Bible Strands
Hebrews 4:9
There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The anonymous author of Hebrews addresses Jewish believers tempted to abandon Christ for the Mosaic system, arguing that Joshua's conquest never delivered the promised rest and therefore a further rest is still outstanding.
The words — σαββατισμός (sabbatismos) is a rare Greek noun, attested only here in the New Testament, literally "a Sabbath-keeping" or "a rest of Sabbath character," distinct from the common σάββατον and carrying the sense of a rest defined by cessation, not merely by duration.
The thread — "People of God" (λαὸς θεοῦ) echoes 1 Peter 2:10's identity declaration; the eschatological rest finds its horizon in Revelation 21:4 (no more pain) and 7:14 (those who have come out of the great tribulation).
Why it lands — The aorist passive ἀπολείπεται states the rest as a present fact still unclaimed, not a past event; the reader is positioned as one who has not yet entered it and must therefore stop working toward it by their own effort (v. 10).
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
King James Version
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Cross-references
- 1 Peter 2:10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
- Revelation 21:4 ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”
- Revelation 7:14 “Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
- Isaiah 11:10 On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.
- Hebrews 3:11 So I swore on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’”
- Hebrews 4:3 Now we who have believed enter that rest. As for the others, it is just as God has said: “So I swore on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’” And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world.
- Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it.
- Hebrews 11:25 He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.
- Isaiah 60:19 No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor.
- Matthew 1:21 She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”