Hebrews 4:7
in Hebrews 4God again designated a certain day as “Today,” when a long time later He spoke through David as was just stated: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
he 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.
KJV
Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
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This verse in Hebrews 4
Commentary
15 notes on this verseHe wants to make clear three rests mentioned in the divine Scripture: first, the seventh day, on which God finished creating; second, the land of promise; and third, the kingdom of heaven. He provides proof of this from the inspired testimony: If there is no …
This site's exposition
it remains for some to enter
on Hebrews 4:6-7
Since it remains for some to enter His rest, the failure of the first hearers leaves the rest open. God again designated a certain day through David long after Joshua, and that later word shows the rest outlasted Israel's failure.
This site's exposition
God again designated a certain day
John Wesley counts over four hundred years from Moses and Joshua to David, and Jamieson, Fausset and Brown reckon five hundred years in Canaan. Through David means in the psalm of David. The writer then points back to his citation at 3:7 and 3:15.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
A commentator
Theodore of MopsuestiaFRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 4.4-7 · Written before 428.
proposed
This is the work of true "rest," namely, not having to run again to the old things, while enduring transition and change. For just as God is said to rest from his creation of the world, having completed its foundation, so it is fitting that …
A commentator
Theodore of MopsuestiaFRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 4.4-7 · Written before 428.
proposed
"Today" is neither an indefinite period of time, nor can it be predicated of an interval outside of "days" as if "today" were joined with each day. This should be stated not only for the sake of apostolic perspicuity but also for the sake of …
"Seeing therefore it remaineth" (he says) "that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: again he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To-day, after so long a time; as it has been said before." But what is it that he means? "Seeing then" (he means) that "some must" certainly "enter in," and "they did not enter in." And that an entrance is proclaimed, and that "some must enter in," let us hear from what this is clear. Because after so many years (he says) David again says: "To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." "For if Joshua had given them rest he would not afterward have spoken of another day." It is evident, that he says these things, as of persons who are to attain some recompense.
For if God did not have a third rest, He would not have said: "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts," so that there may be a rest into which those should enter who do not harden their hearts. Since obedience …
The Medieval Church1 voice
Therefore, he extracts two things: one is well known, namely, that the ancestral fathers did not enter; the other is that during the time of David there remained another rest to be given. For although the promised rest was to be obtained in the promised …
7 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
After so long a time - It was above four hundred years from the time of Moses and Joshua to David. As it was said before - St. Paul here refers to the text he had just cited.
This is the rest wherewith the Lord Jesus, our Joshua, causes weary souls and awakened consciences to rest, and this is the refreshing. [2.] A rest in glory, the everlasting sabbatism of heaven, which is the repose and perfection of nature and grace too, where the people of God shall enjoy the end of their faith and the object of all their desires.
Again he limiteth a certain day,....
He specifies this, that we have a promise left us of entering into his rest; that is, of entering into a covenant-relation to Christ, and a state of communion with God through Christ, and of growing up therein, till we are made perfect in glory.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Again, he limiteth - He designates, or definitely mentions. The word rendered “limiteth” - ὁρίζει horizei - means to “bound,” to set a boundary - as of a field or farm; and then to determine or fix definitely, to designate, appoint. Here it means, that he specifies particularly, or mentions expressly. A certain day - A particular time; he mentions today particularly. That is, in the time of David, he uses the word “today,” as if time was “then” an offer of rest, and as if it were then possible to enter into it.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Translate as the Greek order is, "He limited a certain day, 'To-day.'" Here Paul interrupts the quotation by, "In (the Psalm of) David saying after so long a time (after five hundred years' possession of Canaan)," and resumes it by, "as it has been said before (so the Greek oldest manuscript, before, namely, Heb 3:7, 15), To-day if ye hear His voice," &c. [ALFORD].
