Hebrews 4

1 Let’s fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest.

2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn’t profit them, because it wasn’t mixed with faith by those who heard.

3 For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest;” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

4 For he has said this somewhere about the seventh day, “God rested on the seventh day from all his works;”

5 and in this place again, “They will not enter into my rest.”

6 Seeing therefore it remains that some should enter into it, and they to whom the good news was preached before failed to enter in because of disobedience,

7 he again defines a certain day, “today”, saying through David so long a time afterward (just as has been said), “Today if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day.

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

10 For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.

11 Let’s therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.

12 For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

13 There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.

14 Having then a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let’s hold tightly to our confession.

15 For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.

16 Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need.

Around Hebrews 4

Context

Context for this book is being written. A note appears here only once it names its sources.

AI explanation

Hebrews 4 · Written by an AI model · Not reviewed by a theological reader

This explanation was written by an AI model to help you get started. It names no sources and can contain mistakes. Scripture comes first, and context with sources is shown separately on this page.

What this chapter says

The writer keeps pressing on the word rest. The good news was preached to the people in the wilderness as well, but it did not help them because it was not joined with faith. Yet God’s rest still stands open. The seventh day, when God rested from his works, is a sign of it, and the psalm says again through David, long after Joshua, “Today if you will hear his voice”. So a Sabbath rest remains for the people of God, and the readers are urged to make every effort to enter it.

The word of God, the writer says, is “living and active,” sharper than a two-edged sword, and nothing is hidden from the one to whom we must give account.

The chapter ends with a gift. We have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, who was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of grace, to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Background

The argument builds on Genesis 2, where God rests on the seventh day, on Psalm 95, and on the story of Joshua’s generation entering the land in Joshua. Christians differ on how to read the rest: as salvation received now, as the life to come, or as a Sabbath practice, and often as a mix of these. The author is unknown, and the letter is usually dated to the first century. The mention of Jesus as high priest prepares the chapters that follow.

About this explanation

Written by Claude Sonnet 5.5, an AI model, on 18 October 2026. It draws on the WEB text and general knowledge and was not checked against sources by a person. Every quotation from Scripture is checked automatically against the WEB text.

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World English Bible. Public-domain source and edition notes