Devine Scripture

Hebrews 4:10

What does Hebrews 4:10 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 4:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 4:10 means

To enter God’s rest is to cease from one’s works, as God ceased from His. The pattern is God’s own completion of creation. The rest is not laziness but the settled enjoyment of a finished work. Spiritually, it means the end of self-saving toil and the reception of God’s accomplishment by faith. Those who enter stop trying to secure standing before God by their own merit, and instead live out of what God has done. This rest also anticipates the final renewal, when labor under the curse is over. The emphasis is on likeness to God’s rest: participation in His completion and peace.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For he that is entered into his rest hath himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For he that is entered into his rest hath himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For the man who comes into his rest has had rest from his works, as God did from his.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for he who did enter into his rest, he also rested from his works, as God from His own.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For he that is entered into his rest, the same also hath rested from his works, as God did from his.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For he that has entered into his rest, he also has rested from his works, asGod did from his own.

Context

After declaring that a sabbath rest remains (v. 9), verse 10 explains its character: it mirrors God’s cessation at creation. The theological center is God’s finished work, not human effort. With that clarity, verse 11 exhorts believers to be diligent to enter, paradoxically calling for earnestness about rest. The next move (v. 12–13) will show why such diligence is necessary: God’s living word pierces and discerns, and His sight exposes all.

v.9There remaineth therefore a sabbath rest for the people of God.

v.10This passage

v.11Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, that no man fall after the same example of disobedience.

Cross references

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

  • Hebrews 10:12

    but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

  • Revelation 14:13

    And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.

  • 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.

  • 1 Peter 4:1

    Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

  • Hebrews 1:3

    who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

  • John 19:30

    When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.

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