Hebrews 4:4

KJV

For he spake in a certain place of the seventh [day] on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G1063} he spake {G2046} in a certain place {G4225} of {G4012} the seventh {G1442} day on this wise {G3779}, And {G2532} God {G2316} did rest {G2664} the seventh {G1722}{G1442} day {G2250} from {G575} all {G3956} his {G846} works {G2041}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For there is a place where it is said, concerning the seventh day,

“And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.”

Berean Standard Bible

For somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this manner: “And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.”

American Standard Version

For he hath said somewhere of the seventh day on this wise, And God rested on the seventh day from all his works;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hebrews 4:4 serves as a foundational scriptural reference within the author's extended argument for the availability of God's "rest" to believers. By quoting from the creation narrative in Genesis, the writer establishes a divine precedent for cessation from labor, highlighting that God Himself rested on the seventh day after completing His creative works. This verse underpins the theological discussion that follows, emphasizing that if God, in His omnipotence, deemed rest essential, then a spiritual rest remains for His people, distinct from the physical Sabbath or the rest of the Promised Land.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Hebrews 4:4 is embedded within a profound theological discourse on "rest" that begins in [Hebrews 3](/hebrews/3 "Hebrews 3 - The Warning Against Unbelief") and extends through [Hebrews 4](/hebrews/4 "Hebrews 4 - The Promise of Rest"). The author is urging a community of Jewish Christians, who are potentially wavering in their faith, not to repeat the tragic failure of the wilderness generation. That generation, despite God's promises, failed to enter His rest—the Promised Land—due to their unbelief and disobedience, as recounted in [Numbers 14](/numbers/14 "Numbers 14 - Israel's Rebellion and God's Judgment"). The author uses the Old Testament accounts of God's rest at creation ([Genesis 2:2](/genesis/2-2 "Genesis 2:2 - God Rests on the Seventh Day")) and the warnings from [Psalm 95](/psalms/95 "Psalm 95 - A Call to Worship and Warning Against Hardening Hearts") to build a compelling case that a spiritual "rest" remains accessible "today" for those who believe and obey. This verse specifically grounds the concept of rest in God's own primordial activity.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The audience of the Book of Hebrews was primarily Jewish Christians, deeply steeped in the traditions of the Old Testament. The concept of the "seventh day" and "rest" would immediately evoke the Sabbath, a cornerstone of Jewish identity and law, established at creation and codified in the Mosaic Law ([Exodus 20:8-11](/exodus/20-8-11 "Exodus 20:8-11 - The Command to Keep the Sabbath")). For these believers, "rest" carried multiple layers of meaning: the physical rest of the Sabbath, the national rest of the Promised Land, and the eschatological rest of God's future kingdom. The author skillfully navigates these layers, demonstrating that while these historical forms of rest were significant, they were ultimately shadows pointing to a greater, spiritual rest found only in Christ. The historical failure of Israel to enter God's rest in the wilderness served as a potent warning against unbelief for the contemporary audience.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes in Hebrews. Firstly, it underscores the **Divine Precedent for Rest**, establishing that rest is not merely a human necessity but a pattern initiated by God Himself after His perfect creative work. This elevates the concept of rest to a theological principle. Secondly, it lays the **Foundation for the Sabbath Principle**, showing that the cessation from labor on the seventh day is rooted in God's own action, pointing to a deeper spiritual reality beyond mere ritual. While not a direct command for Sabbath observance, it highlights the divine design for a rhythm of work and rest. Thirdly, and most significantly for the book's overarching argument, it serves as a **Theological Anchor for Spiritual Rest**. The author uses God's original rest as a basis to argue that a "Sabbath-rest" ([Hebrews 4:9](/hebrews/4-9 "Hebrews 4:9 - The Sabbath Rest for God's People")) remains for the people of God, a rest that is entered through faith in Christ, a cessation from striving in self-effort, and an entering into God's finished work of salvation. This ultimate rest is a central promise and a warning against unbelief throughout [Hebrews 4](/hebrews/4 "Hebrews 4 - The Promise of Rest").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **spake (Greek, _eréō'_):** This verb, derived from a root meaning "to utter," signifies the act of speaking or saying. In this context, it emphasizes the divine utterance, God's authoritative declaration in scripture. The author of Hebrews appeals to the Old Testament as the very word of God, underscoring its enduring authority and relevance for the present generation.
* **seventh (Greek, _hébdomos'_):** As an ordinal number, "seventh" precisely denotes the final day of the creation week. Its significance is immense, marking the completion of God's creative activity and the commencement of His rest. This specific numerical designation highlights the structured and intentional nature of God's work and subsequent repose, forming the basis for the Sabbath principle.
* **rest (Greek, _katapaúō'_):** This verb means "to settle down," "to cease," or "to give rest." While it can refer to a physical cessation, in the broader context of Hebrews 4, it carries a profound theological weight, implying a permanent cessation from activity, a state of repose and security. God's "rest" here is not due to exhaustion but signifies the completion and perfection of His creative "works" (G2041, _érgon_), leading to a state of blessed repose.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For he spake in a certain place of the seventh [day] on this wise,"**: The author of Hebrews introduces his scriptural citation by referring to God's past utterance ("he spake"). The phrase "in a certain place" (Greek, _poú_) indicates that the quotation is from a known, authoritative source (Genesis 2:2) without explicitly naming it, implying its common knowledge and accepted authority among his Jewish-Christian audience. This method of citing scripture underscores the divine origin and timeless relevance of the text, setting the stage for a theological argument based on God's own words and actions.
* **"And God did rest the seventh day from all his works."**: This is the direct quotation from [Genesis 2:2](/genesis/2-2 "Genesis 2:2 - God Rests on the Seventh Day"). It declares that after six days of intense creative activity, God "rested" (Greek, _katapaúō_) on the seventh day. This rest was not a result of weariness or incompleteness, but a cessation from the work of creation because it was perfectly finished. God's rest signifies the completion and perfection of His "works" (Greek, _érgon_), which refer specifically to His acts of creation. This divine act establishes a foundational pattern for rest, demonstrating that cessation from labor is an integral part of God's design and activity, and that true rest follows completed, perfect work.

#### Literary Devices
The author of Hebrews masterfully employs several literary devices in this verse. The most prominent is **Quotation/Allusion**, as the verse directly quotes or alludes to [Genesis 2:2](/genesis/2-2 "Genesis 2:2 - God Rests on the Seventh Day"). This technique lends immense authority and weight to the argument, grounding the concept of rest in the foundational narrative of creation. Furthermore, the author employs **Argumentation**, using this ancient text as a premise to build a complex theological case for a spiritual "rest" available to believers. The phrase "in a certain place" can be seen as a form of **Euphemism** or **Understatement**, subtly indicating a well-known scriptural passage without needing to name it, thereby emphasizing its undisputed authority. Finally, there is an element of **Typology**, where God's original rest on the seventh day serves as a type or foreshadowing of the ultimate spiritual rest that remains for the people of God through faith in Christ.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hebrews 4:4 profoundly connects the concept of rest to God's very nature and activity, establishing it as a divine principle from the dawn of creation. God's resting on the seventh day after completing His works signifies not a cessation due to exhaustion, but a deliberate act of satisfaction and enjoyment in His perfect creation. This primordial rest serves as the theological bedrock for the Sabbath principle in the Old Covenant, and more significantly, as a type for the spiritual rest that remains for God's people in the New Covenant. This rest is a cessation from the futile striving of human works for righteousness and an entrance into the finished work of Christ, a state of peace, security, and trust in God's provision. It highlights that true rest is found not in human effort, but in divine completion.

* [Genesis 2:2](/genesis/2-2 "God Rests on the Seventh Day")
* [Psalm 95:7-11](/psalms/95-7-11 "Psalm 95:7-11 - Do Not Harden Your Hearts")
* [Exodus 20:8-11](/exodus/20-8-11 "Exodus 20:8-11 - The Command to Keep the Sabbath")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hebrews 4:4 invites us to ponder the profound significance of rest, not merely as a physical necessity, but as a divine pattern and a spiritual reality. If God, in His infinite power and perfection, deemed it appropriate to rest after His creative work, how much more essential is it for us, His finite creatures, to embrace rest? For believers, this verse challenges us to move beyond a superficial understanding of rest as mere inactivity and to embrace a deeper, spiritual repose. It calls us to cease from our own striving for righteousness, acceptance, or security through human effort, and instead, to enter into the perfect, finished work of Jesus Christ. This means trusting completely in His atoning sacrifice and resurrection, finding our peace and identity not in what we do, but in what He has already done. It is a call to surrender our anxieties, our burdens, and our self-sufficiency, and to find true, abiding rest in His sovereign care and completed salvation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's rest at creation change your perspective on your own need for rest?**
* **In what areas of your life are you still striving in your own efforts, rather than resting in God's finished work?**
* **What practical steps can you take to intentionally enter into God's spiritual rest this week?**
* **How does the concept of God's perfect, completed work impact your trust in His provision and plan for your life?**

### FAQ

**Does Hebrews 4:4 command Sabbath observance for Christians today?**

Answer: While Hebrews 4:4 quotes [Genesis 2:2](/genesis/2-2 "Genesis 2:2 - God Rests on the Seventh Day"), which is the basis for the Sabbath command in the Old Testament, the author of Hebrews uses this verse not to re-institute a literal seventh-day observance for Christians, but to establish a theological precedent for a deeper, spiritual rest. The book argues that the physical Sabbath and the rest of the Promised Land were shadows or types pointing to a greater, ultimate rest found in Christ. Christians are called to enter into this spiritual rest, which is a cessation from striving in self-effort and an entering into God's finished work of salvation through faith. The New Testament generally teaches that the ceremonial aspects of the Law, including specific Sabbath observances, have been fulfilled in Christ ([Colossians 2:16-17](/colossians/2-16-17 "Colossians 2:16-17 - Shadow of Things to Come")). Therefore, Hebrews 4:4 points to a spiritual reality rather than a legalistic requirement for a specific day.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hebrews 4:4, by highlighting God's rest after His perfect creation, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate rest found in Jesus Christ. Just as God ceased from His works because they were complete and perfect, so too does Christ's work of redemption offer a perfect and completed salvation, inviting humanity into a profound spiritual rest. The Old Testament Sabbath was a shadow, but Christ is the substance; He is our true "Sabbath-rest" ([Hebrews 4:9](/hebrews/4-9 "The Sabbath Rest for God's People")). His cry from the cross, "[It is finished!](/john/19-30 "John 19:30 - It Is Finished")", echoes God's completed creation, signifying that the work required for our salvation is fully accomplished. Through His perfect sacrifice, Christ has provided a permanent cessation from the striving of works-righteousness, offering weary souls a profound peace. He Himself invites, "[Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Jesus' Invitation to Rest")" ([Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Jesus' Invitation to Rest")). Thus, God's original rest in creation finds its glorious and eternal fulfillment in the finished work of Christ, through whom believers enter into a lasting rest from sin, guilt, and the futility of human effort, experiencing true peace and security in Him ([Hebrews 10:12-14](/hebrews/10-12-14 "Hebrews 10:12-14 - Christ's One Sacrifice")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 20:11

For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Exodus 31:17

It [is] a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

Genesis 2:1

¶ Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

Genesis 2:2

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

Hebrews 2:6

But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?