Hebrews 4 11

Hebrews 4:11 kjv

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Hebrews 4:11 nkjv

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

Hebrews 4:11 niv

Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

Hebrews 4:11 esv

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

Hebrews 4:11 nlt

So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

Hebrews 4 verses

Hebrews 4 11 Meaning

Hebrews 4:11 serves as an earnest exhortation to believers, urging them to diligently pursue and attain God's promised spiritual rest. It also stands as a solemn warning, lest they follow the example of ancient Israel's disobedience and unbelief, thereby forfeiting the blessings God has prepared for them. The verse calls for active perseverance and faith to secure an eternal inheritance, contrasting it with the failure of those who doubted God's power and promises in the past.

Hebrews 4 11 Context

Hebrews Chapter 4 builds upon the argument from Chapter 3 concerning God's promise of "rest" and the failure of the wilderness generation to enter it due to unbelief and disobedience. The author meticulously connects God's creation rest (Gen 2:2), the land of Canaan (entered under Joshua, but not ultimate rest), and a continuing, future "Sabbath-rest" for God's people. The chapter clarifies that this rest is not merely a physical cessation from labor or an earthly inheritance, but a spiritual and eschatological state of entering fully into God's presence and provision through faith in Christ. Verse 11 directly follows the assertion that a "Sabbath-rest" still remains (v. 9) and a call for diligent effort to enter that rest, driven by the stark example of Israel's past failure due to their persistent unbelief.

Hebrews 4 11 Word analysis

• Let us therefore strive (Gk: σπουδάσωμεν, spoudasōmen): This is an aorist active subjunctive, a hortatory subjunctive that acts as an urgent exhortation or command. It implies earnestness, diligence, haste, eagerness, and concentrated effort. It is not a passive wish but a vigorous pursuit. The call is for active and intentional commitment, moving towards the rest. This contrasts sharply with the sluggishness or negligence that could lead to missing the rest, reflecting themes of spiritual alertness.

• to enter (Gk: εἰσελθεῖν, eiselthein): An infinitive, meaning "to come into," "to go into," "to enter." It signifies the act of gaining access to and participating in the promised rest. It is a definite action required.

• that rest (Gk: τὴν κατάπαυσιν ἐκείνην, tēn katapausin ekeinēn): "That rest" points to the specific, ultimate, and true rest that has been discussed throughout Hebrews 3 and 4, which is beyond merely the land of Canaan. Katapausis signifies a "cessation" or "resting place." In this context, it embodies God's eternal dwelling and satisfaction, offered to those who put their faith in Christ. It's the spiritual fulfillment and peace found in Christ, culminating in an eschatological reality. It distinguishes God's ongoing spiritual rest from temporary or earthly rests.

• so that no one may fall (Gk: ἵνα μὴ τις πέσῃ, hina mē tis pesē): A purpose clause, expressing the negative consequence to be avoided. "Fall" (from piptō) means to fall down, to stumble, to be overthrown, to fail to attain. In this spiritual context, it signifies apostasy or a failure to reach the promised spiritual inheritance and salvation through drifting away from faith. This implies a real and grave danger for the believer who neglects diligence.

• by the same sort of disobedience (Gk: τῷ αὐτῷ ὑποδείγματι τῆς ἀπειθείας, tō autō hypodeigmati tēs apeitheias):

  • same sort of (τῷ αὐτῷ, tō autō): Referring to the identical kind or pattern of failure observed in the Israelite wilderness generation. It means "the very same," stressing the direct parallelism and warning.
  • disobedience (ἀπειθείας, apeitheias): More profoundly, this Greek term signifies "unbelief" or "lack of persuasion" rather than mere rebellion. It implies a stubborn refusal to believe or be persuaded by God's Word and promises, which leads to active disobedience. For Israel, their unbelief led to rebellion and failure to enter the land. For the Hebrews audience, continued unbelief in Christ could lead to missing out on the spiritual rest. It's the failure to appropriate God's promise through faith.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Let us therefore strive to enter that rest": This phrase encapsulates an urgent and collective call for active engagement in the Christian walk. The "therefore" (οὖν) links this exhortation directly to the preceding discussion about Israel's failure and the availability of a superior rest in Christ. "Strive" suggests more than casual effort; it implies labor and earnestness, indicative of the discipline required for spiritual perseverance.
  • "so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience": This second part serves as a severe cautionary purpose clause. The failure of Old Testament Israel (referenced as the "same sort of disobedience" or "unbelief") becomes a sobering example for the New Testament believer. It highlights that the root problem is not merely outward acts of rebellion but a deeper issue of an unbelieving heart which rejects God's word and ultimately leads to apostasy from the promise. The potential to "fall" suggests a real danger of losing the spiritual blessings available through faith.

Hebrews 4 11 Bonus section

The concept of "strive" (σπουδάσωμεν, spoudasōmen) does not imply salvation by works but rather highlights the earnest pursuit and living out of the salvation received by grace through faith. It is the active expression of a transformed heart, indicating diligence in holding fast to the confession of hope. This effort is a fruit of the Holy Spirit's work within a believer, empowering them to walk in faith, rather than an independent human striving for merit. The "rest" in Hebrews 4 is therefore both a present spiritual reality (found in Christ's finished work and our rest in Him) and a future eschatological inheritance (the ultimate consummation of salvation in eternity). Believers enter a rest now by ceasing from their own works to rely on Christ, and strive towards the final, eternal rest through persistent faith and obedience. The danger of "falling" here speaks to the gravity of apostasy – a willful departure from truth and faith.

Hebrews 4 11 Commentary

Hebrews 4:11 acts as the climax of the warning section initiated in chapter 3, presenting a decisive call to action and a stern warning against spiritual lethargy and unbelief. The exhortation "Let us strive" signifies that inheriting God's rest is not a passive certainty but requires intense and sustained spiritual effort, or "diligent effort." This effort is fueled by faith and characterized by obedience, contrasting sharply with the Israelites' failure in the wilderness.

The "rest" here is not just physical peace or earthly settlement. It is profoundly theological and eschatological: God's own Sabbath rest (Gen 2:2-3), fulfilled and offered eternally through Christ. It represents a cessation from the labors of sin, a profound spiritual peace, and ultimately, entry into God's eternal presence and blessing.

The primary danger is described as falling "by the same sort of disobedience," which in the context of Hebrews consistently equates to unbelief. The historical example of Israel missing out on the Promised Land due to their stubborn distrust in God's promises serves as a poignant parable. Their unbelief manifested in disobedience, ultimately preventing them from entering the physical rest; similarly, for New Covenant believers, an evil, unbelieving heart (Heb 3:12) leads to a failure to enter God's greater spiritual rest. The verse powerfully reminds us that faith is not a one-time event but a continuous posture of trust and obedience.

This verse emphasizes the balance between divine promise and human responsibility. While the rest is a gift of God's grace, receiving it requires active engagement and faithfulness on the part of the believer. The warning underscores the real possibility of spiritual shipwreck, not just for the half-hearted, but for those who fail to appropriate God's word through ongoing belief. It calls for urgent spiritual self-examination and perseverance in Christ, reminding us to remain vigilant against the very patterns of doubt and unbelief that proved fatal for generations past.