Devine Scripture

Hebrews 4:7

What does Hebrews 4:7 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 4:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 4:7 means

God Himself fixes a “To-day” in the words given through David, long after the events of the wilderness. This shows that the opportunity to enter God’s rest did not expire with the first refusal. The call is urgent and personal: “if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” The timing—“so long a time afterward”—proves the promise’s durability and calls every generation to immediate response. Delayed obedience is dangerous; the heart can calcify. To hear is grace; to soften before God is the path into His rest. The emphasis is on the present moment where God speaks and faith answers.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

he again defineth a certain day, To-day, saying in David so long a time afterward (even as hath been said before), To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

he again defineth a certain day, To-day, saying in David so long a time afterward (even as hath been said before), To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

After a long time, again naming a certain day, he says in David, Today (as he had said before), Today if you will let his voice come to your ears, be not hard of heart,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

again He doth limit a certain day, `To-day,' (in David saying, after so long a time,) as it hath been said, `To-day, if His voice ye may hear, ye may not harden your hearts,'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Again he limiteth a certain day, saying in David; To day, after so long a time as it is above said: To day if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

again he determines a certain day, saying, in David, 'To-day,' after so long a time; (according as it has been said before), To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Context

Building on verse 6’s inference, verse 7 provides scriptural support from David, establishing that the promise of rest remained open far beyond the conquest era. This sets up the next step: if Joshua did not secure the final rest, there must be another, greater rest (v. 8–9). The chapter’s argument tightens: the promise persists, the day is “Today,” and therefore readers should respond before moving on to the fuller definition of the rest that remains.

v.6Seeing therefore it remaineth that some should enter thereinto, and they to whom the good tidings were before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience,

v.7This passage

v.8For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day.

Cross references

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

  • Psalms 95:7

    For he is our God, And we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To-day, oh that ye would hear his voice!

  • 2 Samuel 23:1

    Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse saith, And the man who was raised on high saith, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel:

  • Hebrews 3:15

    while it is said, To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

  • Matthew 22:43

    He saith unto them, How then doth David in the Spirit call him Lord, saying,

  • Hebrews 3:7

    Wherefore, even as the Holy Spirit saith, To-day if ye shall hear his voice,

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