Section 4:1–13
We must have faith in God and enter his rest
The word “rest” is used in 4:1, and it is the important topic that connects chapter 4 to chapter 3. The author used the word “rest” in a figurative way to refer to depending on God. God wants his people to rest from their own work, as God rested from his work on the seventh day after he created the world. In chapter 3, God promised the people of Israel a place to rest. In chapter 4, the author used a special time of rest as a symbol. This time was one day each week, which the people called the Sabbath Day (seventh day). Both the place and the time of rest are symbols of the rest that God’s people have when they depend on him for everything.
Two sentences in this section are especially important in stating this theme:
4:9
There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. (Berean Standard Bible)
4:11
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, (Berean Standard Bible)
The theme of this section is clear: God has planned a good life of rest for believers when they depend on him. We must be careful to believe and obey him so that we do not miss the life of rest that he promised. Some words that are connected to this theme in chapters 3 and 4 are “faith,” “believe,” “unbelief,” and “disobedience.”
Some other examples of headings for this section are:
God’s people can still experience God’s rest
-or-
We should trust God and receive his promise of rest
Paragraph 4:1–5
At the end of chapter 3, the author indicated that the people of Israel whom God led out of Egypt refused to enter his rest (3:19). Chapter 4 begins by saying that God still offers that rest to people who believe him (4:1a). Connect chapter 4 with chapter 3 in a natural way in your language. Notice the examples in the note on “Therefore” in 4:1a.
4:1a
Therefore: The word Therefore introduces the warning in the next part of the verse (4:1b). In some languages it is necessary to put the introductory word or phrase at the beginning of 4:1b to make the connections clearer. For example:
But God’s promise that he has prepared a resting place for his people can still be fulfilled to us. 1b Therefore…
-or-
God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, 1b so… (New Living Translation (2004))
while the promise of entering His rest still stands: The phrase the promise…still stands is a figure of speech. It indicates that God still promises to give rest to his people who believe and obey him. When the people of Israel refused his rest, he did not take away his promise to give rest to the people who were willing to receive it.
Some other ways to translate this meaning are:
And now, God still offers his promise that we may enter his rest
-or-
God’s promise to give his people rest can still be fulfilled to us
Languages have many ways to indicate that a promise made in the past is still valid, and it can still be fulfilled. Use a natural way in your language to translate that meaning.
the promise: A promise tells a person’s intention to do something. It indicates that the person must do what he has said. Here the promise refers to what God said about his rest. He promised to welcome people into his rest if they believe. A promise is different from an oath, so you should use different ways to translate these two words.
entering His rest: The phrase entering His rest is used as a figure of speech here. It means to begin to rest as God promised. This promise does not refer here to the land where God promised to give the people rest from their enemies. The rest that God now offers his people is a life of depending on him for everything we need.
In some languages it is not natural to speak of entering rest. Some other ways to translate the meaning are:
receive that rest (Good News Translation)
-or-
can be included in being able to rest under his care
His rest: The word rest is the theme of this section. It should be translated in the same way throughout the section. The phrase His rest symbolizes dependence on God, especially for salvation and also for everything that he has promised his people.
A minority of scholars believe that His rest may refer to heaven. It is not recommended that you follow this interpretation or make it explicit in your translation.
still stands: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as still stands refers here to a promise that is still valid. In this context, it indicates that God still makes his promise of rest available to people who will receive it. Some other ways to translate the meaning are:
is still good/valid
-or-
continues to be offered
4:1b
let us be careful: The Greek command which the Berean Standard Bible translates as let us be careful is more literally “we should fear.” It means that we should be afraid that we might not enter God’s rest. The word “fear” implies that failure to enter God’s rest is terrible. That is why we must be careful to enter his rest.
Some other ways to translate this command are:
we must be very careful
-or-
we ought to tremble with fear (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
Beware! (New Jerusalem Bible)
Translate this command in a way that is natural in your language.
that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it: There are different ways to interpret the phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as be deemed to have fallen short of it :
(1) It means “fail to receive it.” For example:
might fail to experience it (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
will fail to enter (New Century Version)
(2) It means “will be judged/considered (by God) to have failed to receive it.” For example:
will be found to have failed to receive that promised rest (Good News Translation)
-or-
be judged to have failed to receive it (Revised Standard Version)
(3) It means “thinks that they will not attain it.” For example:
think you won’t enter his place of rest (God’s Word)
(God’s Word, New Jerusalem Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Interpretations (1) and (2) are similar, but interpretation (1) is more general. It is also followed by more English versions and many commentaries. Interpretation (2) fits the context of serious warning, but no English version makes it explicit.
none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it: This clause indicates that the author wanted every one of his hearers to receive the rest that God offers. He implied that it is a serious matter if anyone fails to believe God and then is not able to enjoy the rest that God promised.
Some other ways to translate this meaning are:
that some of you might fail to experience it (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
that perhaps someone will not be included in that rest
you: The pronoun you is plural and refers to all the people who hear or read what the author said to them in Hebrews.
to have fallen short of it: The phrase to have fallen short of it means “to fail to gain or experience something because of one’s own fault.” The word it refers to God’s rest. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
to have failed to receive that promised rest (Good News Translation)
-or-
who is not able to enter/attain it
General Comment on 4:1a–b
In some languages it may be more natural to use more than one sentence to translate this verse. For example:
Beware! God still promises that we may enter his rest. So each of you must make sure to gain/receive it.
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