Hebrews 4:1

Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it.

ASV

Parallel translations

4 additional translations

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KJV

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.

YLT

We may fear, then, lest a promise being left of entering into His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short,

DBT

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you might seem to have failed [of it].

BSB

Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it.

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Commentary voices

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Voices6

On this verse

We ought to be afraid … lest we, too, who have received the promise of the entrance into the rest, may be found lacking through a wickedness of purpose. For let no one think that the promise of things to come suffices him any more …

Theodore of Mopsuestia· COMMENTARY ON HEBREWS 4.1-2, 428patristic

Related commentary

Let us therefore fear,....

John Gill· Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)reformed

Let us therefore fear - Let us be apprehensive that we may possibly fall of that rest. The kind of fear which is recommended here is what leads to caution and care. A man who is in danger of losing his life or health should be watchful; a seaman that is in danger of running on a lee-shore should be on his guard. So we who have the offer of heaven, and who yet are in danger of losing it, should take all possible precautions lest we fail of it.

Albert Barnes· Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)evangelical

By saying Lest we be disappointed of the promise left us, he intimates that no one comes short of it except he who by rejecting grace has first renounced the promise; for God is so far from repenting to do us good that he ceases not to bestow his gifts except when we despise his calling.

John Calvin· Commentaries, 1554reformed

"To-day," rightly used, terminates in the rest which, when once obtained, is never lost (Re 3:12). A foretaste of the rest Is given in the inward rest which the believer's soul has in Christ. should seem to come short of it--Greek, "to have come short of it"; should be found, when the great trial of all shall take place [ALFORD], to have fallen short of attaining the promise.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1871reformed

Grace and glory are attainable by all under the gospel: there is an offer, and a promise to those who shall accept the offer. Those who may attain them may also fall short.

Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710puritan

Voices on this verse

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Rabbinic commentary

How the Hebraic tradition has read this verse — and Marcus Brown’s own reading of it.

Cross-references

44 linked verses

The verses this one reaches12

Matthew 11:28
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you actually fail the test?
Philippians 2:12
Therefore, 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.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Hebrews 12:15
See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.
Psalms 2:11
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Hebrews 4:9
There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
Proverbs 28:14
Blessed is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Hebrews 4:11
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.
1 Corinthians 9:26–27
Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air.
1 Corinthians 10:12
So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.

32 more linked verses are grouped by book below ↓

Cross-references

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The quotation web

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Original language

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Around this verse

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread — the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

Christ Presented to the People — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Hebrews — The NT's most sustained Old-Testament argument — an extended demonstration that Jesus is ‘better than’ every institution Judaism knew. Priesthood, covenant, tabernacle, sacrifice: all fulfilled in one great high priest.

Canon: New Testament
Author: Unknown — the book itself does not name its author. Traditional attribution is Pauline (Clement of Alexandria, Origen, much of the Eastern church); Luther proposed Apollos; Tertullian preferred Barnabas; Harnack proposed Priscilla. Site does not adjudicate
Date: Mid-to-late 1st century AD, almost certainly before AD 70 (the book argues against the ongoing Temple liturgy as if the Temple still stands)

More cross-references32 further linked verses, grouped by book▾ open

Every other verse the study tradition links to this one, in the Bible’s own order. The first links in each book carry a line of their text; every reference opens its full verse page.

Numbers1

Numbers 14:34In keeping with the forty days you spied out the land, you shall bear…

Deuteronomy1

Deuteronomy 11:16But be careful that you are not enticed to turn aside to worship and…

1 Samuel1

1 Samuel 2:30Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: ‘I did indeed say that your…

Proverbs1

Proverbs 14:16A wise man fears and turns from evil, but a fool is careless and…

Isaiah1

Isaiah 11:10On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the…

Jeremiah1

Jeremiah 32:40I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never turn away from…

Micah1

Micah 2:10Arise and depart, for this is not your place of rest, because its defilement…

Matthew5

Mark1

Mark 4:8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it sprouted, grew up, and produced…

Luke2

Acts2

Romans2

2 Corinthians1

2 Corinthians 7:11Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to…

Colossians1

Colossians 2:17These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts…

2 Thessalonians1

2 Thessalonians 1:7and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well.…

2 Timothy1

2 Timothy 2:13if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

Hebrews7

1 Peter2

Cross-references are drawn from classic Bible study tools and open, shareable Bible data.

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first — the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Hebrews 12:15
See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.
leads to
- Hebrews 3:12
  See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God.
- Deuteronomy 29:18
  Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations. Make sure…
Through
Hebrews 4:9
There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
leads to
- 1 Peter 2:10
  Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
- Revelation 21:4
  ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Through
Proverbs 28:14
Blessed is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
leads to
- Proverbs 23:17
  Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
- Psalms 2:11
  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Through
Hebrews 4:11
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.
leads to
- Matthew 11:28–30
  Come 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.

The whole web at once: see the Arc.

Where the connections lead

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