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Hebrews 4
Hebrews 4:1
Connecting Statement:
Chapter 4 continues the warning to believers starting in Hebrews 3:7.
Therefore
"Because what I have just said is true" or "Since God will certainly punish those who do not obey"
entering his rest
The peace and security provided by God are spoken of as if they were rest that he can give, and as if they were a place to which people could go. Alternate translation: "to enter the place of rest" or "to experience God's blessings of rest" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
none of you may seem to have fallen short of it
God's promise is spoken of as if it were a place to which people were trying to go. Alternate translation: "none of you fail to enter into God's rest, which he promised to us" or "God allows you all to enter into his rest as he promised us" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Hebrews 4:2
For we were told the good news just as they were
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "For we heard the good news just as they did" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
as they were
Here "they" refers to the Hebrews' ancestors who were alive during the time of Moses.
But that message did not benefit those who did not unite in faith with those who obeyed
The author is talking about two groups of people, those who received God's covenant with faith, and those who heard it but did not believe. This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: "But that message benefited only those who believed and obeyed it" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublenegatives)
unite
join
Hebrews 4:3
General Information:
Here the quotation, "As I swore ... rest," is from a psalm.
we who have believed
"we who believe"
we who have believed enter that rest
The peace and security provided by God are spoken of as if they were rest that he can give, and as if they were a place to which people could go. Alternate translation: "we who have believed will enter the place of rest" or "we who have believed will experience God's blessings of rest" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
just as he said
"just as God said"
As I swore in my wrath
"As I swore when I was very angry"
They will never enter my rest
The peace and security provided by God are spoken of as if they were rest that he can give, and as if they were a place to which people could go. Alternate translation: "They will never enter the place of rest" or "They will never experience my blessings of rest" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
his works were finished
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "he finished creating" or "he finished his works of creation" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
from the foundation of the world
The author speaks of the world as if it were a building set on a foundation. Alternate translation: "at the beginning of the world" or "from the time he created the world" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Hebrews 4:4
General Information:
The quotation, "God rested on ... works," is from Moses's writings.
the seventh day
The word "seventh" is the ordinal number for "seven." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-ordinal)
Hebrews 4:5
General Information:
This quotation, "They will never enter ... rest," is from a psalm.
Hebrews 4:6
it remains for some to enter that rest
The peace and security provided by God are spoken of as if they were rest that he can give, and as if they were a place to which people could go. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God still allows some people to enter his place of rest" or "God still allows some people to experience his blessings of rest" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Hebrews 4:7
General Information:
Here we find out that this quotation from the Psalms was written by David (Hebrews 3:7-8).
if you hear his voice
God's commands to Israel are spoken of as if he had given them in an audible voice. See how you translated this in Hebrews 3:7. Alternate translation: "if you hear God speaking" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
do not harden your hearts
Here "hearts" is a metonym for a person's mind. The phrase "harden your hearts" is a metaphor for being stubborn. See how you translated this in Hebrews 3:8. Alternate translation: "do not be stubborn" or "do not refuse to listen" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Hebrews 4:8
Connecting Statement:
Here the writer warns believers not to disobey but to enter into the rest God offers. He reminds them that God's word will convict them and that they can come in prayer with the confidence that God will help them.
if Joshua had given them rest
A person causing someone to rest is spoken of as if the person were giving someone rest. Alternate translation: "if Joshua had been able to cause the people to rest" or "if the Israelites during the time of Joshua had experienced God's blessings of rest" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Hebrews 4:9
General Information:
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Hebrews 4:10
he who enters into God's rest
The peace and security provided by God are spoken of as if they are a place to enter. Alternate translation: "the person who enters into God's place of rest" or "the person who experiences God's blessings of rest" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Hebrews 4:11
let us be eager to enter that rest
The peace and security provided by God are spoken of as if they were a place to enter. Alternate translation: "we should also do everything we can to rest with God where he is" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
will fall into the kind of disobedience that they did
Disobedience is spoken of as if it were a hole that a person could physically fall into by accident. This passage can be reworded so that the abstract noun "disobedience" is expressed as the verb "disobey." Alternate translation: "will disobey in the same way as they did" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)
that they did
Here "they" refers to the Hebrews' ancestors during the time of Moses.
Hebrews 4:12
the word of God is living ... It pierces ... is able
Here "word of God" refers to anything that God has communicated to humanity, whether through speech or through written messages. Alternate translation: "the words of God are living ... They pierce ... are able"
living and active
This speaks about God's word as if it were alive. It means when God speaks, it is powerful and effective. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
sharper than any two-edged sword
A two-edged sword can easily cut through a person's flesh. God's word is very effective in showing what is in a person's heart and thoughts. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
two-edged sword
a sword with a blade that is sharp on both edges
It pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow
This continues speaking about God's word as if it were a sword. Here the sword is so sharp that it can cut through and divide parts of the human that are very difficult or even impossible to divide. This means that there is nothing inside us that we can hide from God. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
soul and spirit
These are two different but closely related nonphysical parts of a human. The "soul" is what causes a person to be alive. The "spirit" is the part of a person that causes him to be able to know and believe in God.
joints and marrow
The "joint" is what holds two bones together. The "marrow" is the center part of the bone.
is able to discern
This speaks about God's word as if it were a person who could know something. Alternate translation: "exposes" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
the thoughts and intentions of the heart
"Heart" here is a metonym for "inner self." Alternate translation: "what a person is thinking and intends to do" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Hebrews 4:13
No thing that has been created is hidden before God
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Nothing that God has created can hide from him" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
everything is bare and open
This speaks about all things as if they were a person standing bare, or a box that is open. Alternate translation: "everything is completely exposed" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
bare and open
These two words mean basically the same thing and emphasize that nothing is hidden from God. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublet)
to the eyes of the one to whom we must give account
God is spoken of as if he had eyes. Alternate translation: "to God, who will judge how we have lived" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Hebrews 4:14
who has passed through the heavens
"who has entered where God is"
Son of God
This is an important title for Jesus. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/guidelines-sonofgodprinciples)
let us firmly hold to our confession
The word "confession" is a metonym for what a person believes and confesses. This is spoken of as if it were an object that a person could grasp firmly. Alternate translation: "let us continue to believe confidently in him, as we say that we do" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Hebrews 4:15
we do not have a high priest who cannot feel sympathy ... Instead, we have
This double negative is used to correct an incorrect idea that the reader might have, that the high priest cannot feel sympathy. Alternate translation: "we have a high priest who can feel sympathy ... Indeed, we have" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublenegatives)
who has in all ways been tempted as we are
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "who has endured temptation in every way that we have" or "whom the devil has tempted in every way that he tempts us" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
he is without sin
"he did not sin"
Hebrews 4:16
to the throne of grace
"to God's throne, where there is grace." Here "throne" refers to God ruling as king. Alternate translation: "to where our gracious God is sitting on his throne" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need
Here "mercy" and "grace" are spoken of as if they were objects that can be given or can be found. Alternate translation: "God may be merciful and gracious and help us in time of need" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)