Warning from Israel’s Example: Beware Unbelief
Hebrews 3:7-19
Heb.3.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Διο: CONJ
- καθως: CONJ
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πνευμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- αγιον·Σημερον: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- εαν: CONJ
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- φωνης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ακουσητε: VERB,aor,act,subj,2,pl
Parallels
- Psalm 95:7 (quotation): Direct source quoted by Hebrews 3:7 (‘To‑day if ye will hear his voice’). The author cites this line from the psalm as the basis for his warning.
- Psalm 95:8 (quotation): Immediate continuation of the same psalm (‘Harden not your hearts…’) that Hebrews 3–4 uses to warn against the Israelites’ rebellion in the wilderness.
- Hebrews 4:7 (structural): The author repeats the same quotation (‘Today if ye hear his voice’) later in the letter to press the pastoral application about entering God’s rest.
- Numbers 14:22–23 (thematic): Narrative background for the psalm quotation: Israel’s testing/rebellion in the wilderness led God to bar that generation from entering the land (and thus ‘rest’), which Hebrews treats as the exemplar of unbelief to avoid.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear his voice—"
- Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, 'Today, if you hear his voice,
Heb.3.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- μη: PART
- σκληρυνητε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- καρδιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- ως: ADV
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- παραπικρασμω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- κατα: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ημεραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πειρασμου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ερημω: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- Psalm 95:8 (quotation): Hebrews 3:8 directly quotes Psalm 95:8 (LXX) — the admonition not to harden your hearts on the day of testing in the wilderness.
- Psalm 95:7-11 (structural): The fuller Psalm context recounts Israel’s rebellion in the wilderness and serves as the primary source and context for Hebrews’ warning and exhortation.
- Hebrews 4:7 (quotation): Hebrews 4:7 repeats the Psalm’s language (‘today’) and restates the warning from Psalm 95 to prevent hardening of heart, showing the author’s continued appeal to the same Scripture.
- Exodus 17:7 (thematic): The episode at Massah (‘Is the LORD among us?’) is an instance of the wilderness ‘day of testing’ the Psalm and Hebrews allude to — an historical example of Israel’s hardening and testing of God.
- 1 Corinthians 10:9-11 (thematic): Paul cites wilderness incidents (testing, murmuring) as warnings to believers; thematically parallels Hebrews’ use of Israel’s wilderness failure as a caution against unbelief.
Alternative generated candidates
- do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness,
- 'do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness,'
Heb.3.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ου: PART,neg
- επειρασαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- πατερες: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- εν: PREP
- δοκιμασια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ειδον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- εργα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
Parallels
- Psalm 95:9 (LXX 94:9) (quotation): Hebrews 3:9 directly cites this Psalm passage about the fathers testing God in the wilderness; the author quotes the LXX wording to warn the recipients.
- Exodus 17:7 (verbal): The episode at Massah and Meribah uses the verb 'tested' (peirazō) when the people challenged whether the LORD was with them—verbal parallel to 'οὐ ἐπεῖρασαν' in Hebrews.
- Numbers 14:22–23 (allusion): God's judgment on the generation that tested him (barred from entering the promised land/rest) is the background for Hebrews' argument about failing to enter God's rest because of unbelief and testing.
- Psalm 78:17, 41 (thematic): Psalm 78 recounts Israel's repeated testing of God and refusal to trust despite his works—thematising the same failure to heed God's deeds that Hebrews cites.
Alternative generated candidates
- where your fathers put me to the test and proved me, and they saw my works for forty years.
- 'when your fathers tested me and proved me, and saw my works for forty years.'
Heb.3.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τεσσερακοντα: NUM,acc,pl
- ετη·διο: NOUN,acc,pl,nt
- προσωχθισα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- γενεα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- ταυτη: PRO,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ειπον·Αει: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- πλανωνται: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,pl
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- καρδια·αυτοι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- δε: CONJ
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εγνωσαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- οδους: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- μου·: PRON,gen,sg,1
Parallels
- Psalm 95:10 (quotation): Hebrews 3:10 directly quotes Psalm 95:10 (LXX/Hebrew), including the 'forty years' anger and the charge that the generation 'did not know my ways.'
