Hebrews 4:7

Easy-to-Read Version

So God planned another special day. It is called "today." He spoke about that day through David a long time later using the words we quoted before: "If you hear God's voice today, don't be stubborn."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
he again specifies a certain day—today. He specified this speaking through David after such a long time:

King James Version (1611)
Againe, hee limiteth a certaine day, saying in Dauid, To day, after so long a time; as it is saide, To day if ye will heare his voyce, harden not your hearts.

King James Version
Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

English Standard Version
again he appoints a certain day, "Today," saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."

New American Standard Bible
He again sets a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS."

New Century Version
So God planned another day, called "today." He spoke about that day through David a long time later in the same Scripture used before: "Today listen to what he says. Do not be stubborn." Psalm 95:7–8

New American Standard Bible (1995)
He again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS."

Legacy Standard Bible
He again determines a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before,"Today if you hear His voice,Do not harden your hearts."

Berean Standard Bible
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."

Contemporary English Version
Much later God told David to make the promise again, just as I have already said, "If you hear his voice today, don't be stubborn!"

Complete Jewish Bible
he again fixes a certain day, " Today ," saying through David, so long afterwards, in the text already given, "Today, if you hear God's voice, don't harden your hearts."

Darby Translation
again he determines a certain day, saying, in David, 'To-day,' after so long a time; (according as it has been said before), To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Againe he appointed in Dauid a certaine day, by To day, after so long a time, saying, as it is sayd, This day, if ye heare his voyce, harden not your hearts.

George Lamsa Translation
And again, after a long time he appointed another day, as it is written above, for David said, Today if you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Good News Translation
This is shown by the fact that God sets another day, which is called "Today." Many years later he spoke of it through David in the scripture already quoted: "If you hear God's voice today, do not be stubborn."

Lexham English Bible
again he ordains a certain day, today, speaking by David after so long a time, just as had been said before, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."

Literal Translation
He again marks out a certain day, saying in David, Today (after so long a time, according as He has said), "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." MT-Psalm 95:7, 8

Amplified Bible
He again sets a definite day, [a new] "Today," [providing another opportunity to enter that rest by] saying through David after so long a time, just as has been said before [in the words already quoted], "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS."

American Standard Version
he again defineth a certain day, To-day, saying in David so long a time afterward (even as hath been said before), To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts.

Bible in Basic English
After a long time, again naming a certain day, he says in David, Today (as he had said before), Today if you will let his voice come to your ears, be not hard of heart,

Hebrew Names Version
he again defines a certain day, today, saying through David so long a time afterward (just as has been said), "Today if you will hear his voice, Don't harden your hearts."

International Standard Version
he again fixes a definite day - "Today" - saying long afterward through David, as already quoted,Psalm 95:7; Hebrews 3:7;">[xr] "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."Psalm 95:7-8">[fn]

Etheridge Translation
---moreover, (as) another day he appointeth, after much time; as above it is written, that David hath said, To-day if his voice ye will hear, harden not your hearts;

Murdock Translation
again he established another day, a long time afterwards; as above written, that David said, Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Againe, he appoynteth a certaine day, by to day, saying in Dauid after so long a tyme (as it is sayde:) To day yf ye wyl heare his voyce, harde not your hearts.

English Revised Version
he again defineth a certain day, saying in David, after so long a time, Today, as it hath been before said, Today if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts.

World English Bible
he again defines a certain day, today, saying through David so long a time afterward (just as has been said), "Today if you will hear his voice, Don't harden your hearts."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
entered not in because of unbelief, He again, after so long a time, fixeth a certain day, saying by David, To-day; as it was said before, To day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Weymouth's New Testament
He again definitely mentions a certain day, "To-day," saying long afterwards, by David's lips, in the words already quoted, "To-day, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Eftsoone he termyneth sum dai, and seith in Dauith, To dai, aftir so myche tyme of tyme, as it is biforseid, To dai if ye han herd his vois, nyle ye hardne youre hertis.

Update Bible Version
he again defines a certain day, Today, saying in David so long a time afterward (even as has been said before), Today if you shall hear his voice, Do not harden your hearts.

Webster's Bible Translation
(Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To-day, after so long a time; as it is said, To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

New English Translation
So God again ordains a certain day, "Today," speaking through David after so long a time, as in the words quoted before, " O , that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts ."

