Hebrews 4
1 Therefore, we should be conscientiously concerneda so that none among you would seem to have been left out,b since the promise to come into his rest remains available. 2 You see, we are also people who have received the announcement of the triumphant messagec just like they are. However, the message they heard did not help them, since they haven’t become interconnected through the faithfulness of those who listened to it. 3 We who are faithful came into the rest—even though he has said, “As I swore in my anger, ‘They will absolutely not come into my rest!’”d—just like the activities that came into being at the founding of the whole world.e 4 This is how he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his work activities,”f 5 even, again, with this: “They will absolutely not come into my rest!”g
6 Therefore, since it is still left for some people to come into it, and the ones who were previously given the triumphant message did not come in because of stubborn refusal to be persuaded,h 7 he is again designating a specific day—"today”—speaking through David after so much time, just as he previously said, “If you hear his voice today, do not harden your hearts”i 8 If Joshuaj had given them rest, Godk would not have spoken about another day after those things. 9 So, a Shabbat observance is still left for the people of God. 10 Whoever comes into God’sl rest also rests from their work activities just like God did from his own. 11 Therefore, we should give effort toward coming into that rest so that no one would fall into the same model of stubborn refusal to be persuaded.
12 You see, the message of God is alive and active and sharper than any double-edged short sword, penetrating enough to separate living beingm and life-breath,n joints and marrow, and able to discern thoughts and considerations of the heart. 13 No creation is obscured from his vantage point but everything exposed and stripped bare to the eyes of him with whom the message is for us.o
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has traveled through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, we should hold onto our acknowledgement of him.p 15 We don’t have a high priest who is not able to sympathize with our vulnerability,q but who has been subjected to all manner of trialsr without deviation. 16 Therefore, we may go up to the generous throne with courage to speak so we may receive loving faithfulness and find generosity for well-timeds help.
FOOTNOTES:
a Often ‘be afraid,’ The lexicon includes ‘anxiously concerned’ as an option.
b Or ‘have arrived too late’ or ‘been left behind’
c Traditionally, ‘gospel’ or ‘good news.’ The word comes from a message about victory carried by a messenger ahead of an army returning home after their triumph so that the citizens could prepare for their return and join in celebration.
d Quotation of Psalm 95:11
e The order of words and phrases in this verse are complicated, and translation decisions about it make significant changes in the overall impact of the sentence.
f Quotation of Genesis 2:2
g Quotation of Psalm 95:11
h Traditionally, ‘disobedience.’ This is a more literal translation.
i Quotation of Psalm 95:7-8
j The Greek is identical to ‘Jesus’ since ‘Jesus’ is the English adaptation of the Greek adaptation of the Hebrew name Yeshua (Joshua).
k Literally, ‘he/she/it’
l Literally, ‘his’
m Traditionally, ‘soul’
n Traditionally, ‘spirit’
o While technically, logos can mean ‘an accounting,’ which other versions use here, the context of Hebrews is about the message delivered by the messengers, by David, by Moses, and by God in the promise to Abraham. The context of these verses is about people who would seem to be left out of God’s rest but that God still sees them and makes sure the message applies to them. While other versions make verses 12 and 13 an ominous warning to wrongdoers, the entire context suggests it is a message of hope about those who are traditionally overlooked being seen and remembered by God for the purpose of caring and providing for them. Additionally, the grammar of the Greek phrase makes logos (traditionally, ‘account’ in this spot but translated here as ‘message’) the subject of the clause, not the object, and the Greek hemin means ‘to/for us’ not ‘we.’
p Literally, ‘hold onto the acknowledgment’
q Or ‘weakness’ or ‘illness,’ literally a physical weakness due to poor health
r As in Hebrews 3:8, most translations translate this word here as ‘having been tempted’ rather than ‘having been subjected to trials.’ The NRSV translates it as ‘having been tested.’ The word has to do with being tested, typically by suffering. The word ‘trial’ captures both, enduring the trials that test one’s strength of character through suffering.
s Or ‘timely’