Hebrews 3:18
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
And to whom swore he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
American King James Version (AKJV)
And to whom swore he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
American Standard Version (ASV)
And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that were disobedient?
Basic English Translation (BBE)
And to whom did he make an oath that they might not come into his rest? was it not to those who went against his orders?
Webster's Revision
And to whom did he swear that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
World English Bible
To whom did he swear that they wouldn't enter into his rest, but to those who were disobedient?
English Revised Version (ERV)
And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that were disobedient?
Clarke's Hebrews 3:18 Bible Commentary
To whom sware he - God never acts by any kind of caprice; whenever he pours out his judgments, there are the most positive reasons to vindicate his conduct.
Those whose carcasses fell in the wilderness were they who had sinned. And those who did not enter into his rest were those who believed not. God is represented here as swearing that they should not enter in, in order to show the determinate nature of his purpose, the reason on which it was founded, and the height of the aggravation which occasioned it.
Barnes's Hebrews 3:18 Bible Commentary
And to whom sware he - note, Hebrews 3:11.
But to them that believed not - That did not confide in God; Deuteronomy 1:32. "Yet in this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God." In consequence of this want of faith, God solemnly sware unto them that they should not enter into the promised land; Deuteronomy 1:34-35. "And the Lord heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying, "Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land which I sware to give unto your fathers, save Caleb," etc. The distinct reason, therefore, assigned by Moses why they did not enter the promised land, was a want of faith, and this accords directly with the design of the apostle here. He is exhorting those whom he addressed to beware of an evil heart of unbelief; Hebrews 3:12. He says that it was such a heart that excluded the Hebrews from the promised land. The same thing, says he, must exclude you from heaven - the promised home of the believer; and if that firm confidence in God and his promises which he requires is wanting, you will be excluded from the world of eternal rest.