rest Summary and Overview

(1.) Gr. katapausis, equivalent to the Hebrew word "noah" (Heb. 4:1). (2.) Gr. anapausis, "rest from weariness" (Matt. 11:28). (3.) Gr. anesis, "relaxation" (2 Thess. 1:7). (4.) Gr. sabbatismos, a Sabbath rest, a rest from all work (Heb. 4:9; R.V., "sabbath"), a rest like that of God when he had finished the work of creation.

Hebrews 4:9, "there remaineth a keeping of sabbath (sabbatismos) to the people of God." God's rest ("My rest" Hebrews 4:3) was a sabbatism, so will ours be; a home for the exile, a mansion for the pilgrim, a sabbath for the workman weary of the world's weekday toil. In time there are many sabbaths, then there shall be one perfect and eternal. The "rest" in Hebrews 4:8 is katapausis; Hebrew noach, "rest from weariness": as the ark rested on Ararat after its tossings; as Israel, under Joshua, rested from war in Canaan. Anesis (2 Thessalonians 1:7), "relaxation from afflictions". Anapausis, "rest," given by Jesus now (Matthew 11:28); but the "rest" in Hebrews 4:9 is the nobler "sabbath rest"; katapausis, literally, "cessation from work finished" (Hebrews 4:4) as God rested from His (Revelation 14:13; Revelation 16:17). The two ideas combined give the perfect view of the heavenly sabbath: rest from weariness, sorrow, and sin; and rest in the completion of God's new creation (Revelation 21:5). The renovated creation shall share in it. Nothing will there be to break the sabbath of eternity. The Triune God shall rejoice in the work of His hands (Zephaniah 3:17). The Jews call the future rest "the day which is all sabbath."