Hebrews 4 9

Hebrews 4:9 kjv

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

Hebrews 4:9 nkjv

There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.

Hebrews 4:9 niv

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;

Hebrews 4:9 esv

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,

Hebrews 4:9 nlt

So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God.

Hebrews 4 verses

Hebrews 4 9 Meaning

Hebrews 4:9 declares that there truly remains a unique and spiritual "Sabbath rest" awaiting God's people. This rest is not the literal observance of the weekly Sabbath, nor merely the physical rest of the Promised Land, but a profound, ultimate, and eternal rest rooted in God's finished work and available to those who enter His covenant through faith.

Hebrews 4 9 Context

Hebrews chapters 3 and 4 form a cohesive warning against unbelief, drawing a parallel between ancient Israel's failure to enter the physical rest of the Promised Land and the danger for the original readers (first-century Jewish Christians) of failing to enter God's spiritual rest. The author contrasts Moses, the faithful servant, with Jesus, the superior Son.Hebrews 3 recounts how the generation of the Exodus, despite witnessing God's power, hardened their hearts and perished in the wilderness, unable to enter God's "rest" (Ps 95). Chapter 4 continues this theme, emphasizing that the promise of rest still stands, available "today." The "rest" in view moves beyond a geographical land to a profound spiritual reality that a believer enters by ceasing from their own works, much like God rested after creation. Hebrews 4:9 is the pivotal summary that clarifies the enduring nature and true identity of this rest as a sabbatismos – a profound, ongoing, and future "Sabbath-keeping" experience for God's chosen people.

Hebrews 4 9 Word analysis

• So there remains (ἄρα ἀπολείπεται - ara apoleipetai):

  • Ara (so, therefore): Indicates a logical conclusion drawn from the preceding arguments (Israel's failure, the promise still standing, the warning).
  • Apoleipetai (to be left behind, remain): Emphasizes that despite previous failures to enter God's rest (both by disobedient Israel and potentially by the recipients), the divine promise and opportunity for true rest persists and is still available. It's a current reality and future hope.

• a Sabbath rest (σαββατισμὸς - sabbatismos):

  • This is the critical term. Unlike sabbaton (the weekly Sabbath day), sabbatismos occurs only here in the New Testament (and once in 2 Maccabees).
  • It literally means "sabbatizing," or "Sabbath-keeping," implying the experience or observance of Sabbath.
  • It denotes a final, complete, and perfect cessation from toil, worry, and striving, paralleling God's rest after completing creation (Gen 2:2).
  • Scholarly insights suggest it signifies an ultimate spiritual rest, beyond mere cessation of physical labor or entrance into the physical land. It's the enduring spiritual reality toward which the earthly Sabbath pointed.

• for the people (τῷ λαῷ - tō laō):

  • Signifies a specific, chosen, and covenanted group.
  • In the Old Testament, laos tou Theou primarily referred to Israel.
  • In the New Testament, through Christ, the "people of God" expands to include all who believe in Him, both Jew and Gentile, who have been brought into His covenant.

• of God (τοῦ Θεοῦ - tou Theou):

  • Reinforces that this rest is not humanly earned or self-achieved but is a divine gift and purpose for those whom God has set apart. It implies ownership and relationship.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "So there remains a Sabbath rest": This phrase asserts the endurance of God's promised rest. It has not been revoked. The specific choice of sabbatismos elevates this rest from a temporal or geographical concept to an eternal, spiritual fulfillment of the Sabbath principle. It points to a final, permanent state of blessing and communion with God.
• "a Sabbath rest for the people of God": Defines both the nature of the rest (divine, complete, blessed, eschatological) and its beneficiaries (those in true covenant relationship with the living God through faith in Christ). It signifies a heritage belonging uniquely to believers.

Hebrews 4 9 Bonus section

The sabbatismos in Heb 4:9 carries an "already and not yet" tension. In one sense, believers can enter a spiritual rest now through faith in Christ (Matt 11:28-30), ceasing from their futile attempts at self-salvation and trusting His finished work. Yet, the ultimate and perfect "Sabbath rest" remains a future, eschatological reality that will be fully experienced only in the eternal presence of God (Rev 14:13, 21:3-4). This dual aspect emphasizes the journey of faith while providing steadfast hope. It underscores that Christianity is not primarily about rule-keeping or constant striving, but about receiving a finished work, moving towards complete cessation from struggle and total reliance on God's provision and ultimate rest.

Hebrews 4 9 Commentary

Hebrews 4:9 encapsulates a profound theological truth: that God's ultimate rest, foreshadowed in creation's Sabbath and partially realized in the Promised Land, awaits believers as a future inheritance. This "Sabbath rest" is not about reverting to legalistic Sabbath keeping but entering into a divine state of cessation from our own efforts and works (including efforts to earn salvation or justify ourselves), much as God Himself rested after His completed work of creation. It is a rest grounded in Christ's finished work of redemption on the cross, making it available by faith. This spiritual rest signifies peace, security, and full enjoyment in God's presence, extending into eternity. For the believer, it means relying completely on God's provision and accepting His complete work, experiencing both present spiritual tranquility and the glorious future in the heavenly Jerusalem. Practically, it encourages ceasing from anxious striving, finding peace in Christ, and diligently pursuing a life of faith to secure this eternal promise.