Hebrews 4 6

Hebrews 4:6 kjv

Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

Hebrews 4:6 nkjv

Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience,

Hebrews 4:6 niv

Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience,

Hebrews 4:6 esv

Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,

Hebrews 4:6 nlt

So God's rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God.

Hebrews 4 verses

Hebrews 4 6 Meaning

Hebrews 4:6 conveys a pivotal message about God's promised rest. It states that since this divine rest, though promised long ago, still remains available for "some" to enter, and conversely, those who were offered it previously failed to enter due to their disobedience, there is a continued opportunity and urgency for the present generation to attain it. This verse underlines the persistent nature of God's promise and the unchanging condition for its fulfillment: faith in obedience, or the danger of unbelief and disobedience.

Hebrews 4 6 Context

Hebrews 4:6 is embedded within a profound exhortation to faith and a warning against unbelief, building directly upon the arguments in Hebrews chapter 3. The author of Hebrews has been expounding on Psalm 95:7-11, which recounts Israel's wilderness generation hardening their hearts and consequently failing to enter God's promised "rest." Chapter 3 establishes Moses' faithfulness contrasted with Christ's superiority and issues a strong warning: just as that generation failed to enter Canaan, the audience must beware lest they, too, fall short of God's greater, ultimate rest. Chapter 4 elaborates on the nature of this "rest," asserting that it is not merely the physical land of Canaan (which Joshua led some into) but a more profound, spiritual, and enduring "Sabbath-rest" that still awaits the people of God. This verse, therefore, serves as a crucial bridge, reaffirming the availability of this spiritual rest and pinpointing disobedience as the enduring obstacle, regardless of the era or specific promise given. Historically, the audience (likely Jewish Christians) was being tempted to revert to former patterns of Mosaic Law and perhaps to disbelieve in Christ's final work, thereby potentially missing out on this "better" rest. The polemic is against complacency, external religiosity without internal faith, and repeating the unbelief of their ancestors.

Hebrews 4 6 Word analysis

• Since therefore (Ἐπεὶ οὖν, Epei oun): A strong logical connective, signifying a conclusion or consequence drawn from the preceding argument (Heb 3:7-19). It signals that what follows is a necessary inference from the fact that God swore that a certain generation would not enter His rest.
• it remains (ἀπολείπεται, apoleipetai): A significant verb in the present tense, emphasizing the ongoing, persistent nature of the "rest." It implies that the promise of entry has not been nullified or exhausted, even though a previous generation failed to secure it. This reinforces the idea that there is still an opportunity.
• for some (τινὰς, tinas): Highlights that not everyone who was offered the rest entered, and that entry is individual. It underscores that while God's promise is universal in its offer, it is selective in its realization, contingent upon individual response. This emphasizes personal responsibility.
• to enter it (εἰσελθεῖν εἰς αὐτήν, eiselthein eis autēn): "To go into it." The objective or outcome—gaining access to or participating in the "rest." The repetition of this phrase throughout Hebrews 3-4 underlines its centrality to the author's message.
• and those (καὶ οἱ, kai hoi): Connects two distinct groups: those who still can enter, and those who did not. It draws a clear contrast between successful entry and failure to enter.
• previously announced (πρότερον εὐαγγελισθέντες, proteron euangelisthentes): Lit. "having been evangelized beforehand," or "to whom the good news was proclaimed earlier." This is a crucial theological point: the same "good news" or "gospel" (though with different content specifics, namely, the promise of a land-rest and now a Sabbath-rest in Christ) was proclaimed to both the wilderness generation and the author's present audience. This highlights the continuity of God's revelatory plan and the consistent requirement of faith.
• did not enter (οὐκ εἰσῆλθον, ouk eiselthon): A simple, direct statement of fact regarding their failure. It's definitive and irrevocable for that generation.
• because of (δι᾽, di'): Indicates the causal agent or reason.
• disobedience (ἀπείθειαν, apeitheian): This noun encapsulates the core issue. It can mean "disbelief," "unbelief," or "disobedience." In the context of Hebrews, these concepts are intrinsically linked. Disbelief in God's word manifests as disobedience to His commands and promise, while genuine faith expresses itself in obedience. This ties directly to the "hardened hearts" of the wilderness generation (Heb 3:7-8). It's the opposite of "the obedience of faith" (Rom 1:5).

Hebrews 4 6 Bonus section

The concept of the "gospel" being "previously announced" (εὐαγγελισθέντες) to the wilderness generation is a significant theological nuance. It implies that the core principle of salvation and entry into God's promised blessing (which is ultimately "rest") has always been through a response of faith and obedience to God's revelation, rather than by law or works. This establishes a consistent divine economy spanning both the Old and New Covenants, emphasizing God's unified plan for humanity. The failure of the wilderness generation wasn't due to a lack of clear proclamation but to a hardened heart of unbelief. This echoes in various Jewish writings of the time, highlighting the lessons from the exodus generation. The Greek word apeitheia (disobedience) profoundly links spiritual unbelief with active rebellion against God's stated will, making it a critical warning to all who hear God's voice. The emphasis is on active striving to enter the rest, signifying that while the rest is a divine gift, it requires human response, effort, and persistence in faith (Heb 4:11).

Hebrews 4 6 Commentary

Hebrews 4:6 serves as a powerful bridge in the author's discourse on God's promised rest. It logically follows the detailed historical account and warning from the previous chapter. The verse unequivocally states that the divine promise of rest has not been revoked but persists as an ongoing offer ("it remains"). This "rest" is multifaceted, pointing beyond the temporal, earthly rest of Canaan. The critical implication is that since God's original invitation still stands for some to enter, there is a clear responsibility for the audience (and indeed all believers) to heed it.

The second part of the verse identifies the fundamental reason why a previous generation—specifically Israel in the wilderness, who received the "good news" of this rest (the prospect of settling in the Promised Land and resting from their wanderings)—failed to obtain it: disobedience (ἀπείθειαν). This term, intertwined with "unbelief" in the book of Hebrews, indicates a failure to trust and therefore respond appropriately to God's revealed will. Their spiritual state of heart directly resulted in their exclusion from the physical promised rest. By presenting this historical failure, the author urgently compels his audience not to repeat the same spiritual error. The availability of the rest in the present, juxtaposed with the past generation's failure due to unbelief, creates an imperative for active, living faith and obedience. The "rest" today is the Sabbath-rest in Christ, experienced spiritually through salvation and fulfilled eternally in God's presence.