Hebrews 4:7

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.

Again {G3825}, he limiteth {G3724} a certain {G5100} day {G2250}, saying {G3004} in {G1722} David {G1138}, To day {G4594}, after {G3326} so long {G5118} a time {G5550}; as {G2531} it is said {G2046}, To day {G4594} if {G1437} ye will hear {G191} his {G846} voice {G5456}, harden {G4645} not {G3361} your {G5216} hearts {G2588}.

he again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David, so long afterwards, in the text already given,

“Today, if you hear God’s voice, don’t harden your hearts.”

God 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.”

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.

Hebrews 4:7 is a pivotal verse in the epistle, drawing a direct parallel between the historical experience of ancient Israel and the spiritual journey of believers. It reiterates a warning first introduced in Hebrews 3:7-8, emphasizing the urgency of responding to God's voice.

Context

This verse is part of a larger argument in Hebrews chapters 3 and 4 concerning the concept of "God's rest." The author is warning Jewish Christians against falling away from faith, much like their ancestors failed to enter the physical rest of Canaan due to unbelief and disobedience during the wilderness wanderings. The passage quotes Psalm 95:7-8, where David, long after Israel had entered Canaan, still speaks of a "Today" for hearing God's voice. This implies that the promised rest was not solely geographical but also a spiritual reality, still available and offered to a new generation, including the audience of Hebrews. The author argues that because God still offers a "Today," there remains an opportunity for His people to enter into His rest, and a corresponding danger of failing to do so.

Key Themes

  • The Urgency of "Today": The repeated phrase "To day" (Greek: sēmeron) underscores the immediate and present opportunity to respond to God. It highlights that salvation and spiritual rest are not for a future, indefinite time, but require an active, current decision. Procrastination in spiritual matters carries significant risk.
  • Divine Grace and Warning: God, in His patience, continues to offer the opportunity for rest, even after long periods ("after so long a time"). However, this grace is coupled with a stern warning against spiritual indifference and rebellion.
  • The Danger of a Hardened Heart: To "harden not your hearts" is a direct admonition against resistance to God's divine will and revelation. A hardened heart is one that becomes unresponsive, stubborn, and closed to the Holy Spirit's promptings, leading to unbelief and ultimately, exclusion from God's promised rest. This echoes the experience of the Israelites who could not enter because of unbelief.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "To day" (Greek: sēmeron) is crucial. Its repetition from Psalm 95, spoken centuries after the initial entry into Canaan, emphasizes that God's offer of rest and His call for obedience are timeless and continuously presented. It signifies that the spiritual rest God intends for His people is not limited to a historical event but is an ongoing reality available through faith in Christ.

The command "harden not your hearts" (Greek: mē sklērynēte tas kardias hymōn) points to a deliberate act of resistance. It's not passive ignorance but an active choice to stiffen one's neck against God's voice, refusing to submit to His truth and authority. This hardening is a self-inflicted spiritual condition that prevents one from receiving God's blessings and entering His rest.

Practical Application

Hebrews 4:7 serves as a powerful reminder for believers today to maintain a posture of receptive faith and immediate obedience. It warns against spiritual complacency and the temptation to put off responding to God's Word. Every "today" is an opportunity to draw closer to God, to trust in His promises, and to live in the spiritual rest provided through Jesus Christ. Are we truly hearing His voice and responding with humble submission, or are we allowing our hearts to become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin, just as the Israelites did?

This verse calls us to examine our hearts and ensure that we are not missing out on God's ongoing invitation to find rest for our souls by faith and obedience.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 95:7

    ¶ For he [is] our God; and we [are] the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,

  • Hebrews 3:7

    ¶ Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

  • Hebrews 3:8

    Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

  • Hebrews 3:15

    While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

  • Matthew 22:43

    He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,

  • 2 Samuel 23:1

    ¶ Now these [be] the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man [who was] raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

  • 2 Samuel 23:2

    The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was] in my tongue.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back