Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Hebrews 3:11

ὡς, “as” (Heb. אֲשֶׁר), not “so” (ὥς) as in A. V., for ὥς is rare in prose, and is not found in the N. T.

ὤμοσα. The reference is to Numbers 14:28-30; Numbers 32:13.

Εἰ ἐλεύσονται, “if they shall enter”; but “They shall not enter” (Hebrews 3:18 μὴ εἰσελεύσεσθαι) is here a correct rendering (A. V., R. V.) of the Hebraism. It is an imitation of the Hebrew אִם, and the apodosis is suppressed (aposiopesis, see Winer, p. 627).

τὴν κατάπαυσίν μου. See Deuteronomy 12:9-10. The writer proceeds to argue that this expression could not refer to the past Sabbath-rest of God: or to the partial and symbolic rest of Canaan; and must therefore refer to the final rest of heaven. But he does not of course mean to sanction any inference about the future and final salvation either of those who entered Canaan or of those who died in the wilderness.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Hebrews 3:11

Old Testament

New Testament