New King James Version
again He designates a certain day, saying in David, "Today," after such a long time, as it has been said:"Today, if you will hear His voice,Do not harden your hearts." Psalms 95:7, 8 ">[fn]

New Living Translation
So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted: "Today when you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts."

New Life Bible
God has again set a certain day for people to go into His rest. He says through David many years later as He had said before, "If you hear His voice today, do not let your hearts become hard."

New Revised Standard
again he sets a certain day—"today"—saying through David much later, in the words already quoted, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Again, he marketh out a certain day, To-day, in David, saying - after so long a time as this, - according as it hath been said before: - To-day, if, unto his voice, ye would hearken, do not harden your hearts.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Again he limiteth a certain day, saying in David; To day, after so long a time as it is above said: To day if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Revised Standard Version
again he sets a certain day, "Today," saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, "Today, when you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Agayne he apoynteth in David a certayne present daye after so longe a tyme sayinge as it is rehearsed: this daye if ye heare his voyce be not harde herted.

Young's Literal Translation
again He doth limit a certain day, `To-day,' (in David saying, after so long a time,) as it hath been said, `To-day, if His voice ye may hear, ye may not harden your hearts,'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
therfore appoynteth he a daye agayne after so longe tyme, and sayeth: Todaye (as it is rehearsed by Dauid) Todaye yf ye shal heare his voyce, then harden not youre hertes.

Mace New Testament (1729)
he pointed out another time in the words, which were spoken by David, a long time after their going into Canaan, in the passage just now quoted, "today since ye hear his voice, harden not your hearts."

THE MESSAGE
When the Promises Are Mixed with Faith For as long, then, as that promise of resting in him pulls us on to God's goal for us, we need to be careful that we're not disqualified. We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn't do them a bit of good because they didn't receive the promises with faith. If we believe, though, we'll experience that state of resting. But not if we don't have faith. Remember that God said, Exasperated, I vowed, "They'll never get where they're going, never be able to sit down and rest." God made that vow, even though he'd finished his part before the foundation of the world. Somewhere it's written, "God rested the seventh day, having completed his work," but in this other text he says, "They'll never be able to sit down and rest." So this promise has not yet been fulfilled. Those earlier ones never did get to the place of rest because they were disobedient. God keeps renewing the promise and setting the date as today, just as he did in David's psalm, centuries later than the original invitation: Today, please listen, don't turn a deaf ear...

Simplified Cowboy Version
He told us what day the rest was available. The day he named was "today." This happened when he talked to us through David and said, "Today, if you hear his word, don't turn a deaf ear."

Contextual Overview

¹ And we still have the promise that God gave those people. That promise is that we can enter his place of rest. So we should be very careful that none of you fails to get that promise. ² Yes, the good news about it was told to us just as it was to them. But the message they heard did not help them. They heard it but did not accept it with faith. ³ Only we who believe it are able to enter God's place of rest. As God said, "I was angry and made a promise: ‘They will never enter my place of rest.'" But God's work was finished from the time he made the world. ⁴ Yes, somewhere in the Scriptures he talked about the seventh day of the week. He said, "So on the seventh day God rested from all his work." ⁵ But in the Scripture above God said, "They will never enter my place of rest." ⁶ So the opportunity is still there for some to enter and enjoy God's rest. But those who first heard the good news about it did not enter, because they did not obey. ⁷ So God planned another special day. It is called "today." He spoke about that day through David a long time later using the words we quoted before: "If you hear God's voice today, don't be stubborn." ⁸ We know that Joshua did not lead the people into the place of rest that God promised. We know this because God spoke later about another day for rest. ⁹ This shows that the seventh-day rest for God's people is still to come. ¹⁰ God rested after he finished his work. So everyone who enters God's place of rest will also have rest from their own work just as God did.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

saying: Hebrews 3:7, Hebrews 3:8, 2 Samuel 23:1, 2 Samuel 23:2, Matthew 22:43, Mark 12:36, Luke 20:42, Acts 2:29, Acts 2:31, Acts 28:25

To day: Hebrews 3:7, Hebrews 3:15, Psalms 95:7

after: 1 Kings 6:1, Acts 13:20-23

Reciprocal: Acts 2:30 - being Romans 2:5 - But after 2 Corinthians 6:2 - a time

Cross-References

Genesis 3:16
Then God said to the woman, "I will cause you to have much trouble when you are pregnant. And when you give birth to children, you will have much pain. You will want your husband very much, but he will rule over you."

Genesis 4:6
The Lord asked Cain, "Why are you angry? Why does your face look sad?