- Numbers 14:22-23,29-34 (verbal): Numbers recounts Israel's rebellion and God's decree that the people would wander forty years in the wilderness—background for the 'forty years' and divine anger language cited in Heb 3:10.
- Deuteronomy 1:34-39 (allusion): Moses' retelling of God's anger against that generation and the sentence on them alludes to the same historical episode invoked in Hebrews to warn against unbelief.
- Psalm 78:40-42 (thematic): Psalm 78 describes Israel's repeated provocations and failure to 'know' God's ways in the wilderness—a thematic parallel emphasizing forgetfulness, rebellion, and divine displeasure.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and I said, "They always go astray in their hearts, and they have not known my ways."
- 'Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and I said, "They always go astray in heart; they have not known my ways."'
Heb.3.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ως: ADV
- ωμοσα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- οργη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- μου·Ει: PRON,gen,sg,1;CONJ
- εισελευσονται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,pl
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- καταπαυσιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
Parallels
- Psalm 95:11 (quotation): Direct source of the verbatim citation in Hebrews 3:11 (LXX/Hebrew): 'As I swore in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.'
- Hebrews 4:3 (thematic): Develops the theme of 'entering God's rest' introduced in Heb 3:11 and applies the warning to believers vs. unbelief.
- Numbers 14:22-23 (allusion): God's oath in response to Israel's unbelief that the generation would not enter the Promised Land—historical background for the denial of entry into God's rest.
- Deuteronomy 1:34-37 (allusion): Moses' recounting of God's anger and the decree that that generation would not enter the land parallels the basis for the excluded 'rest.'
- Hebrews 3:18-19 (verbal): Immediate context in Hebrews: restates that God swore they would not enter his rest and links that oath to the people's unbelief, tying the quotation to the epistle's argument.
Alternative generated candidates
- So I swore in my wrath, "They shall not enter into my rest."
- 'So I swore in my wrath, "They shall not enter into my rest."'
Heb.3.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- βλεπετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- αδελφοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- μηποτε: PART
- εσται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- τινι: PRON,dat,sg,neut
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- καρδια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- πονηρα: ADJ,nom,pl,neut
- απιστιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- αποστηναι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- απο: PREP
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ζωντος: VERB,pres,act,part,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Hebrews 3:13 (thematic): Immediate parallel in the same argument: believers are urged to exhort one another daily to prevent hearts being hardened by sin’s deceitfulness, which leads to falling away (same warning context).
- Hebrews 3:6 (thematic): Contrasts the possibility of falling away with the assurance of belonging to God’s house if believers hold fast their confidence and hope—same paragraph contrasting perseverance and apostasy.
- Hebrews 10:26-31 (thematic): A later warning in Hebrews about deliberate sin and judgment; underscores the danger and seriousness of persisting in unbelief/apostasy after knowing the truth.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3 (verbal): Uses the term for apostasy (ἀποστασία) and warns of a coming falling away as a key element in eschatological deception—verbal and conceptual parallel to 'falling away from the living God.'
- John 15:6 (thematic): Jesus’ teaching that anyone who does not abide in him is thrown away and withers echoes the consequence of failing to remain in vital union with the living God (loss of standing, judgment).
Alternative generated candidates
- Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, turning away from the living God.
- Beware, holy brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns you away from the living God.
Heb.3.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αλλα: CONJ
- παρακαλειτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- εαυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- καθ᾽εκαστην: PREP
- ημεραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αχρις: PREP
- ου: PART,neg
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- Σημερον: ADV
- καλειται: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
- ινα: CONJ
- μη: PART
- σκληρυνθη: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- εξ: PREP
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- απατη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- αμαρτιας·: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Psalm 95:7-8 (quotation): Hebrews draws on Psalm 95’s admonition (“Today... do not harden your hearts”), the source for the warning against hardening in the present time.
- Hebrews 4:7 (structural): The author repeats the same ‘Today’ citation and warning later (4:7), reinforcing the exhortation to hear God’s voice and avoid a hard heart.
- Hebrews 10:24-25 (thematic): Both passages urge mutual exhortation among believers—stirring up one another to faithfulness so none fall away.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (thematic): “Encourage (or build up) one another” parallels the call to ongoing mutual encouragement in Hebrews 3:13.
- Romans 7:11 (verbal): Paul’s description of sin as deceiving and bringing death echoes Hebrews’ phrase “deceitfulness of sin,” linking the danger of sin’s deceptive power.
