More Hebrews 4:9 - So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. (NASB) Notice that the Greek word "sabbatismos" here is used no where else in the Bible! Amazing that sabbatarians would suggest that this is the word for "keeping the weekly sabbath day" under the law when it is never used anywhere else in the Bible!
W. E. Vine, Greek Dictionary points out:
Sabbath rest (4520) (sabbatismos from sabbatízo = keep the Sabbath) literally means a keeping of a sabbath or a keeping of days of rest. It is used in this passage not in the literal sense (meaning to keep a specific day, the "Sabbath" day) but to describe a period of rest for God’s people which is modeled after and is a fulfillment of the traditional Sabbath.
SABBATISMOS a Sabbath-keeping, is used in Heb. 4:9, R.V., "a Sabbath rest," A.V. marg., "a keeping of a Sabbath" (akin to sabbatizoµ, to keep the Sabbath, used, e.g., in Ex. 16:30, not in the N.T.); here the Sabbath-keeping is the perpetual Sabbath rest to be enjoyed uninterruptedly by believers in their fellowship with the Father and the Son, in contrast to the weekly Sabbath under the Law. Because this Sabbath rest is the rest of God Himself, its full fruition is yet future, though believers now enter into it. In whatever way they enter into divine “rest,” that which they enjoy is involved in an indissoluble relation with God. (Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words)
WHAT IS GOD’S REST/MY REST/HIS REST OF HEBREWS 3 AND HEBREWS 4?
As shown earlier through the scriptures your claims here in this post are based on eisegesis (reading into the scriptures what they do not say or teach). There is nothing in
Hebrews 3:7-19 to
Hebrews 4:1-13 that says anywhere that supports your claims that these scriptures teach that Jesus is a Sabbath, the Sabbath is a full time rest, or that
Hebrews 4:1-13 reveals the New Covenant spiritual reality of the physical rest of the Old Covenant Sabbath day for the people of God, which emphasis was on rest. Of course it is true however that no one enters into God's seventh day Sabbath rest if they do not believe and follow Gods' Word (the gospel rest) and continues in unbelief and sin, not believing and following God's Word. This is what the warnings are about as shown in
Hebrews 3:12-13; 14; 17-19; Hebrew 4:1-2;6; 11.
WHAT IS GOD’S REST IN
HEBREWS 3 and
HEBREWS 4? (exegesis)
HEBREWS 4:1-11
[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.
[2], For to us was the gospel preached, as well as to them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
[3], For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
[4], For he spoke in a certain place of the SEVENTH DAY on this wise, And God did rest the SEVENTH DAY from all his works.
5, And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
KEY POINTS FROM THE SCRIPTURES OF HEBREWS 4:1-5 (exegesis)
NOTE: Context in
Hebrews 4:1-5 is God's Rest from the seventh day Sabbath from the foundation of the world (v4-5) and those who enter Gods rest by and believing and following Gods Word [the gospel] who enter into God's Sabbath rest as God did on the seventh day of the week. The context here defining God’s rest/My rest/His rest is to God’s seventh day Sabbath rest created at the foundation of the world that those who believe or do not believe God's WORD do or do not enter into. The new testament writer of Hebrews is warning us that if we do not believe and follow God's Word (the gospel) and continue in sin and unbelief (
Hebrews 3:10-13; 18-19) we will never enter into God's rest (His Rest/My Rest) which is defined as the "seventh day" Sabbath rest in
Hebrews 4:1-5. There are two rests here. One is to the rest we enter into by believing and following Gods Word which is our rest and the rest we enter into by believing and following God’s Word to God’s rest which is the seventh day Sabbath.
Hebrews 4:3-5 defines God's rest by saying [3], For we which have believed do enter into rest (our rest from or the gospel rest of believing and following God's Word), as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest (God's rest): although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. [4], For he spoke in a certain place of the "
seventh day" on this wise, And God did rest the "
seventh day" from all his works. [5], And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest ("
seventh day").
[6], Seeing therefore it remains that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
[7], Again, he limits a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
[8], For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
[9]
SO THEN, IT REMAINS FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD TO KEEP THE SABBATH.
[10], For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his. [11], Let us labor therefore to enter that rest, [God’s REST the SEVENTH DAY SABBATH] lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief [rejecting God’s WORD and sin;
Hebrews 3].
KEY POINTS OF HEBREWS 4:9 (exegesis)
Now notice
Hebrews 4, verse 9: “SO THEN, IT REMAINS FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD TO KEEP THE SABBATH.” In verses 1, 3, 4 and 8, the Greek word for “rest” is katapausin. It means “rest.” But in verse 9, the Greek word for “rest” is sabbatismos, which is a Hebrew word—Sabbat, which means “the Sabbath”—combined with a Greek suffix—ismos, which means “a keeping of” or “a doing of.” Put together, sabbatismo means “a keeping of the Sabbath.” When correctly translated,
Hebrews 4:9 should read, “
There remains therefore a keeping of the Sabbath to the people of God.”
According to the Greek and scripture contexts of
Hebrews 3:7-19 and
Hebrews 4:1-9,
Hebrews 4:9 is in regards to God’s seventh day Sabbath of the 4th commandment which in the context of
Hebrews 4:1-5 which defines God’s rest/My rest/His rest (
Hebrews 3:11; 18-19;
Hebrews 4:1; 3; 5; 10) as the “seventh day” from the foundation of the world *
Hebrews 4:3-4.
............
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Hebrews 4:9 So then, it remains for the people of God to keep the Sabbath.
