εἴρηκε γάρ που περὶ τῆς ἑβδόμης οὕτω· καὶ κατέπαυσεν ὁ Θεὸς ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ
Hebrews 4:4 quotes Genesis with theological intent. It’s not just repetition—it’s interpretation. The author reminds his readers that God’s rest was not metaphorical but decisive. The Greek reinforces this, using perfect and aorist tenses to root that rest in history, while pointing toward a deeper invitation for the present.
Grammatical Foundations
The verse begins with εἴρηκε, a perfect active indicative from λέγω, meaning “he has said.” The perfect tense highlights ongoing relevance—what God said in the past still speaks now. The subject is implied, but contextually understood as Scripture or God himself.
γάρ signals explanation, connecting this verse to the larger argument about entering God’s rest. που (“somewhere”) reflects a rhetorical modesty common in Jewish exegetical style—what matters isn’t the exact citation (Genesis 2:2), but the authority of the statement.
The quotation begins with κατέπαυσεν, aorist active indicative from καταπαύω, meaning “he rested” or “ceased.” The aorist places the action squarely in the past—God completed his rest at a definitive moment. The phrase ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ uses a prepositional phrase with two definite articles for emphasis: “on the day, the seventh one.” This construction gives the phrase a formal, almost liturgical tone.
ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ clarifies what God ceased from—“from all his works.” The preposition ἀπὸ plus genitive expresses separation, total cessation. The genitive plural τῶν ἔργων (“the works”) makes it clear: nothing was left unfinished.
Exegetical and Theological Implications
The perfect tense εἴρηκε affirms the enduring authority of Scripture: what God once said still speaks. The aorist κατέπαυσεν describes a completed act of divine rest. Together, they imply that God’s Sabbath rest is both historical and available. It’s a rest that has already begun—and one into which believers are called to enter.
The phrase ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἔργων reflects completeness. God rested from all his works—not merely paused but concluded his creative labor. In the context of Hebrews 4, this becomes theological ground: a rest still open for God’s people, modeled after the divine pattern.
Linguistic and Historical Perspectives
καταπαύω is more intensive than the simple παύω. It often appears in contexts of authoritative or final cessation. In the LXX (Septuagint), it translates the Hebrew וַיִּשְׁבֹּת (*wayyišbōt*) from Genesis 2:2. The author of Hebrews draws on that tradition, but also expands it. Rest becomes more than a day—it becomes a theological space.
The phrase ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ also appears verbatim in Genesis 2:2 LXX, giving the citation a formal scriptural resonance. The author expects his audience to hear echoes of creation theology in the very rhythm of the Greek.
Table: Verbal and Syntactical Features in Hebrews 4:4
| Text | Greek Verb / Phrase | Form | Function / Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hebrews 4:4 | εἴρηκε | Perfect active indicative, 3rd person singular | “He has said”; scriptural statement with lasting effect |
| Hebrews 4:4 | κατέπαυσεν | Aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular | “He rested”; a completed divine action in the past |
The Verse as a Paradigm of Koine Greek Richness
Hebrews 4:4 compresses creation theology into elegant Koine grammar. A perfect tense declares the authority of Scripture. An aorist marks the moment of divine rest. Prepositional phrases bring clarity and solemnity. Behind every word lies a call: God’s rest is real, historical, and open. The Greek not only affirms the past—it opens a door to enter it anew.