Alternative generated candidates
- But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "Today," so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
- But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Heb.3.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- μετοχοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- γαρ: PART
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- γεγοναμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- εανπερ: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αρχην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- υποστασεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- μεχρι: PREP
- τελους: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- βεβαιαν: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- κατασχωμεν: VERB,pres,act,subj,1,pl
Parallels
- Hebrews 3:1 (verbal): Uses the same family of language about being 'partakers' (κοινωνοί) of a holy calling—establishes the identity of the community as sharers in Christ's calling.
- Hebrews 3:6 (thematic): Both verses link belonging to Christ/His house with the conditional requirement of 'holding fast' one's confidence/hope to the end.
- Hebrews 10:23 (verbal): 'Let us hold unswervingly to the hope' echoes the exhortation to preserve the initial confidence/assurance (hold fast) until the end.
- Romans 8:17 (thematic): Speaks of believers as 'co-heirs' or 'fellow heirs with Christ,' paralleling the idea of being 'partakers' (μετοχοί) of Christ.
- 2 Peter 1:10 (thematic): Calls for diligence to 'make your calling and election sure,' reflecting the concern that one must confirm/preserve the initial standing or possession in Christ through perseverance.
Alternative generated candidates
- For we have become sharers of Christ—if indeed we hold firmly the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.
- For we have come to share in Christ—if indeed we hold firm to the end the beginning of our confidence.
Heb.3.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- λεγεσθαι·Σημερον: VERB,pres,pass,inf
- εαν: CONJ
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- φωνης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ακουσητε: VERB,aor,act,subj,2,pl
- Μη: PART
- σκληρυνητε: VERB,aor,act,sub,2,pl
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- καρδιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- ως: ADV
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- παραπικρασμω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Psalm 95:7-8 (quotation): Hebrews 3:15 directly echoes/quotes Psalm 95:7-8 (LXX): 'Today, if you hear his voice... do not harden your hearts,' the OT source of the warning about Israel's rebellion.
- Hebrews 3:7-11 (structural): Immediate context in Hebrews where the author cites Psalm 95 to warn his audience about the wilderness rebellion and the danger of hardening their hearts.
- Exodus 32:9 (verbal): God describes Israel as 'stiff-necked' (or hard‑hearted) after the golden calf—background OT language and motif that underlies the warning in Heb 3:15.
- Acts 7:51 (thematic): Stephen charges his listeners as 'stiff‑necked' and resisting the Holy Spirit—an NT application of the same accusation of hardened hearts and rebellion against God.
- Mark 6:52 (thematic): The disciples' failure to understand because 'their hearts were hardened' parallels the motif of hardened hearts in response to God's word/works (see also Mark 8:17; John 12:40).
Alternative generated candidates
- And again he says, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."
- As it is said, 'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.'
Heb.3.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τινες: PRON,nom,pl,m
- γαρ: PART
- ακουσαντες: PTCP,aor,act,nom,pl,m
- παρεπικραναν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αλλ᾽ου: CONJ
- παντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- εξελθοντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- εξ: PREP
- Αιγυπτου: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- δια: PREP
- Μωυσεως: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Numbers 14:2 (thematic): The congregation loudly complains and proposes returning to Egypt—an episode of Israelite rebellion and provocation after hearing God’s report, thematically parallel to Hebrews’ reference to those who ‘provoked’ despite having heard.
- Numbers 14:22 (verbal): God’s indictment that those who saw His signs and yet 'provoked' Him will not enter the land echoes Hebrews’ characterization of the Exodus generation who, though they heard, provoked.
- Psalm 95:8-11 (quotation): Hebrews earlier quotes this psalm about the fathers who 'tested' and 'provoked' God and whom He swore would not enter His rest; the psalm supplies the theological background for Hebrews’ reference to the Exodus rebellion.
- Deuteronomy 1:26-28 (thematic): Moses’ rebuke of the people for their fear, complaint and reluctance to enter the promised land parallels Hebrews’ depiction of the Exodus generation’s failure to trust after hearing God’s promise.
- Exodus 16:7-8 (verbal): When the people murmur about lack of food, Moses says their complaint is ultimately against the LORD—an instance of the Israelites ‘provoking’ God after hearing His provision, closely related in wording and situation to Hebrews’ claim.