Genesis 4:8
Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." So they went to the field. Then Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

Genesis 4:9
Later, the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" Cain answered, "I don't know. Is it my job to watch over my brother?"

Genesis 4:10
Then the Lord said, "What have you done? You killed your brother and the ground opened up to take his blood from your hands. Now his blood is shouting to me from the ground. So you will be cursed from this ground.

Genesis 4:12
Now when you work the soil, the ground will not help your plants grow. You will not have a home in this land. You will wander from place to place."

Genesis 4:13
Then Cain said to the Lord , "This punishment is more than I can bear!

Genesis 19:21
The angel said to Lot, "Very well, I'll let you do that. I will not destroy that town.

Numbers 32:23
But if you don't do these things, you will be sinning against the Lord . And know for sure that you will be punished for your sin.

2 Samuel 24:23
O King, I give everything to you!" Araunah also said to the king, "May the Lord your God be pleased with you."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Again he limiteth a certain day,.... Since the seventh day of the creation was a day of rest which God entered into, and not man; and since the land of Canaan was a typical rest, which the unbelieving Israelites did not enter into, because of unbelief; and yet there must be persons, and there must be a time for them to enter into the true rest which God has left a promise of; therefore he has limited, fixed, and appointed a certain day, the Gospel dispensation, for believers to enter into it:

saying in David; or by David, who was the penman of the 95th psalm, as may be learned from hence; and this is agreeably to, and confirms a rule which the Jews give, that those psalms which are without a title were written by David g; the Spirit of God spake in him and by him, and plainly pointed out another day of rest from the above mentioned:

today, after so long a time; as two thousand five hundred years from the first seventh day to the time of Moses, and five hundred years from the times of Moses and Joshua, to his:

as it is said; the Alexandrian copy reads, "as it is before said", or, "above said", as the Vulgate Latin, and Syriac versions; that is, in Psalms 95:7 before cited, Hebrews 3:7

today if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts;

Hebrews 3:7- :,

Hebrews 3:7- :.

g Aben Ezra & Kimchi Praefat. in Tillim.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Again, he limiteth - He designates, or definitely mentions. The word rendered “limiteth” - ὁρίζει horizei - means to “bound,” to set a boundary - as of a field or farm; and then to determine or fix definitely, to designate, appoint. Here it means, that he specifies particularly, or mentions expressly.

A certain day - A particular time; he mentions today particularly. That is, in the time of David, he uses the word “today,” as if time was “then” an offer of rest, and as if it were then possible to enter into it. The object of the additional thought was to show that the offer of rest was not confined to the Israelites to whom it was first made; that David regarded it as existing in his day; and that man might even then be invited to come and partake of the rest that was promised. “Nearly five hundred years after the time when the Israelites were going to the promised land, and when the offer of rest was made to them, we hear David speaking of “rest” still; rest which Was offered in his time, and which might then be lost by hardening the heart. It could not be, therefore, that the offer of rest pertained merely to the promised land. It must be something in advance of that. It must be something existing in the time of David. It must be an offer of heaven.” A Jew might feel the force of this argument more than we do; still it is conclusive to prove the point under consideration, that there was a rest spoken of long after the offer of the promised land, and that all the promises could not have pertained to that.

Saying in David - In a Psalm composed by David, or rather perhaps, saying “by” David; that is, God spake by him.

Today - Now - that is, even in the time of David.

After so long a time - That is, so long after the first promise was made; to wit, about 500 years. These are the words of Paul calling attention to the fact that so long a time after the entrance into the promised land there was still a speaking of “today,” as if even then they were called to partake of the rest.

As it is said - To quote it exactly; or to bring the express authority of the Scriptures. It is expressly said even after that long time, “today - or now, if you will hear his voice.” All this is to prove that even in that time there was an offer of rest.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Hebrews 4:7. He limiteth a certain day — The term day signifies not only time in general, but also present time, and a particular space. Day here seems to have the same meaning as rest in some other parts of this verse. The day or time of rest relative to the ancient Jews being over and past, and a long time having elapsed between God's displeasure shown to the disobedient Jews in the wilderness and the days of David, and the true rest not having been enjoyed, God in his mercy has instituted another day-has given another dispensation of mercy and goodness by Christ Jesus; and now it may be said, as formerly, To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. God speaks now as he spoke before; his voice is in the Gospel as it was in the law. Believe, love, obey, and ye shall enter into this rest.