Hebrews 4 · Verse 11

Hebrews 4:11

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Hebrews 4:11, King James Version

Hebrews 4:11 in other translations

BSB	Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.
WEB	Let’s therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.
ASV	Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, that no man fall after the same example of disobedience.
YLT	May we be diligent, then, to enter into that rest, that no one in the same example of the unbelief may fall,
DARBY	Let us therefore use diligence to enter into that rest, that no one may fall after the same example of not hearkening to the word.
BBE	Because of this, let us have a strong desire to come into that rest, and let no one go after the example of those who went against God's orders.
Webster	Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

What does Hebrews 4:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

11. Let us ... therefore--Seeing such a promise is before us, which we may, like them, fall short of through unbelief. labour--Greek, "strive diligently." that rest--which is still future and so glorious. Or, in Alford's translation of He 4:10, "That rest into which Christ has entered before" (He 4:14; He 6:20). fall--with the soul, not merely the body, as the rebel Israelites fell (He 3:17). after the same example--Alford translates, "fall into the same example." The less prominent place of the "fall" in the Greek favors this. The sense is, "lest any fall into such disobedience (so the Greek for 'unbelief' means) as they gave a sample of" [Grotius]. The Jews say, "The parents are a sign (warning) to their sons."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 11. Let us labour therefore. Let us earnestly strive. Since there is a rest whose attainment is worth all our efforts; since so many have failed of reaching it by their unbelief; and since there is so much danger that we may fail of it also, let us give all diligence that we may enter into it. Heaven is never obtained but by diligence, and no one enters there who does not earnestly desire it, and who does not make a sincere effort to reach it.

Of unbelief. Marg. disobedience. The word unbelief best expresses the sense, as the apostle was showing that this was the principal thing that prevented men from entering into heaven. Heb 3:12.

(a) "Let us" 2Pet 1:10 (1) "unbelief" "disobedience"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 11 Let us labor therefore - The word σπουδασωμεν implies every exertion of body and mind which can be made in reference to the subject. Rebus aliis omissis, hoc agamus; All things else omitted, this one thing let us do. We receive grace, improve grace, retain grace, that we may obtain eternal glory. Lest any man fall - Lest he fall off from the grace of God, from the Gospel and its blessings, and perish everlastingly. This is the meaning of the apostle, who never supposed that a man might not make final shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience, as long as he was in a state of probation.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 4:11-16

Observe the end proposed: rest spiritual and eternal; the rest of grace here, and glory hereafter; in Christ on earth, with Christ in heaven. After due and diligent labour, sweet and satisfying rest shall follow; and labour now, will make that rest more pleasant when it comes. Let us labour, and quicken each other to be diligent in duty. The Holy Scriptures are the word of God. When God sets it home by his Spirit, it convinces powerfully, converts powerfully, and comforts powerfully. It makes a soul that has long been proud, to be humble; and a perverse spirit, to be meek and obedient. Sinful habits, that are become as it were natural to the soul, and rooted deeply in it, are separated and cut off by this sword. It will discover to men their thoughts and purposes, the vileness of many, the bad principles they are moved by, the sinful ends they act to. The word will show the sinner all that is in his heart. Let us hold fast the doctrines of Christian faith in our heads, its enlivening principles in our hearts, the open profession of it in our lips, and be subject to it in our lives. Christ executed one part of his priesthood on earth, in dying for us; the other he executes in heaven, pleading the cause, and presenting the offerings of his people. In the sight of Infinite Wisdom, it was needful that the Saviour of men should be one who has the fellow-feeling which no being but a fellow-creature could possibly have; and therefore it was necessary he should actual experience of all the effects of sin that could be separated from its actual guilt. God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, Ro 8:3; but the more holy and pure he was, the more he must have been unwilling in his nature to sin, and must have had deeper impression of its evil; consequently the more must he be concerned to deliver his people from its guilt and power. We should encourage ourselves by the excellence of our High Priest, to come boldly to the throne of grace. Mercy and grace are the things we want; mercy to pardon all our sins, and grace to purify our souls. Besides our daily dependence upon God for present supplies, there are seasons for which we should provide in our prayers; times of temptation, either by adversity or prosperity, and especially our dying time. We are to come with reverence and godly fear, yet not as if dragged to the seat of justice, but as kindly invited to the mercy-seat, where grace reigns. We have boldness to enter into the holiest only by the blood of Jesus; he is our Advocate, and has purchased all our souls want or can desire.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Hebrews 4:11 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΣπουδάσωμενSpoudasōmenWe may be diligentG4704

οὖνounthereforeG3767

εἰσελθεῖνeiseltheinto enterG1525

εἰςeisintoG1519

ἐκείνηνekeinēnthat [very]G1565

τὴνtēn<the>G3588

κατάπαυσιν,katapausinrest,G2663

ἵναinaso thatG2443

μὴmēnotG3361

ἐνenbyG1722

τῷtōtheG3588

αὐτῷautōsameG846

τιςtisanyoneG5100

ὑποδείγματιhupodeigmatiexampleG5262

πέσῃpesēmay fallG4098

τῆςtēs<the>G3588

ἀπειθείας.apeitheiasof disobedience.G543

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Hebrews 4:11

Matthew 11:28-30
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Luke 13:24
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Hebrews 3:18-4:1
And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
Ephesians 5:6
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Hebrews 6:11
And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
2 Peter 1:10-11
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:12
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Titus 1:16
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Hebrews 3:12
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Matthew 7:13
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Titus 3:3
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
Matthew 11:12
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Let.
1; 6:11; Mt 7:13; 11:12,28-30; Lu 13:24; 16:16; Joh 6:27; Php 2:12
2Pe 1:10,11
lest.
3:12,18,19
unbelief. or, disobedience.
Ac 26:19; Ro 11:30-32; Eph 2:2; 5:6; Col 3:6; Tit 1:16; 3:3; *Gr:

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Hebrews 4:10
For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Hebrews 4:11
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Read all of Hebrews 4

Hebrews 4:11 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Procuremos pues de entrar en aquel reposo; que ninguno caiga en semejante ejemplo de desobediencia.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Appliquons-nous donc à entrer dans ce repos-là, afin que personne ne tombe en imitant une semblable désobéissance.
German Elberfelder 1871	Laßt uns nun Fleiß anwenden, in jene Ruhe einzugehen, auf daß nicht jemand nach demselben Beispiel des Ungehorsams falle.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Festinemus ergo ingredi in illam requiem: ut ne in idipsum quis incidat incredulitatis exemplum.