### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb καταπαύω (katapaúō, `{{G2664}}`) is a compound word formed from the preposition κατά (katá), meaning "down" or "completely," and the verb παύω (paúō, `{{G3973}}`), meaning "to stop," "to cease," or "to cause to cease." The combination suggests a definitive and complete cessation, a bringing to a halt, or a settling down in a permanent way. Its semantic range encompasses both literal and figurative applications. Literally, it can mean "to cause to settle," as in bringing a ship to anchor or establishing a colony. Figuratively, and more prominently in the New Testament, it signifies "to cause to cease," "to give rest," or "to restrain." The "rest" implied is not merely an absence of activity, but often a state of settled peace, completion, or cessation from labor and striving.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb καταπαύω appears 8 times in the New Testament, with 7 of these occurrences concentrated in the Epistle to the Hebrews, particularly in chapters 3 and 4. The single occurrence outside of Hebrews is in [[Acts 14:18]], where Paul and Barnabas "scarcely restrained" (ἐπαύσαν, related to παύω, but the context implies καταπαύω's sense of causing to desist) the crowds from sacrificing to them. Here, it carries the meaning of causing to desist or bringing to a halt an action.
In Hebrews, καταπαύω is central to the author's theological argument concerning God's rest and the rest promised to His people.
* [[Hebrews 3:11]] and [[Hebrews 3:18]] quote [[Psalm 95:11]], stating, "They shall not enter My rest." This refers to the generation of Israelites who, due to disobedience and unbelief, failed to enter the promised land of Canaan, which was a type of God's rest.
* [[Hebrews 4:1]] warns believers not to "fall short of it" (the promise of entering His rest), implying that the opportunity to enter this rest remains open.
* [[Hebrews 4:3]] reiterates that "we who have believed enter that rest," contrasting with those who did not believe.
* [[Hebrews 4:4]] explicitly links God's rest to His cessation from creative works on the seventh day, citing [[Genesis 2:2]]: "And God rested (κατέπαυσεν, from καταπαύω) on the seventh day from all His works." This establishes the divine pattern for rest.
* [[Hebrews 4:8]] clarifies that Joshua did not "give them rest" (κατέπαυσεν), indicating that the rest offered in Canaan was not the ultimate or complete rest God intended.
* [[Hebrews 4:10]] states that "he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased (κατέπαυσεν) from his works as God did from His." This verse draws a profound parallel, suggesting that entering God's rest involves a cessation from one's own efforts, mirroring God's completed work.
Across these passages, καταπαύω is consistently used in relation to "rest," whether God's divine rest after creation, the physical rest of the promised land, or the spiritual rest available to believers. The repeated warning underscores the gravity of unbelief in preventing entry into this divine provision.
### Related Words & Concepts
The study of καταπαύω is enriched by examining its relationship with several other key terms and concepts:
* **παύω (paúō, `{{G3973}}`):** The root verb, meaning "to cease" or "to stop." καταπαύω intensifies this meaning, suggesting a complete or definitive cessation.
* **κατάπαυσις (katapaúsis, `{{G2663}}`):** The noun form derived from καταπαύω, meaning "rest" or "a place of rest." This noun is used synonymously with καταπαύω's concept of rest throughout Hebrews 3-4, referring to the state or place of cessation.
* **ἀνάπαυσις (anapaúsis, `{{G372}}`):** Another Greek word for "rest," often implying refreshment or cessation from labor. While similar, κατάπαυσις and καταπαύω in Hebrews carry a more specific theological weight related to God's finished work and the promised inheritance.
* **Old Testament Concepts of Rest:** The Septuagint (LXX) frequently uses καταπαύω to translate Hebrew verbs like שָׁבַת (shābat, `{{H7673}}`, to cease, rest, keep Sabbath) and נוּחַ (nûaḥ, `{{H5117}}`, to rest, settle down, be quiet), especially in contexts related to the Sabbath and the Promised Land. This highlights the continuity between the Old Covenant types and the New Covenant realities.
* **ἔργον (érgon, `{{G2041}}`):** "Work" or "deed." The concept of rest in Hebrews is often contrasted with human works or striving, particularly in [[Hebrews 4:10]], where entering God's rest implies ceasing from one's own works.
* **πίστις (pístis, `{{G4102}}`) and ἀπείθεια (apeítheia, `{{G543}}`):** "Faith" and "disobedience/unbelief." These are presented as the crucial conditions for entering or failing to enter God's rest, respectively.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of καταπαύω is profound, particularly as developed in Hebrews:
1. **God's Archetypal Rest:** The word first describes God's cessation from His creative work on the seventh day ([[Hebrews 4:4]]). This is not a rest born of weariness, but a rest of divine satisfaction and completion, establishing a perfect pattern for creation and humanity. It signifies the perfection and sufficiency of God's finished work.
2. **The Promised Land as a Type of Rest:** The physical land of Canaan represented a form of κατάπαυσις for Israel – a cessation from wilderness wandering, warfare, and a place of security and abundance. However, [[Hebrews 4:8]] makes it clear this was an incomplete rest, pointing to a greater, spiritual reality.
3. **Spiritual Rest in Christ:** The central theological thrust is the availability of a spiritual rest for believers in the New Covenant. This rest is entered "by faith" ([[Hebrews 4:3]]) and signifies a cessation from self-righteous works, legalistic striving, and the burden of sin. It is a confident reliance on the finished work of Christ, echoing God's own rest from His completed creation. This rest is both a present reality for those who believe and an eschatological hope, a future "Sabbath rest" that remains for the people of God ([[Hebrews 4:9]]).
4. **Warning Against Unbelief:** The repeated use of καταπαύω in the context of Israel's failure serves as a solemn warning. Just as unbelief prevented the first generation from entering the physical rest, so too can it prevent believers from experiencing the spiritual rest offered in Christ. This underscores the necessity of faith and obedience to appropriate God's promises.
### Summary
καταπαύω (katapaúō, `{{G2664}}`) is a Greek verb signifying a definitive cessation, a settling down, or the act of bringing something to a complete rest. While it can mean "to restrain" as seen in [[Acts 14:18]], its primary theological import in the New Testament is found in the Epistle to the Hebrews. Here, it describes God's divine rest after creation, the typological rest of the Promised Land, and most significantly, the spiritual rest available to believers through faith in Jesus Christ. This rest implies ceasing from one's own works and striving, mirroring God's satisfaction in His completed work. The author of Hebrews uses καταπαύω to issue a solemn warning against unbelief, which prevented ancient Israel from entering their promised rest and can similarly hinder believers from experiencing the fullness of God's provision in Christ. It points to a profound theological truth: true rest is found not in human effort, but in resting in God's finished work.
TRV