Hebrews 4:7
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."
God again designated
The phrase highlights God's sovereign initiative in setting a specific time for His purposes. The Greek word for "designated" (ὁρίζω, horizō) implies a determined boundary or limit, emphasizing God's authority and intentionality. Historically, this reflects God's ongoing engagement with humanity, continually offering opportunities for repentance and faith.

a certain day
This phrase underscores the specificity and urgency of God's call. The Greek term for "certain" (τις, tis) suggests a particular, divinely appointed time. In the scriptural context, it points to the immediacy of God's invitation, urging believers to respond without delay.

as 'Today,'
The word "Today" (σήμερον, sēmeron) is pivotal, emphasizing the present moment as the time for action. Biblically, "Today" signifies the current opportunity for salvation and obedience, echoing the urgency found in Psalm 95, which the author of Hebrews references. It serves as a reminder that God's call is always relevant and immediate.

when a long time later
This phrase indicates the passage of time between the original context of Psalm 95 and its application in Hebrews. It highlights God's patience and the enduring relevance of His word. Historically, it reflects the continuity of God's message through different eras, showing that His promises and warnings remain applicable.

He spoke through David
Here, the author attributes the words of Psalm 95 to David, acknowledging the psalmist's role as a prophetic voice. The phrase underscores the divine inspiration of Scripture, with God speaking through human authors. This aligns with the conservative Christian view of the Bible as the authoritative Word of God.

as was stated before
This phrase indicates that the message being conveyed is not new but has been previously declared. It emphasizes the consistency and reliability of God's word. The repetition serves to reinforce the importance of the message and the need for attentive listening and response.

'Today, if you hear His voice
The conditional "if" (ἐάν, ean) introduces a choice, highlighting human responsibility in responding to God's call. The phrase "hear His voice" implies not just auditory reception but active listening and obedience. In the biblical context, hearing God's voice is synonymous with recognizing His authority and responding in faith.

do not harden your hearts.'
The warning against hardening one's heart (σκληρύνω, sklērynō) is a call to remain receptive and responsive to God. In Scripture, a hardened heart signifies resistance and unbelief, often leading to spiritual downfall. The historical context of Israel's rebellion in the wilderness serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of ignoring God's voice. This exhortation encourages believers to maintain a soft, obedient heart, open to God's leading.

Persons / Places / Events
1. God
The divine author and initiator of the call to obedience and faith.

2. David
The King of Israel, through whom God spoke, as referenced in the Psalms.

3. Today
A designated time of urgency and opportunity for obedience and faith.

4. The Israelites
The original recipients of the warning, who hardened their hearts in the wilderness.

5. The Wilderness
The place where the Israelites tested God and failed to enter His rest due to unbelief.
Teaching Points
The Urgency of Today
The term "Today" signifies the immediacy and importance of responding to God's voice. It is a call to action without delay.

The Danger of a Hardened Heart
A hardened heart is resistant to God's voice and leads to disobedience and unbelief. It is crucial to remain open and receptive to God's guidance.

The Role of Scripture in Hearing God's Voice
Scripture is a primary means through which God speaks to us. Regular engagement with the Bible helps us discern His voice and align our lives with His will.

Faith and Obedience as Keys to Rest
Entering God's rest requires faith and obedience. Just as the Israelites missed out on the Promised Land due to unbelief, we must trust and obey to experience God's peace and rest.

The Continuity of God's Message
The message of obedience and faith is consistent throughout Scripture, from the Old Testament to the New Testament. God's call remains the same across generations.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the term "Today" signify in the context of Hebrews 4:7, and how can we apply this sense of urgency in our daily lives?

2. How can we guard against hardening our hearts in response to God's voice, and what practical steps can we take to remain receptive?

3. In what ways does the account of the Israelites in the wilderness serve as a warning for us today?

4. How does engaging with Scripture help us hear and respond to God's voice, and what practices can enhance our understanding and application of the Bible?

