The Bible — World English Bible
Hebrews 4
In brief
Hebrews 4 continues the warning of the previous chapter: the promise of entering God's rest remains open. The people of the desert did not enter it for lack of faith. The author speaks of a day, today, when we can still hear God's voice without hardening our hearts. He describes the Word of God as living, active and sharper than a sword, laying the heart bare. The chapter invites us to hold firm, because Jesus sympathizes with our weaknesses, and to draw near with confidence to the throne of grace.
The chapter in 3 parts
1Let’s fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest.
2For 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.
3For 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.
4For he has said this somewhere about the seventh day, “God rested on the seventh day from all his works;”
5and in this place again, “They will not enter into my rest.”
6Seeing 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,
7he 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.”
8For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day.
9There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
10For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.
11Let’s therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.
12For 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.
13There 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.
14Having then a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let’s hold tightly to our confession.
15For 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.
16Let’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.
Key verses
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.”
The author takes up Psalm 95: as long as this “today” lasts, it is still possible to hear God's voice. The warning is not to harden our hearts.
There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.
A Sabbath rest remains for the people of God. Whoever enters it rests from their works as God rested from his. Christian traditions understand this rest in slightly different ways, between the present and a fulfillment still to come.
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.
The Word of God is presented as living, active and sharper than any two-edged sword. It reaches the thoughts and intentions of the heart, which cannot be hidden from God.
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.
Jesus is not a high priest far removed from our experience: he has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin, and he can sympathize with our weaknesses.
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.
The invitation that closes the passage: to draw near with confidence to the throne of grace to receive mercy and help. Prayer is not reserved for those who feel worthy.
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Frequently asked questions about Hebrews 4
What does it mean to enter God's rest in Hebrews 4?
The author takes the rest promised to Israel, the rest of the seventh day of creation, and extends it to all of God's people. To enter this rest is to trust God, to stop relying on our own works and to obey his voice. Christians discuss which part is already lived now and which part is still to come.
What does Hebrews 4:12 mean, the Word sharper than a sword?
The verse describes the Word of God as living, active and able to pierce to the thoughts and intentions of the heart. The image of the two-edged sword stresses its ability to discern and to lay bare what is hidden. In context, it follows the warning against hardening the heart.
What does it mean to draw near to the throne of grace in Hebrews 4:16?
It means coming to pray to God with confidence, because Jesus, our high priest, has been tempted as we are and sympathizes with our weaknesses. The throne is called a throne of grace: we come there to receive mercy and help, not to be judged. The confidence rests on what Christ has done, not on our merit.
Why does the author speak of “today” in Hebrews 4?
He quotes Psalm 95 to say that the promise of rest remains on offer as long as it is “today”, that is, as long as God is still speaking. The urgency is to respond to his voice without delay, avoiding the hardening that made the people fail in the desert.
Articles quoting Hebrews 4
World English Bible translation — public domain.