Hebrews 3:19

So we see that it was because of their unbelief that they were unable to enter.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The author addresses Jewish Christians to conclude the wilderness generation narrative, explaining why the exodus generation failed to reach God’s promised rest.

The words — ἀπιστίαν (apistian) = unbelief, paired with ἠδυνὴθησαν (ēdunēthēsan) = they were able, shows the text attributes their failure to internal faithlessness rather than external barriers.

The thread — This cause-and-effect pattern of unbelief blocking divine promise appears in Jude 1:5, John 3:36, and Mark 16:16.

Why it lands — The text demands a reader acknowledge that unbelief is the direct cause of missing God’s rest, requiring active faith rather than passive heritage.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

καὶkaiAnd βλέπομενblepomenwe see ὅτιhotithat οὐκouknot ἠδυνήθησανēdunēthēsanthey were able εἰσελθεῖνeiseltheinto enter in δι᾽di᾽because of ἀπιστίαν.¶apistianunbelief.

King James Version

So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Cross-references

Jude 1:5 Although you are fully aware of this, I want to remind you that after Jesus had delivered His people out of the land of Egypt, He destroyed those who did not believe.
John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”
Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
John 3:18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
1 John 5:10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.
2 Thessalonians 2:12 in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness.