Hebrews 4:1 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Because the promise of God's rest still stands, the readers are urged to take it seriously and not fall short of it.
What Does Hebrews 4:1 Mean?
Hebrews has just recalled how the wilderness generation forfeited rest through unbelief. Now the writer turns that warning toward the present community: the promise has not expired but is still open, still extended to us.
To fear here is not to cower but to keep a holy seriousness, refusing to drift past the open door. The rest God offers is real and within reach; what would be tragic is to come so near and yet stop short. The verse calls the heart to hold the promise as precious and to press toward it.
Hebrews 4:1 in the Original Language
katapausis (κατάπαυσις), 'rest' -- a settled place of rest, an entering into God's own repose.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 4:1
What does Hebrews 4:1 mean?
Because the promise of God's rest still stands, the readers are urged to take it seriously and not fall short of it.