Devine Scripture

Hebrews 4:8

What does Hebrews 4:8 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 4:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 4:8 means

If Joshua had brought Israel into the ultimate rest, Scripture would not speak later of “another day.” Their entry into the land under Joshua was real but not final. The author is not denying the goodness of that gift; he is denying its sufficiency as the last word on God’s rest. This pushes readers to lift their eyes from earthly inheritances to a higher, enduring reality. The rest promised is larger than geography and longer than any generation. By showing the insufficiency of Joshua’s conquest, the writer prepares hearts to see a rest uniquely tied to God’s own rest and to the work He accomplishes.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have said anything about another day.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for if Joshua had given them rest, He would not concerning another day have spoken after these things;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For if Jesus had given them rest he would never have afterwards spoken of another day.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For if Jesus had brought them into rest, he would not have spoken afterwards about another day.

Context

Verse 7 affirmed that a “Today” still stands in David. Verse 8 reasons that Joshua’s leadership did not exhaust the promise, because Scripture later speaks of another day. This clears space for the positive assertion of verse 9: a sabbath rest remains for God’s people. The flow sharpens the contrast between Old Covenant milestones and the deeper, abiding rest God intends, which the new covenant in Christ will reveal and secure.

v.7he 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.

v.8This passage

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

Cross references

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

  • Acts 7:45

    Which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered on the possession of the nations, that God thrust out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;

  • Joshua 22:4

    And now Jehovah your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he spake unto them: therefore now turn ye, and get you unto your tents, unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave you beyond the Jordan.

  • Deuteronomy 12:9

    for ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.

  • Joshua 1:15

    until Jehovah have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which Jehovah your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and possess it, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrising.

  • Joshua 23:1

    And it came to pass after many days, when Jehovah had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua was old and well stricken in years;

  • Psalms 78:55

    He drove out the nations also before them, And allotted them for an inheritance by line, And made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

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