5. How do faith and obedience work together to allow us to enter God's rest, and what areas of our lives require greater trust and submission to God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 95
The original source of the quotation, emphasizing the call to worship and obedience.

Hebrews 3:7-8
Reiterates the warning against hardening hearts, connecting it to the rebellion in the wilderness.

2 Corinthians 6:2
Highlights the urgency of responding to God's call "Today" as the day of salvation.

Exodus 17:7
Describes the testing of God by the Israelites at Massah and Meribah, illustrating the hardening of hearts.

Matthew 13:15
Jesus speaks of people whose hearts have grown dull, unable to hear and understand God's message.
Hardening the HeartC. G. Finney.Hebrews 4:7
OpportunityHebrews 4:7
Opportunity to be SeizedJ. Bond.Hebrews 4:7
The Immediate Claims of ReligionEssex Congregational RemembrancerHebrews 4:7
The PresentArchdeacon Farrar.Hebrews 4:7
TodayDean Vaughan.Hebrews 4:7
To-DayHebrews 4:7
The More Terrible Result of Apostasy from Christ Seen in the Better Rest to Which Christ LeadsC. New Hebrews 4:1-11
The Course of Christian Effort is Justified by the Certainty of a Future RestJ.S. Bright Hebrews 4:3-10
People
David, Hebrews, Joshua
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Afterward, Afterwards, Already, David, David's, Defines, Defineth, Definitely, Determines, Ears, Fixes, Harden, Heart, Hearts, Later, Limit, Limiteth, Lips, Mentions, Naming, Quoted, Saying, Says, Sets, Spoke, To-day, Voice
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Hebrews 4:7

     4971   seasons, of life
     5020   human nature
     5048   opportunities, and salvation
     6663   freedom, of will
     6734   repentance, importance
     8489   urgency

Hebrews 4:1-11

     5059   rest, eternal

Hebrews 4:5-7

     6178   hardness of heart

Library
February 22. "He that Hath Entered into his Rest Hath Ceased from his Own Works Even as God did from His" (Heb. Iv. 10).
"He that hath entered into His rest hath ceased from his own works even as God did from His" (Heb. iv. 10). What a rest it would be to many of us if we could but exchange burdens with Christ, and so utterly and forever transfer to Him all our cares and needs that we would not feel henceforth responsible for our burdens, but know that He has undertaken all the care, and that our faith is simply to carry His burdens, and that He prays, labors, and suffers only for us and our interests. This is what
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

October 18. "All Things are Naked and Open unto the Eyes of Him with whom we have to Do" (Heb. Iv. 13).
"All things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do" (Heb. iv. 13). The literal translation of this phrase is, all things are stripped and stunned. This is the force of the Greek words. The figure is that of an athlete in the Coliseum who has fought his best in the arena, and has at length fallen at the feet of his adversary, disarmed and broken down in helplessness. There he lies, unable to strike a blow, or lift his arm. He is stripped and stunned, disarmed and disabled,
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

April 23. "An High Priest Touched with the Feeling of Our Infirmities" (Heb. Iv. 15).
"An high priest touched with the feeling of our infirmities" (Heb. iv. 15). Some time ago we were talking with a greatly suffering sister about healing, who was much burdened physically and desirous of being able to trust the Lord for deliverance. After a little conversation we prayed with her, committing her case to the Lord for absolute trust and deliverance as she was prepared to claim. As soon as we closed our prayer she grasped our hand, and asked us to unite with her in the burden that was
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

October 22. "Touched with the Feeling of Our Infirmities" (Heb. Iv. 15).
"Touched with the feeling of our infirmities" (Heb. iv. 15). Some of us know a little what it is to be thrilled with a sense of the sufferings of others, and sometimes, the sins of others, and sins that seem to saturate us as they come in contact with us, and throw over us an awful sense of sin and need. This is, perhaps, intended to give us some faint conception of the sympathy that Jesus felt when He had taken our sins, our sicknesses and our sorrows. Let us not hesitate to lay them on Him! It
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Throne of Grace
In order to such prayer, the work of the Holy Ghost himself is needed. If prayer were of the lips alone, we should only need breath in our nostrils to pray: if prayer were of the desires alone, many excellent desires are easily felt, even by natural men: but when it is the spiritual desire, and the spiritual fellowship of the human spirit with the Great Spirit, then the Holy Ghost himself must be present all through it, to help infirmity, and give life and power, or else true prayer will never be
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

