| Entering His Rest |
In Hebrews 3: 7 - 4: 11, the writer discusses the entering of the place ofrest that God has prepared from the beginning of creation for those who keep His commandments.Alluding to Psalm 95: 10, 11, he tells why the children of Israel who were brought out ofIsrael could not attain it. Alluding to Psalm 95: 7, he refers to a rest yet to come.
In this paper, I am making a comparative analysis of only a few verses inthese passages, namely Psalm 95: 10, 11 and Hebrews 4: 3, 7, 8, 9. Not all ofthe same versions are used throughout. In the process of comparing the versions, I hope toestablish what is meant by God's place of rest. It will be necessary to read the whole of thepassage mentioned in the first line to obtain the full impact. Some useful information istaken from the footnotes of a few versions. The DartmouthBible (an abbreviated version) omits all of the passages being compared.
Numerous versions are almost the same. Of all of the versions examined, theones chosen have interesting aspects. However, I feel that a few have faulty translations. Ileave my reader to draw his own conclusion. The King JamesVersion and An American Translation (Beck) are beingused as my base translations.
| Versions Compared |
| Psalm95: 10, 11 |
| KJV | Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a peoplethat do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest. |
| AAT | "For forty years I was disgusted with those people; I said, 'They're a people whosehearts are going astray; they haven't learned My ways.' "So in my anger I took a solemn oath: 'They will never come to My placeof rest!'" |
| AB | Forty years long was I grieved and disgusted with that generation, and said, It is apeople that do err in the their heart, and they do not approve, acknowledge, or regard My ways. Wherefore I swore in My wrath that they should not enter [the land of promise] My rest[Heb. 4: 3-11.] |
| HBME | Forty years long was I grieved with that generation, and said, It is a people that do errin their heart, and they have not known my ways: Wherefore I sware in my wrath, that they should not enter into my rest. |
| IV | Forty years long I was grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do errin their heart, and have not known my ways; Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest. |
| LB | "For forty years I watched them in disgust," the Lord God says. "They were a nationwhose thoughts and heart were far away from me. They refused to accept my laws. Therefore inmighty wrath I swore that they would never enter the Promised Land, the place of rest Iplanned for them." |
| NSNT | "I abhorred that generation for forty long years, and said, 'They are an aberrant people, whodo not acknowledge My ways.' "So I swore solemnly in My anger, that they should not enter My land of rest. |
| TM | For forty years they watched me at work among them, as over and over they tried mypatience. And I was provoked -- oh, was I provoked! 'Can't they keep their minds onGod for five minutes? Do they simply refuse to walkdown my road?' Exasperated, I exploded, 'They'll never get where they'reheaded, never be able to sit down andrest.'" |
| YLR | Forty years, I am weary of the generation, And I say, 'A people erring in heart -- they! And they have not known my ways.' Where I sware in My anger, 'If they come in unto My rest --!' |
All of these versions, except Young's Literal Translation, make it clear thatthe children of Israel will not come into God rest. The use of the conditional makes themeaning unclear. This is because of the translation being literal. The actual meaning isnoted later. The Amplified Bible and the Living Bible refer to the Promised Land, to whichthe children of Israel were headed. This passage alludes to Numbers 14: 23, which reads asfollows in the King James Version:
...; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall anyof them that provoked me see it: ... .
However, I believe that there is more than the land of Canaan involved.
