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" 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)
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Let's be clear and truthful. The Greek meaning of the Word "sabbatismos" from Hebrews 4:9 literally means "
Sabbath keeping". The Vine's Dictionary in the section that you highlighted
is not the Greek meaning of Sabbatismos which means "Sabbath keeping". It is Vines interpretation of what he thinks it means in chapter application and not the Greek meaning of the word sabbatismos. This application however disagrees with the context of Hebrews 4:1-5 that shows that (1.) application to God's rest that we who believe enter into by faith is to the seventh day weekly Sabbath *Hebrews 4:3-4. Hebrews 4:1-5 defines Gods' rest/His rest/My rest of Hebrews 3:11; Hebrews 4:1; 3; 5-6; 10-11 as the seventh day weekly Sabbath created from the foundation of the world *Hebrews 4:3-4 with Hebrews 4:9 saying that the keeping of this Sabbath (context) remains or is left behind for the people of God who believe and follow what Gods' Word says. So the section you highlighted above is not the Greek meaning of sabbatismos which is literally "Sabbath keeping" Vine however does actually give the literal Greek meaning earlier in the section you did not highlight as shown below.
W. E. VINE, Greek Dictionary
[ A-4,Noun,G4520, sabbatismos ] "a Sabbath-keeping," is used in Hebrews 4:9, RV, "a sabbath rest," AV marg., "a keeping of a sabbath" (akin to sabbatizo, "to keep the Sabbath," used, e.g., in Exodus 16:30, not in the NT)
The above is the Greek meaning while the interpretation you provided is
not the Greek meaning. Let's compare the above to other Greek Dictionaries, Interlinear's and Lexicons on the meaning of the Greek word "sabbatismos"
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)
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SUMMARY: The section you highlighted from the Vines dictionary is
not the Greek meaning of sabbatismos. The literal Greek meaning of sabbatismos was supplied earlier in the Vines dictionary. The section you highlighted is only his view of what he thinks the application is to but this does not agree with scripture contexts. The
context of Hebrews 4:1-5 that shows that (1.) application to God's rest that we who believe enter into is to the seventh day weekly Sabbath *Hebrews 4:3-4 which is defines Gods' rest/His rest/My rest of Hebrews 3:11; Hebrews 4:1; 3; 5-6; 10-11 as the
seventh day weekly Sabbath created from the foundation of the world *Hebrews 4:3-4 with Hebrews 4:9 saying that the keeping of this Sabbath remains or is left behind for the people of God. Vines literal interpretation of sabbatismos is highlighted showing the literal meaning of the Greek is to "sabbath keeping". Other supporting Greek dictionaries, lexicons and interlinear are all provided showing the meaning and application of sabbatismos is to "sabbath keeping" that is left behind to the people of God who believe and follow His Word.
Hope this is helpful Dan.
Take Care