He limiteth a certain day - The term day signifies not only time in general, but also present time, and a particular space. Day here seems to have the same meaning as rest in some other parts of this verse. The day or time of rest relative to the ancient Jews being over and past, and a long time having elapsed between God’s displeasure shown to the disobedient Jews in the wilderness and the days of David, and the true rest not having been enjoyed, God in his mercy has instituted another day - has given another dispensation of mercy and goodness by Christ Jesus; and now it may be said, as formerly, To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. God speaks now as he spoke before; his voice is in the Gospel as it was in the law. Believe, love, obey, and ye shall enter into this rest.
The words behind it
24 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| πάλιν | palin | again | G3825 → | 139 times |
| τινὰ | tina | a certain | G5100 → | 528 times |
| ὁρίζει | horizei | He appoints | G3724 → | |
| ἡμέραν· | hemeran | day: | G2250 → | 389 times |
| σήμερον, | semeron | Today, | G4594 → | 41 times |
| ἐν | en | through | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| Δαυὶδ | dauid | David | G1138 → | |
| λέγων· | legon | saying: | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| μετὰ | meta | after | G3326 → | 461 times |
| τοσοῦτον | tosouton | so long | G5118 → | 20 times |
| χρόνον, | chronon | a time, | G5550 → | 53 times |
| καθὼς | kathos | even as | G2531 → | 182 times |
| προείρηται, | proeiretai | it has been predicted, | G4280 → | |
| σήμερον | semeron | Today | G4594 → | 41 times |
| ἐὰν | ean | if | G1437 → | 352 times |
| τῆς | tes | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| φωνῆς | phones | voice | G5456 → | 139 times |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἀκούσητε, | akousete | you shall hear, | G191 → | 425 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| σκληρύνητε | sklerunete | shall harden | G4645 → | 6 times |
| τὰς | tas | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| καρδίας | kardias | hearts | G2588 → | 156 times |
| ὑμῶν.¶ | humon | of you. | G4771 → | 2973 times |
πάλινagain
palinG3825 →139 times
τινὰa certain
tinaG5100 →528 times
ὁρίζειHe appoints
horizeiG3724 →
ἡμέραν·day:
hemeranG2250 →389 times
σήμερον,Today,
semeronG4594 →41 times
ἐνthrough
enG1722 →2738 times
ΔαυὶδDavid
dauidG1138 →
λέγων·saying:
legonG3004 →1325 times
μετὰafter
metaG3326 →461 times
τοσοῦτονso long
tosoutonG5118 →20 times
χρόνον,a time,
chrononG5550 →53 times
καθὼςeven as
kathosG2531 →182 times
προείρηται,it has been predicted,
proeiretaiG4280 →
σήμερονToday
semeronG4594 →41 times
ἐὰνif
eanG1437 →352 times
τῆςthe
tesG3588 →19766 times
φωνῆςvoice
phonesG5456 →139 times
αὐτοῦof Him
autouG846 →5565 times
ἀκούσητε,you shall hear,
akouseteG191 →425 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
σκληρύνητεshall harden
skleruneteG4645 →6 times
τὰςthe
tasG3588 →19766 times
καρδίαςhearts
kardiasG2588 →156 times
ὑμῶν.¶of you.
humonG4771 →2973 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 95:7For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care. Today, if you hear His voice,
it leads to
- Hebrews 3:15
As it has been said: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion.”
- Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.
- Hebrews 3:7–11
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice,
- John 10:14–16
I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,
- Psalms 48:14
For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even till death.
- Hebrews 3:15
Through
Hebrews 3:15As it has been said: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion.”
it leads to
- Hebrews 3:7–8
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice,
- Psalms 95:7
For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care. Today, if you hear His voice,
- Hebrews 10:38
But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him.”
- Hebrews 3:7–8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies26
- The Armor of God
- The Words Chazaq, Amats and Parrhesia
- Creation to New Creation
- The Creation Week
- Jesus: Titles & Roles
- Types of Christ: Joseph and Joshua
Show the next 6 titles
About Hebrews
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory; John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews 6; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews; Theodore of Mopsuestia, FRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 4.4-7; Theodoret of Cyrus, INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 4 and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Hebrews.