| Hebrews4: 3 |
| KJV | For we which have believed do enter into rest as he said, As I have sworn inmy wrath, if they shall enter my rest: although the works were finished from the foundationof the world. |
| AAT | We who have believed go to a rest, since He has said: So I sware in My anger that they willnever come to My place of rest. And yet God finished His work when He made the world, ... |
| AB | For we who have believed -- who have adhered to and trusted and relied on God -- do enterinto that rest, in accordance with His declaration that those [who did not believe] should notenter when He said, As I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter into My rest, and that He saidalthough [His] works had been completed and prepared [and waiting for all who believe] fromthe foundation of the world. [Ps. 95: 11.] |
| CLNT | Then we who believe are entering into the stopping, according as He has declared, "As I swear in My indignation, If they shall be entering intoMy stopping --!" Although the works occur from the disruption of the world. |
| DHB | For we enter into the rest who have believed; as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, Ifthey shall enter into my rest; although the works had been completed from [the] foundation of[the] world. |
| DRB | For we, who have believed, shall enter into rest; as he said: As I have sworn in my wrath;If they shall enter into my rest; and this indeed when the works from the foundation of theworld were finished. |
| HBRV | For we which have believed do enter into that rest; even as he hath said, As I sware in mywrath, They shall not enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundationof the world. |
| IV | For we who have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, Ifthey harden their hearts they shall not enter into my rest; also, I have sworn, If they willnot harden their hearts, they shall enter into my rest; although the works of God wereprepared (or finished) from the foundation of the world. |
| LB | For only we who believe God can enter into his place of rest. He has said, "I have swornin my anger that those who don't believe me will never get in," even though he has been readyand waiting for them since the world began. |
| LBP | But we who have believed will enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath,they shall not enter into my rest; for behold, the works of God were from the very foundationof the world. |
| NIV | Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God said, "So I declared an oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.' " And yet his work had been finished since the creation of the world. |
| NSNT | For, to enter his rest, one has to believe. Just as He has said, "So in My anger I took anoath, saying, 'They shall never enter My rest.'" All His works had been planned before thefoundation of the world.. |
| TM | If we believe, though, we'll experience that state of resting. But not if we don't havefaith. Remember that God said, "Exasperated, I vowed, 'They'll never get where they'regoing, never be able to sit down andrest.'" God made that vow, even though he'd finished his part before the foundation of the world. |
| WAS | For we who believed do enter into rest, even as He said, "As I swore in My wrath, theyshall not enter into My rest; although the works were finished from the founding of a world." |
| YLR | ..., for we do enter into the rest -- we who did believe, as He said, 'So I sware in Myanger, If they shall enter into My rest --;' and yet the works were done from the foundationof the world, ... . |
Within this verse is a quote from Psalm 95:11. The Amplified Bible, The HolyBible in Modern English, the Living Bible, and Norlie's Simplified New Testament useshould or would in one verse, but shall or will in the other. Thisinconsistency creates slightly different meanings. The Concordant Literal New Testament, theDouay-Rheims Bible, the Inspired Version, and the King James Version use the conditional inone, but not the other. Young's Literal Translation is consistent in using the conditional inboth verses.
A footnote in the Worrell New Testament points out that "If they shallenter into My rest," is a Hebrew form of saying, "They shall not enter into Myrest." Thus, five versions have translated literally from the Hebrew without indicatingwhat the clause really means in English.
| Hebrews4: 7 |
| KJV | ..., To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear hisvoice, harden not your hearts. |
| AAT | ...; so He sets another day -- today -- when long afterwards He says in David's words,already quoted: Today if you hear Him speak, don't close your minds. |
| AB | Again He sets a definite day, [a new] Today, [and gives another opportunity of securingthat rest,] saying through David after so long a time, in the words already quoted, Today,if you would hear His voice, and when you hear it, do not harden your hearts. [Ps. 95: 7, 8.] |
| CNT | God, for his part, fixes another day -- 'today' as he calls it -- saying through the mouthof David, after the lapse of so many years, in the words already cited: 'If you hear his voicetoday, do not harden your hearts.' |
| LB | But he has set another time for coming in, and that time is now. He announced thisthrough King David long years after man's first failure to enter, saying in the words alreadyquoted, "Today when you hear him calling, do not harden your hearts against him." |
| NAB | ..., he once more set a day, "today," when long afterwards he spoke through David, asalready quoted: "Oh, that today you would hearhis voice: 'Harden not your hearts.'" |
| RSV | ..., again he sets a certain day, "Today," saying through David so long afterward, in thewords already quoted, "Today, when you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." |
| SGAT | ..., he again fixes a new Today, saying long afterward through David, as already quoted, "If you hear his voice today, Do not harden your hearts!" |
The key word is today. When is that? Some implications are as follows: thatit was when Jesus was on earth; that it was when this epistle was written; or, that it is atany given time after the psalm was written. Whenever the time is, the message is for allpeople to listen to what God says and be ready for that day.
| Hebrews4: 8 |
| KJV | For if Jesus had given the rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. |
| AAT | If Joshua had given them rest God wouldn't later have spoken of another day. |
| AB | [This mention of a rest was not a reference to their entering into Canaan], for if Joshuahad given them rest, He (God) would not speak afterward about another day. |
| CJB | For if Y'hoshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later of another "day." |
| CLNT | For if Joshua causes them to stop, He would not have spoken concerning another day afterthese things. |
| DHB | For if Jesus had brought them into rest, he would not have spoken afterwards aboutanother day. |
| DRB | For if Jesus had given this rest, he would never have afterwards spoken of another day. |
| HBRV | For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day. |
| IV | For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. |
| LB | This new place of rest he is talking about does not mean the land of Israel that Joshualed them into. |
| LBP | For if Joshua the son of Nun had given them rest, he would not afterward have spoken ofanother day. |
| NNT | It is clear that Joshua had not given our forefathers this rest. Otherwise, the Lord wouldnot have said at a much later date: "Today." |
| RSV | For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak later of another day. |
| SSBE | For if Yahshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day. |
| TM | And so this is still a live promise. It wasn't canceled at the time of Joshua: otherwise,God wouldn't keep renewing the appointment for "today." |
| WAS | For, had Joshua given them rest, He would not afterward have spoken of another day. |
The Darby Bible, the Inspired Version, and the King James Version refer toJesus, while the other versions refer to Joshua. The Darby Bible points out the Jesus is theGreek form of Joshua. Unless the reader is aware of this, there may be confusion. The BethelEdition and the Jewish New Testament use Hebrew forms of the anglicized name Joshua. TheLamsa Bible makes it clear that it was Joshua, the son of Nun. Obviously, the writer wasreferring to Joshua, who led the children of Israel into Canaan, not to Jesus, the Messiah.Again, in all of the versions, there is a reference to a day of rest in the future. TheAmplified Bible makes it clear that Canaan was not where the rest would achieved.
| Hebrews4: 9 |
| KJV | There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. |
| AAT | So there is still a sabbath of rest for God's people, ... . |
| AB | So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete Sabbath rest reserved for the [true]people of God. |
| CEV | But God has promised us a Sabbath when we will rest, even though it has not yet come. |
| CJB | So there remains a Shabbat-keeping for God's people. |
| CLNT | Consequently a sabbatism is left for the people of God. |
| DHB | There remains then a sabbatism to the people of God. |
| EBR | Hence there is left over A Sabbath-keeping for the peopleof God. |
| IB | So, then, there remains a rest to the people of God. |
| IV | There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. |
| LB | So there is a full complete rest still waiting for the people of God. |
| LBP | It is therefore the duty of the people of God to keep the sabbath. |
| MNT | There is a sabbath-Rest, then reserved still for the People of God ... . |
| NASV | There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. |
| NCV | This shows that the rest for God's people is still coming. |
| NJB | There must still be, therefore, a seventh-day rest reserved for God's people, ... . |
| NNT | Therefore the hope of a heavenly rest is still there for the people of God. |
| NSNT | At any rate, God's people have a today of sabbath rest awaiting them. |
| SGAT | So there must still be a promised Sabbath of Rest for God's people. |
Here is a definite reference to the Sabbath, as in verse 4. Although thepoint made about keeping the Sabbath in the Lamsa Bible is valid, it is out of context inthis verse. Also, a footnote reference to a first-day sabbath in the Worrell New Testamentis a misinterpretation based on the long-day theory when Joshua told the sun to standstill.
The Worrell New Testament points out in another footnote that the enteringinto the Promised Land of Canaan and God's resting on the seventh day are foreshadows ofsomething to come. God worked for six days in creating heaven and earth, then rested on theseventh day, thus creating the Sabbath. Recorded history of mankind is now about six thousandyears. God has promised one thousand years when Satan cannot tempt mankind. Thus, the Sabbathis representative of the Millennium. God stated through the psalmist that the Israelites whowandered for forty years in the wilderness, as well as later generations who would refuse tolisten to Him, would not enter into His rest. These will not be a part of the Millennium, butwill be resurrected later.
What will the people who enter this rest do? What did Jesus, who stated thatHe is the Lord of the Sabbath, do each seventh day? He taught in the temple. He also healedon the Sabbath. On occasion, He gathered food for Himself and His disciples. He did not breakthe law in Exodus 35: 3, which forbids the kindling of a fire on the Sabbath. Since He is ourexample, we may be doing some of the same things. Possibly, some of us are being prepared inthis lifetime for our work during the Messianic Kingdom.
| Conclusion |
The psalmist and the writer of the epistle to the Hebrews are warning us notto be like the disobedient children of Israel who were denied entrance into the Promised Land.The time in the future of which they speak is the Messianic Kingdom. This probably could havebeen an accomplished fact long before now, except for the people of the world constantlyrefusing to follow God's direction. Given the number of people having existed since the timeof Joshua, it is evident that many will not be a part of the Messianic Kingdom. Christiansshould be acutely aware of the warning that Jesus gave in Matthew 7: 21-23 to those who claimto follow Him.
My reader should study in his own version of the Bible and other versions thewhole passage from which the compared verses above have been taken. This should be helpful inclarifying the message that the writer of the Hebrews is telling.