What does the Bible say about rest?

Rest is commanded, not permitted — and the reason given is usually memory rather than efficiency.

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Matthew 11:28

Come to Me, all who are weary. An invitation rather than a rule.

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.Exodus 20:8

The commandment, grounded in creation.

Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.Deuteronomy 5:15

The same commandment, grounded instead in having been slaves who could not stop.

He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.Psalms 23:2

He makes me lie down — the verb is not gentle.

And He said to them, “Come with Me privately to a solitary place, and let us rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.Mark 6:31

Jesus takes the disciples away to rest because they had no time even to eat.

There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God.Hebrews 4:9

A rest still remaining, which the letter treats as not yet entered.

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Every passage here is quoted from the Berean Standard Bible and checked against it. The other topics.