Lamsa Bible
Hebrews 4:9 It is therefore the duty of the people of God to keep the Sabbath.
................
For your interest, the Greek word used here for Sabbath is Sabbatismos and means a Sabbath keeping or keeping of the Sabbath or how the Sabbath is kept by resting.
Hebrews 4,
verse 9: “
So then, it remains for the people of God to keep the Sabbath.” or in other translations "
There remains therefore a sabbath rest for the people of God". In
verses 1,
3,
4 and
8, the Greek word for “rest” is
katapausin. It means “rest.” But in
verse 9, the Greek word for “rest” is
sabbatismos, which is a Hebrew word—
Sabbat, which means “the Sabbath”—combined with a Greek suffix—
ismos, which means “a keeping of” or “a doing of.” Put together,
sabbatismo means “a keeping of the Sabbath.” When correctly translated,
Hebrews 4:9 should read, “There remains therefore a
keeping of the Sabbath to the people of God.”
GREEK INTERLINEAR
HEBREWS 4:9 άρα (Then) απολείπεται (there is left) σαββατισμός (
a Sabbath keeping) τω (to the) λαώ (people) του θεού (of God)
GREEK LEXICON OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, Abbott-Smith - G4520
*† σαββατισμός, - οῦ, ὁ
(< σαββατίζω,
to keep the sabbath, Exod 16:30, al.),
a keeping sabbath, a sabbath rest: metaph., as in Mishna (Zorell, s.v.), Heb 4:9.†
LIDDEL/SCOTT/JONES GREEK-ENGLISH LEXICON - G4520
σαββατισμός
Σαββᾰτ-ισμός, ὁ,
a keeping of days of rest, Ep. Heb 4:9, cf. Plu. 2.166a (codd., βαπτισμούς Bentley).
STRONGS LEXICON
So ἄρα (
ara) Conjunction
Strong's Greek 686: Then, therefore, since. Probably from airo; a particle denoting an inference more or less decisive.
there remains ἀπολείπεται (
apoleipetai) Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's Greek 620: From apo and leipo; to leave behind; by implication, to forsake. a Sabbath rest σαββατισμὸς (
sabbatismos) Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's Greek 4520: A keeping of the Sabbath, a Sabbath rest. From a derivative of sabbaton; a 'sabbatism', i.e. the repose of Christianity. for the τῷ (
tō) Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's Greek 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. people λαῷ (
laō) Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's Greek 2992: Apparently a primary word; a people.
of God. Θεοῦ (
Theou) Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's Greek 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.
STRONGS CONCORDENCE
sabbatismos: a sabbath rest Definition: a sabbath rest Usage (DOING):
a keeping of the Sabbath, a Sabbath rest.
GREEK-ENGLISH LEXICON OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. THAYER - G4520
G4520 — σαββατισμός
σαββατισμου, ὁ (σαββατίζω
to keep the sabbath);
W. E. VINE, GREEK DICTIONARY
Sabbath rest (4520) (sabbatismos from sabbatízo
= keep the Sabbath)
literally means a keeping of a sabbath or a keeping of days of rest. (Note the rest of Vines comments is not the Greek it is
his opinion)
HEBREWS 4:9 [9],
SO THEN IT REMAINS FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD TO KEEP THE SABBATH.
…………..
Hebrews 3:7-19 to
Hebrews 4:1-11 is warning us that if we do not believe and follow God's Word (the gospel) and we continue in sin and unbelief (
Hebrews 3:10-13; 18-19) we will never enter into God's rest (His Rest/My Rest) which is defined as the "seventh day" Sabbath rest in
Hebrews 4:1-5.
Hebrews 4:3-5 defines God's rest by saying [3], For we which have believed do enter into rest (our rest from or the gospel rest of believing and following God's Word), as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest (God's rest): although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. [4], For he spoke in a certain place of the "
seventh day" on this wise, And God did rest the "
seventh day" from all his works. [5], And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest ("seventh day"). There are two rests being described. One is our rest we receive through believing and following God's Word (the gospel) *
Matthew 11:28-30;
Hebrews 4:2-3 and God's rest *
Hebrews 3:11; 18;
Hebrews 4:1; 3; 5-6; 8-9; 10-11.
Hebrews 4:9 THEREFORE IT REMAINS FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD TO KEEP THE SABBATH. Why? Because the true seventh day Sabbath rest is a sign of God's true people who God sanctifies to keep all the commandments of God through faith in God's Word *
Exodus 31:13;
Exodus 31:17;
Ezekiel 20:12;
Ezekiel 20:20;
Revelation 12:17;
Revelation 22:14.
................
SUMMARY: God's rest is the "seventh day Sabbath" of creation. Our rest is that of believing and following Gods' Word. No one enters into God's rest (defined in Hebrews as the "seventh day Sabbath") unless they believe and follow Gods' Word (the gospel rest). Of course God's 4th commandment of the 10 commandments (
Exodus 20:8-11) are a part of God's Word (the gospel) that God's people who enter into Gods rest believe and follow in Gods' Word just like Jesus did and the Apostles and prophets in Gods' Word. Everything provided here are not my words but have been taken directly from the scriptures which are God's Words not mine (exegesis). The warnings here are very clear. Those who do not believe and follow God's Word in order to continue in a life of known unrepentant sin (breaking anyone of God's commandments -
James 2:10-11) just like those in the wilderness do not enter into Gods' rest (seventh day Sabbath) and will be in danger of the judgement to come (
Hebrews 10:26-31)
Hope this is helpful
@Danthemailman.