Heavenly Rest
"My rest," says God: the rest of God! Something more wonderful than any other kind of rest. In my text it is (in the original) called the Sabbatism--not the Sabbath, but the rest of the Sabbath--not the outward ritual of the Sabbath, which was binding upon the Jew, but the inward spirit of the sabbath, which is the joy and delight of the Christian. "There remaineth therefore"--because others have not had it, because some are to have it--"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God." Now,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

How Should we Make Use of Christ, in Going to the Father, in Prayer, and Other Acts of Worship?
In short, for answering of this question, I shall lay down those particulars: 1. There should be a lively sense of the infinite distance that is between the great God and us finite creatures, and yet more betwixt the Holy Ghost and us sinful wretches. 2. There should be an eyeing of Christ as the great peacemaker, through his death and merits having satisfied justice and reconciled sinners unto God; that so we may look on God now no more as an enemy, but as reconciled in Jesus. 3. There should be,
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Entrance into Rest.
Hebrews 4:1.--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. Hebrews 4:11.--Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. I want, in the simplest way possible, to answer the question: "How does a man enter into that rest?" and to point out the simple steps that he takes, all included in the one act of surrender and faith. And the first step, I think, is this: that a
Andrew Murray—The Master's Indwelling

What Now is Become of this True Church, or Where must the Man Go...
What now is become of this true church, or where must the man go, who would fain be a living member of it? He need go nowhere; because wherever he is, that which is to save him, and that which he is to be saved from, is always with him. SELF is all the evil that he has, and God is all the goodness that he ever can have; but self is always with him, and God is always with him. Death to self is his only entrance into the church of life, and nothing but God can give death to self. Self is an inward
William Law—An Humble, Affectionate, and Earnest Address to the Clergy

To-Morrow
"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."--Heb. iv. 9. J. S. Kunth, 1700. tr., Emma Frances Bevan, 1899 There is a Day of rest before thee-- Thou weary soul, arise and shine. Awhile the clouds hung darkly o'er thee, Awhile the captive's chains were thine. Behold, the Lamb of God will lead thee To still green pastures round the throne; Cast off thy burden, rise and speed thee, For soon the battle storm is done-- For soon the weary race is past, And thou shalt rest in Love at last.
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen and Others (Second Series)

The Sabbath Year
Gerhard Ter Steegen Heb. iv. 10 Oft comes to me a blessed hour, A wondrous hour and still-- With empty hands I lay me down, No more to work or will. An hour when weary thought has ceased, The eyes are closed in rest; And, hushed in Heaven's untroubled peace, I lie upon Thy breast. Erewile I reasoned of Thy truth, I searched with toil and care; From morn to night I tilled my field, And yet my field was bare. Now, fed with corn from fields of Heaven The fruit of Hands Divine, I pray no prayer,
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

Whiter than Snow
Gerhard Ter Steegen Heb. iv. 14 To heart and soul how sweet Thou art, O great High Priest of God! My heart brought nigh to God's own heart By Thy most precious blood. No more my countless sins shall rise To fill me with dismay-- That precious blood before His eyes Hath put them all away. My soul draws near with trust secure, With boldness glad and free; What matters it that I am poor, For I am rich in Thee. Forgotten every stain and spot, Their memory past and gone, For me, O God, Thou seest
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

Old-Testament Gospel Heb 4:02

John Newton—Olney Hymns

John Newton the Word Quick and Powerful. Heb 4:12,13

John Newton—Olney Hymns

Statement of Faith.
1. We believe in one Unbegotten [428] God, Father Almighty, maker of all things both visible and invisible, that hath His being from Himself. And in one Only-begotten Word, Wisdom, Son, begotten of the Father without beginning and eternally; word not pronounced [429] nor mental, nor an effluence [430] of the Perfect, nor a dividing of the impassible Essence, nor an issue [431] ; but absolutely perfect Son, living and powerful (Heb. iv. 12), the true Image of the Father, equal in honour and glory.
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

The Power of God's Word to Convict Men of Sin.
In Hebrews 4:12 we have a Scripture which draws attention to this peculiar characteristic of the Bible--"For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, andis a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." The writings of men may sometimes stir the emotions, search the conscience, and influence the human will, but in a manner and degree possessed by no other book the Bible
Arthur W. Pink—The Divine Inspiration of the Bible

The Great High-Priest.
"Having then a great High-priest, Who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high-priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but One that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need. For every high-priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

Rest
THE Master had much to say to his beloved children about this festival of God. It was of this that he delighted to tell them. Whilst the pestilence, and the war, and the persecution of Rome, were desolating the city, Master Tauler dwelt in the gladness of the bridal chamber, and told to the weary and sorrowful around him, the things that he had seen and heard. And thus it came to pass that many entered in, and found themselves in that inner chamber of rest, and peace, and joy, and to them "the curse
Frances Bevan—Three Friends of God

Our Compassionate High Priest
"Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity."--Hebrews 5:2 The high priest looked Godward, and therefore he had need to be holy; for he had to deal with things pertaining to God. But at the same time he looked manward; it was for men that he was ordained, that, through him, they might deal with God; and therefore he had need to be tender. It was necessary that he should be one who could have sympathy with men;
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 38: 1892

Sixteenth Day for the Power of the Holy Spirit in Our Sabbath Schools
WHAT TO PRAY.--For the Power of the Holy Spirit in our Sabbath Schools "Thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children."--ISA. xlix. 25. Every part of the work of God's Church is His work. He must do it. Prayer is the confession that He will, the surrender of ourselves into His hands to let Him, work in us and through us. Pray for the hundreds
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

Here is the Sum of My Examination Before Justice Keelin, Justice Chester, Justice Blundale, Justice Beecher, Justice Snagg, Etc.
After I had lain in prison above seven weeks, the quarter-sessions were to be kept in Bedford, for the county thereof, unto which I was to be brought; and when my jailor had set me before those justices, there was a bill of indictment preferred against me. The extent thereof was as followeth: That John Bunyan, of the town of Bedford, labourer, being a person of such and such conditions, he hath (since such a time) devilishly and perniciously abstained from coming to church to hear Divine service,
John Bunyan—Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners

The Saints' Privilege and Profit;
OR, THE THRONE OF GRACE ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. The churches of Christ are very much indebted to the Rev. Charles Doe, for the preservation and publishing of this treatise. It formed one of the ten excellent manuscripts left by Bunyan at his decease, prepared for the press. Having treated on the nature of prayer in his searching work on 'praying with the spirit and with the understanding also,' in which he proves from the sacred scriptures that prayer cannot be merely read or said, but must
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Water of Life;
OR, A DISCOURSE SHOWING THE RICHNESS AND GLORY OF THE GRACE AND SPIRIT OF THE GOSPEL, AS SET FORTH IN SCRIPTURE BY THIS TERM, THE WATER OF LIFE. BY JOHN BUNYAN. 'And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.'--Revelation 22:17 London: Printed for Nathanael Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, 1688. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Often, and in every age, the children of God have dared to doubt the sufficiency of divine grace; whether it was vast enough to reach their condition--to cleanse
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Links
Hebrews 4:7 NIV
Hebrews 4:7 NLT
Hebrews 4:7 ESV
Hebrews 4:7 NASB
Hebrews 4:7 KJV

Hebrews 4:7 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Hebrews 4:6
Top of Page
Top of Page