Devine Scripture

Hebrews 3:11

What does Hebrews 3:11 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 3:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 3:11 means

God swore in righteous anger that the disbelieving generation would not enter His rest. For Israel, this meant exclusion from the promised land; more deeply, it signified missing the enjoyment of God’s promised communion and refreshment. An oath from God underlines both the certainty and gravity of the judgment. The verse is meant to be felt: hardening brings exclusion. It exposes the end of a path that begins with daily choices of unbelief. The warning is medicinal—a sober boundary drawn so that readers will fear the outcome enough to keep their hearts soft toward God.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And being angry I made an oath, saying, They may not come into my rest.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

so I sware in My anger, If they shall enter into My rest--!')

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

As I have sworn in my wrath: If they shall enter into my rest.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

so I swore in my wrath, If they shall enter into my rest.

Context

This final line of the Psalm quotation concludes the historical example with God’s irrevocable oath. It is the springboard for application. Immediately after, in verses 12–13, the author addresses “brethren” directly, urging vigilance against an evil heart of unbelief and calling for daily mutual exhortation. By ending the citation with the denial of rest, the text prepares for the extended reflection on “rest” that continues into chapter 4. Here, it functions as the stern conclusion to the wilderness story and the launch point for present-tense pastoral warnings.

v.10Wherefore I was displeased with this generation, And said, They do always err in their heart: But they did not know my ways;

v.11This passage

v.12Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God:

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Numbers 14:35

    I, Jehovah, have spoken, surely this will I do unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.

  • Hebrews 4:3

    For we who have believed do enter into that rest; even as he hath said, As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

  • Numbers 14:25

    Now the Amalekite and the Canaanite dwell in the valley: to-morrow turn ye, and get you into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.

  • Numbers 32:10

    And Jehovah’s anger was kindled in that day, and he sware, saying,

  • Numbers 14:20

    And Jehovah said, I have pardoned according to thy word:

  • Deuteronomy 1:34

    And Jehovah heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying,

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore Hebrews 3

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Hebrews 3.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Hebrews 3:11.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary