Hebrews 4:9

New Testament Epistle (General) ASV (1901)

What does Hebrews 4:9 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “There remaineth therefore a sabbath rest for the people of God.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

There remaineth therefore a sabbath rest for the people of God.
Hebrews 4:9 — American Standard Version

Context — Hebrews 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9There remaineth therefore a sabbath rest for the people of God.

What do historical commentaries say?

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“therefore--because God "speaks of another day" (see on Heb 4:8). remaineth--still to be realized hereafter by the "some (who) must enter therein" (Heb 4:6), that is, "the people of God," the true Israel who shall enter into God's rest ("My rest," Heb 4:3). God's rest was a Sabbatism; so also will ours be. a rest--Greek, "Sabbatism." In time there are many Sabbaths, but then there shall be the enjoyment and keeping of a Sabbath-rest: one perfect and eternal. The "rest" in Heb 4:8 is Greek, "catapausis;" Hebrew, "Noah"; rest from weariness, as the ark rested on Ararat after its tossings to and fro; and as Israel, under Joshua, enjoyed at last rest from war in Canaan. But the "rest" in this Heb…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“There remaineth, therefore, a rest - This is the conclusion to which the apostle comes. The meaning is this, that according to the Scriptures there is “now” a promise of rest made to the people of God. It did not pertain merely to those who were called to go to the promised land, nor to those who lived in the time of David, but it is “still” true that the promise of rest pertains to “all” the people of God of every generation. The “reasoning” by which the apostle comes to this conclusion is briefly this: That there was a “rest” - called “the rest of God” - spoken of in the earliest period of the world - implying that God meant that it should be enjoyed. (2)That the Israelites, to whom the…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Therefore - Since he still speaks of another day, there must remain a farther, even an eternal, rest for the people of God. Hebrews 4:10”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“4:9 a special rest: Jesus’ sacrifice functioned as a Day of Atonement sacrifice (5:1-3; 9:13-22; see Lev 23:26-28, 32). Through Christ’s sacrifice, God’s promised rest for his people is available.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“remaineth: Heb 4:1, Heb 4:3, Heb 3:11; Isa 11:10, Isa 57:2, Isa 60:19, Isa 60:20; Rev 7:14-17, Rev 21:4 rest: or, keeping of a sabbath people: Heb 11:25; Psa 47:9; Mat 1:21; Tit 2:14; Pe1 2:10 Hebrews 4:10”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification