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Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.
Hebrews 4:11 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.
  • KJV Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
  • NKJV Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.
  • NASB Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience.
  • NLT So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Believers should make every effort to enter that rest, lest anyone fall through the same kind of unbelieving disobedience as Israel. Diligent perseverance is urged so none repeats the wilderness failure.

Overview

Strikingly, the author calls for diligence 'to enter into that rest,' showing that resting in God's grace and earnest striving are not opposites. The warning recalls Israel's disobedience as a pattern to avoid. The verse holds together the call to active perseverance and the gracious rest that is its goal.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 18

  • Matt 11:28–30Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
  • Luke 13:24“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.
  • Heb 3:18And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed?
  • Eph 5:6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
  • Heb 6:11We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.
  • 2 Pet 1:10–11Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble,
  • Titus 1:16They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.
  • Heb 3:12See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God.
  • Phil 2:12Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
  • Titus 3:3For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
  • Matt 11:12From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to violence, and the violent lay claim to it.
  • Acts 26:19So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
  • Matt 7:13Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
  • Luke 16:16The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the gospel of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
  • Col 3:6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
  • Rom 11:30–32Just as you who formerly disobeyed God have now received mercy through their disobedience,
  • Eph 2:2in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.
  • John 6:27Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (5)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Hebrews videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Hebrews 4:11YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on HebrewsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.

How Hebrews 4:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.