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Selected Verse: Hebrews 4:11 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
Heb 4:11	King James	Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Let us . . . therefore--Seeing such a promise is before us, which we may, like them, fall short of through unbelief. labour--Greek, "strive diligently." that rest--which is still future and so glorious. Or, in ALFORD'S translation of Heb 4:10, "That rest into which Christ has entered before" (Heb 4:14; Heb 6:20). fall--with the soul, not merely the body, as the rebel Israelites fell (Heb 3:17). after the same example--ALFORD translates, "fall into the same example." The less prominent place of the "fall" in the Greek favors this. The sense is, "lest any fall into such disobedience (so the Greek for 'unbelief' means) as they gave a sample of" [GROTIUS]. The Jews say, "The parents are a sign (warning) to their sons."

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Let us . . . therefore--Seeing such a promise is before us, which we may, like them, fall short of through unbelief.

labour--Greek, "strive diligently."

that rest--which is still future and so glorious. Or, in ALFORD'S translation of Heb 4:10, "That rest into which Christ has entered before" (Heb 4:14; Heb 6:20).

fall--with the soul, not merely the body, as the rebel Israelites fell (Heb 3:17).

after the same example--ALFORD translates, "fall into the same example." The less prominent place of the "fall" in the Greek favors this. The sense is, "lest any fall into such disobedience (so the Greek for 'unbelief' means) as they gave a sample of" [GROTIUS]. The Jews say, "The parents are a sign (warning) to their sons."

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Let us therefore labour - Let us earnestly strive. Since there is a rest whose attainment is worth all our efforts; since so many have failed of reaching it by their unbelief, and since there is so much danger that we may fail of it also, let us give all diligence that we may enter into it. Heaven is never obtained but by diligence; and no one enters there who does not earnestly desire it, and who does not make a sincere effort to reach it. Of unbelief - Margin, "disobedience." The word "unbelief" best expresses the sense, as the apostle was showing that this was the principal thing that prevented people from entering into heaven; see the notes at Heb 3:12.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Let us therefore labour - Let us earnestly strive. Since there is a rest whose attainment is worth all our efforts; since so many have failed of reaching it by their unbelief, and since there is so much danger that we may fail of it also, let us give all diligence that we may enter into it. Heaven is never obtained but by diligence; and no one enters there who does not earnestly desire it, and who does not make a sincere effort to reach it.

Of unbelief - Margin, "disobedience." The word "unbelief" best expresses the sense, as the apostle was showing that this was the principal thing that prevented people from entering into heaven; see the notes at Heb 3:12.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
This promise of rest carries with it a special responsibility for the people of God. Let us labor therefore (σπουδάσωμεν οὖν) For the verb, see on Eph 4:3. Give diligence, not hasten, which is the primary meaning. That rest (ἐκείνην τὴν κατάπαυσιν) The Sabbath-rest of God, instituted at creation, promised to the fathers, forfeited by their unbelief, remaining to us on the condition of faith. Lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief (ἵνα μὴ ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ τις ὑποδείγματι πέσῃ τῆς ἀπειθείας) Πέσῃ fall is to be taken absolutely; not, fall into the same example. Υ̓πόδειγμα example, mostly in Hebrews. Rejected as unclassical by the Attic rhetoricians. Originally a sign which suggests something: a partial suggestion as distinct from a complete expression. See Heb 8:5; Heb 9:23. Thus Christ's washing of the disciples' feet (Joh 13:15) was a typical suggestion of the whole field and duty of ministry. See on Pe1 2:6. It is not easy to give the exact force of ἐν in. Strictly speaking, the "example of disobedience" is conceived as that in which the falling takes place. The fall is viewed in the sphere of example. Comp. 2 Macc. 4:30; Co1 2:7. Rend. that no man fall in the same example of disobedience: the same as that in which they fell.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]

This promise of rest carries with it a special responsibility for the people of God.

Let us labor therefore (σπουδάσωμεν οὖν)

For the verb, see on Eph 4:3. Give diligence, not hasten, which is the primary meaning.

That rest (ἐκείνην τὴν κατάπαυσιν)

The Sabbath-rest of God, instituted at creation, promised to the fathers, forfeited by their unbelief, remaining to us on the condition of faith.

Lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief (ἵνα μὴ ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ τις ὑποδείγματι πέσῃ τῆς ἀπειθείας)

Πέσῃ fall is to be taken absolutely; not, fall into the same example. Υ̓πόδειγμα example, mostly in Hebrews. Rejected as unclassical by the Attic rhetoricians. Originally a sign which suggests something: a partial suggestion as distinct from a complete expression. See Heb 8:5; Heb 9:23. Thus Christ's washing of the disciples' feet (Joh 13:15) was a typical suggestion of the whole field and duty of ministry. See on Pe1 2:6. It is not easy to give the exact force of ἐν in. Strictly speaking, the "example of disobedience" is conceived as that in which the falling takes place. The fall is viewed in the sphere of example. Comp. 2 Macc. 4:30; Co1 2:7. Rend. that no man fall in the same example of disobedience: the same as that in which they fell.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Lest any one should fall - Into perdition.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]

Lest any one should fall - Into perdition.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Let us labor therefore - The word σπουδασωμεν implies every exertion of body and mind which can be made in reference to the subject. Rebus aliis omissis, hoc agamus; All things else omitted, this one thing let us do. We receive grace, improve grace, retain grace, that we may obtain eternal glory. Lest any man fall - Lest he fall off from the grace of God, from the Gospel and its blessings, and perish everlastingly. This is the meaning of the apostle, who never supposed that a man might not make final shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience, as long as he was in a state of probation.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

Let us labor therefore - The word σπουδασωμεν implies every exertion of body and mind which can be made in reference to the subject. Rebus aliis omissis, hoc agamus; All things else omitted, this one thing let us do. We receive grace, improve grace, retain grace, that we may obtain eternal glory.

Lest any man fall - Lest he fall off from the grace of God, from the Gospel and its blessings, and perish everlastingly. This is the meaning of the apostle, who never supposed that a man might not make final shipwreck of faith and of a good conscience, as long as he was in a state of probation.

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