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not mixed with faith (with [c]the leaning of the entire personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) by those who heard it; [d]neither were they united in faith with the ones [Joshua and Caleb] who heard (did believe).

3 For we who have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on God) do enter that rest, [e]in accordance with His declaration that those [who did not believe] should not enter when He said, As I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest; and this He said although [His] works had been completed and prepared [and waiting for all who would believe] from the foundation of the world.(A)

4 For in a certain place He has said this about the seventh day: And God rested on the seventh day from all His works.(B)

5 And [they forfeited their part in it, for] in this [passage] He said, They shall not enter My rest.(C)

6 Seeing then that the promise remains over [from past times] for some to enter that rest, and that those who formerly were given the good news about it and the opportunity, failed to appropriate it and did not enter because of disobedience,

7 Again He sets a definite day, [a new] Today, [and gives another opportunity of securing that rest] saying through David after so long a time in the words already quoted, Today, if you would hear His voice and when you hear it, do not harden your hearts.(D)

8 [This mention of a rest was not a reference to their entering into Canaan.] For if Joshua had given them rest, He [God] would not speak afterward about another day.

9 So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete Sabbath-rest reserved for the [true] people of God;

10 For he who has once entered [God’s] rest also has ceased from [the weariness and pain] of human labors, just as God rested from those labors [f]peculiarly His own.(E)

11 Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience [into which those in the wilderness fell].

12 For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the [g]breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

13 And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, naked and defenseless to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do.

14 Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest Who has [already] ascended and passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him].

15 For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.

16 Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 4:1 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  2. Hebrews 4:1 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  3. Hebrews 4:2 Alexander Souter, Pocket Lexicon.
  4. Hebrews 4:2 Many manuscripts so read.
  5. Hebrews 4:3 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  6. Hebrews 4:10 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  7. Hebrews 4:12 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament.

Cross references

  1. Hebrews 4:3 : Ps. 95:11.
  2. Hebrews 4:4 : Gen. 2:2.
  3. Hebrews 4:5 : Ps. 95:11.
  4. Hebrews 4:7 : Ps. 95:7, 8.
  5. Hebrews 4:10 : Gen. 2:2.

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Hebrews 4 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

4 Therefore dread we, least peradventure while the promise of entering into his rest is left, that any of us be guessed to be away [be guessed, or deemed, for to fail]. 2 For it is told also to us, as to them [Forsooth it is told to us, as and to them]. And the word that was heard profited not to t...
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Hebrews 4 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

4 We still have God's promise that people will go into his resting place. So let us take care that not one of you will be kept out. 2 The good news has been told to us just as it was told to the people in the desert. But the message which they heard did not do them any good. Even though they heard i...
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Hebrews 4 - World English Bible (WEB)

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Hebrews 4 - The Voice (VOICE)

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Hebrews 4 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

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Hebrews 4 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

The Rest That God Promised4 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest remains, let us fear lest any of you be judged to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them; but the message which they heard did not benefit them, because it did not meet with faith in the heare...
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Hebrews 4 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

The Rest That God Promised4 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest remains, let us fear lest any of you be judged to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them; but the message which they heard did not benefit them, because it did not meet with faith in the heare...
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Hebrews 4 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

4 Therefore, let us fear, lest at any time any of you should seem to have come short of the promise of entering into His rest. 2 For the Gospel was preached to us as well as them. But the word that they heard did not profit them, because it was not mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we wh...
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Hebrews 4 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

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Hebrews 4 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

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Hebrews 4 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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Hebrews 4 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

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