Let’s read through the book of Hebrews one verse at a time in 2023. Every day explore a single verse and its cross references. AI-generated text draws the passages together. RSS feed.
As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’”
The cross references for Hebrews 3:11 all relate to the idea of rest and the promise of the land that God had promised to the Israelites. The cross references from Numbers 14, Deuteronomy 1 and 2, and Psalm 95 all speak of God's anger and his refusal to allow the Israelites to enter the promised land because of their disobedience. The cross references from Hebrews 4 further emphasize the idea of rest, but they also point to the idea of faith and belief in God's promises. The overall theme of these cross references is that experiencing the benefits of God's promises is conditional on faith and obedience, and that those who do not follow him will not be able to enter his rest.
| Passage | How It’s Related (AI-Generated) |
|---|---|
| Numbers 14:20-23: Then the Lord said, “I have pardoned, according to your word. But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. | Both passages refer to God's promise of rest in the Promised Land. In Hebrews 3:11, the author is quoting from Numbers 14:20-23, which describes the punishment for those who tested God and did not obey His voice. God swore in His wrath that those who had disobeyed Him would not enter His rest. |
| Numbers 14:27-30: “How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me. Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the Lord, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. | Both passages refer to the Israelites' failure to enter the Promised Land. In Hebrews 3:11, the author is referencing a warning God gave the Israelites in Numbers 14:27-30. In Numbers 14:27-30, God warns the Israelites that they will not enter the Promised Land because of their grumbling against Him. This warning was not heeded, and one generation of Israelites ultimately did not enter the Promised Land. |
| Numbers 14:35: I, the Lord, have spoken. Surely this will I do to all this wicked congregation who are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die.” | Both passages reveal God's wrath and judgment against those who disobey Him. Hebrews 3:11 speaks of God's wrath against those who do not enter His rest, a reference to the Israelites who, despite being led out of Egypt, refused to enter the Promised Land. Numbers 14:35 speaks of God's judgment against the wicked congregation who gathered against Him, resulting in their death in the wilderness. |
| Numbers 32:10-13: And the Lord's anger was kindled on that day, and he swore, saying, ‘Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, because they have not wholly followed me, none except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the Lord.’ And the Lord's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the Lord was gone. | Both passages refer to God's wrath and His promise to not allow the Israelites to enter the promised land. Hebrews 3:11 is a reference to Numbers 32:10-13, which details how the Lord swore in His wrath that the Israelites who had sinned would not enter the promised land. Numbers 32:10-13 explains how God's anger was kindled and how He made the Israelites wander in the wilderness for 40 years as punishment for their sins. |
| Deuteronomy 1:34-35: “And the Lord heard your words and was angered, and he swore, ‘Not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land that I swore to give to your fathers, | Both passages refer to God's wrath and His promise to not let the Israelites enter the promised land. Hebrews 3:11 is a quote from Psalm 95:11, in which God expresses His anger at the Israelites for their lack of faith. Deuteronomy 1:34–35 speaks of God’s anger at the Israelites for their lack of faith, and His decision to not allow them to enter the promised land. Both passages demonstrate God's anger at the Israelites for their lack of faith, and His decision to not allow them to enter the promised land. |
| Deuteronomy 2:14: And the time from our leaving Kadesh-barnea until we crossed the brook Zered was thirty-eight years, until the entire generation, that is, the men of war, had perished from the camp, as the Lord had sworn to them. | Both passages refer to God's wrath and His promises. In Hebrews 3:11, God's wrath is expressed in the form of a promise that those who do not remain faithful will not enter His rest. In Deuteronomy 2:14, God's wrath is expressed in the form of a promise that the entire generation of men of war would perish from the camp, as the Lord had sworn. Both passages show God's commitment to His promises and His willingness to carry out His wrath. |
| Psalm 95:11: Therefore I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter my rest.” | Both passages refer to God's wrath and the inability of the Israelites to enter into his rest. Hebrews 3:11 is a direct quotation from Psalm 95:11, which is part of a larger song of praise and warning to the Israelites not to harden their hearts against God's commands. In Psalm 95:11, God is warning the Israelites of the consequences of their disobedience and that they will not be able to enter into his rest. In Hebrews 3:11, the author is emphasizing the importance of keeping God's commands and not hardening one's heart against him. |
| Hebrews 4:3: For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. | Both passages are referring to the same quote from the book of Psalms, which states that those who do not believe will not find rest. Hebrews 3:11 is a direct quotation of this verse and is used to emphasize the importance of faith in entering God's rest. Hebrews 4:3 expands on this concept by explaining that those who have faith in God can enter His rest, even though His works were finished from the beginning of time. |
| Hebrews 4:5: And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.” | Both passages refer to the same phrase from Psalm 95:11, which speaks of God's promise to not allow the Israelites to enter the promised land as a result of their lack of faith. Hebrews 3:11 is used to emphasize the importance of faith and obedience, while Hebrews 4:5 is used to emphasize the need for rest and trust in God. Both passages demonstrate how God's promises are fulfilled when His people have faith and trust in Him. |
| Hebrews 4:9: So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, | Both passages reference the idea of rest. Hebrews 3:11 is a quote from Psalm 95:11, which warns that those who refuse to obey God will not enter into the rest that He offers. Hebrews 4:9, on the other hand, encourages believers to enter into the Sabbath rest that God has provided, which is a rest from their labor and a time to focus on Him. |
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your faithfulness and Your promises. We thank You that You are a God who keeps His word, and that You will never break Your covenant with us. We thank You that even when we fail to obey You, You remain faithful and true.
Help us to trust in You and to not grumble against You. Give us the strength to follow Your commands and to walk in obedience to Your will. Help us to enter into Your rest, and to not be like those who hardened their hearts and refused to listen to Your voice.
We praise You for the hope of salvation that You have given us, and we thank You for the assurance of Your promises. We ask that You would give us the faith to believe in You and the strength to walk in Your ways. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
This reading plan reads through a single verse each day, six days a week, paired with the most-popular cross references for the verse. AI-generated (and human-reviewed) text provides an opening thought and concluding prayer along with an explanation for how each cross reference relates to the verse. In 2023, this reading plan works through Hebrews one verse at a time. Every seventh day is a catchup day. Want more info? Try this blog post.
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.