Alternative generated candidates
- For who, having heard, rebelled? Was it not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses?
- Who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all who came out of Egypt under Moses?
Heb.3.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τισιν: PRON,dat,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- προσωχθισεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τεσσερακοντα: NUM,acc,pl
- ετη: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- ουχι: PART
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- αμαρτησασιν: PART,aor,act,dat,pl,m
- ων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- κωλα: NOUN,nom,pl,n
- επεσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ερημω: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- Psalm 95:10 (quotation): Hebrews 3 explicitly quotes Psalm 95's declaration that God was 'grieved for forty years' with the generation that tested him in the wilderness—the same tradition summarized in 3:17.
- Numbers 14:29-34 (quotation): The Numbers narrative provides the historical basis: the generation that rebelled would wander forty years and their bodies would fall in the wilderness, which Hebrews alludes to here.
- Deuteronomy 1:35-36 (allusion): Deuteronomy records God's sentence that the unfaithful generation would not enter the land and that only their children would—an earlier formulation of the forty‑year consequence referenced in Heb 3:17.
- 1 Corinthians 10:5 (thematic): Paul refers to the Israelites being 'overthrown in the wilderness' as a negative example for Christians; this uses the same episode of divine displeasure cited in Hebrews 3:17.
- Acts 7:39-43 (thematic): Stephen's speech recounts Israel's rebellion and God's displeasure in the wilderness (and subsequent judgment), paralleling the theme of wrath toward the faithless generation mentioned in Hebrews 3:17.
Alternative generated candidates
- And with whom was he provoked forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
- With whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?
Heb.3.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τισιν: PRON,dat,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- ωμοσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- μη: PART
- εισελευσεσθαι: VERB,fut,mid,inf
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- καταπαυσιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- μη: PART
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- απειθησασιν: PART,aor,act,dat,pl,mf
Parallels
- Psalm 95:11 (quotation): Hebrews explicitly cites this OT verse — 'They shall not enter my rest' — as God's oath excluding the disobedient, which Hebrews 3:18 echoes.
- Numbers 14:22-23,30 (thematic): The historical episode behind the oath: because of Israel's unbelief God declared that that generation would not enter the Promised Land (their 'rest'), a background for the Psalm/Hebrews citation.
- Deuteronomy 1:34-36 (verbal): Moses recounts God's anger and oath that the people would not enter the land, except Caleb and Joshua — a direct narrative antecedent to the idea of exclusion from God's rest.
- Hebrews 4:3-5 (quotation): The author returns to the same OT citation and theme, arguing that failure to enter God's rest results from unbelief/disobedience and again quoting 'They shall not enter my rest.'
Alternative generated candidates
- And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?
- And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient?
Heb.3.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- βλεπομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ηδυνηθησαν: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,pl
- εισελθειν: VERB,pres,mid,inf
- δι᾽απιστιαν: PREP+NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Psalm 95:11 (94:11 LXX) (quotation): Hebrews repeatedly quotes Psalm 95 to describe God’s oath that the generation would not enter his rest; 3:19 echoes the Psalm’s conclusion that they did not enter because of unbelief.
- Numbers 14:22-23,29-30 (thematic): The report of the spies and the ensuing lack of faith resulted in God’s judgment that that generation would not enter the promised land—Hebrews 3:19 summarizes this outcome (failure to enter due to unbelief).
- Deuteronomy 1:32-34 (structural): Moses’ account of Israel’s fear and refusal to trust God at Kadesh shows the original historical episode of unbelief that Hebrews alludes to when saying they were unable to enter.
- Hebrews 4:11 (allusion): The author returns to the same warning, urging believers to strive to enter God’s rest and not to follow the same example of unbelief that prevented the earlier generation from entering.
Alternative generated candidates
- So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
- So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, 'Today, if you hear his voice,'
'do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.'
'On the day of testing in the wilderness your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.'
'Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and I said, "They always go astray in their hearts, and they have not known my ways."'
'So I swore in my wrath, "They shall not enter my rest."'
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But exhort one another daily—while it is still called 'today'—so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
For we have become sharers with Christ, provided we hold fast the confidence we had at the beginning firm to the end.
As it is said also, 'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.'
For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all who came out of Egypt under Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.