Hebrews 3:11

New Testament Epistle (General) ASV (1901)

What does Hebrews 3:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.
Hebrews 3:11 — American Standard Version

Context — Hebrews 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
11As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“So I sware in my wrath, etc..] Swearing is ascribed to God, to show the certainty of the thing spoken of; as of mercies, when he swears in love, and by his holiness; so here, of punishment, when he swears in wrath, in indignation, in sore displeasure, and the threatened evil is irrevocable and inevitable: they shall not enter into my rest; into the land of Canaan, called God's rest, because he promised it, and gave it to the Israelites as their rest; and where he himself had a place of rest; and where he gave the Messiah, the author of peace and rest; and which was a type of heaven, that rest from toil and labour, which remains for the people of God; and into which it is said this generation…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“So--literally, "as." I sware--BENGEL remarks the oath of God preceded the forty years. not--literally, "If they shall enter . . . (God do so to me and more also)," Sa2 3:35. The Greek is the same, Mar 8:12. my rest--Canaan, primarily, their rest after wandering in the wilderness: still, even when in it, they never fully enjoyed rest; whence it followed that the threat extended farther than the exclusion of the unbelieving from the literal land of rest, and that the rest promised to the believing in its full blessedness was, and is, yet future: Psa 25:13; Psa 37:9, Psa 37:11, Psa 37:22, Psa 37:29, and Christ's own beatitude (Mat 5:5) all accord with this, Heb 3:9.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“So I sware in my wrath - God is often represented in the Scriptures as “swearing” - and usually as swearing by himself, or by his own existence. Of course this in figurative, and denotes a strong affirmation, or a settled and determined purpose. An oath with us implies the strongest affirmation, or the expression of the most settled and determined purpose of mind. The meaning here is, that so refractory and perverse had they showed themselves, that he solemnly resolved that they should never enter into the land of Canaan. They shall not enter into my rest - Margin, As in the original, “if they shall enter.” That is, they shall not enter. The word (אם ‛im) “if” has this negative meaning in…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“3:11 Rebellion has consequences. • God’s anger is not merely an emotional reaction; it is his just displeasure toward sin (John 3:36; Rom 1:18; 1 Thes 2:16). • God’s oath (see Heb 6:13-20; 7:20-22, 28) was that they would never enter Canaan, the place of rest from their wanderings (Deut 1:19-46; 3:20; 12:10; Josh 1:13).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“I sware: Heb 3:18, Heb 3:19, Heb 4:3; Num 14:20-23, Num 14:25, Num 14:27-30, Num 14:35, Num 32:10-13; Deu 1:34, Deu 1:35, Deu 2:14 They shall not enter: Gr. If they shall enter my rest: Heb 4:9 Hebrews 3:12”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification