Hebrews 3:17

Translations

Modern

And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?

Traditional

But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

Literal

And with whom was He angry forty years, if not with those having sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?

Latin

Quibus autem infensus est quadraginta annis? nonne illis qui peccaverunt, quorum cadavera prostrata sunt in deserto?

Original

Greek

English

And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?

Notes

Hebrews 3:16–19

These verses use a series of quick questions and answers, a common rhetorical method. The three questions follow the ideas in Psalm 95:8 –11: The people of Israel rebelled against God, God was angry, and God swore they would never enter his rest. The answers come from other Old Testament passages about the Israelites' rebellion in the wilderness (Numbers 14; Deuteronomy 9; Psalm 106). The author emphasizes the severe consequences of disobeying God.

Hebrews 3:12–19

The author of Hebrews points to important words from Psalm 95. These include heart, today, hear, enter, rest, and unbelief. In the ancient world, Bible teachers would cite a passage from the Old Testament and then explain it. They often highlighted key words from the passage, much like preachers do today. This style of explanation was called midrash (a type of Jewish Bible interpretation).

Hebrews 3:7–19

This passage serves as a warning, showing the negative example of those who wandered in the wilderness for forty years and died there. The wilderness wanderings symbolize disobedience to God and its consequences (see Numbers 32:7 –11; Deuteronomy 1:19 –35; Psalm 106:24 –26).

Theme notes and profiles

Moses God’s Sabbath Rest Hardened Hearts The Creation

Related verses

Numbers 14:29
Your bodies will fall in this wilderness—all who were numbered in the census, everyone twenty years of age or older—because you have grumbled against Me.
Numbers 14:22
…not one of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness—yet have tested Me and disobeyed Me these ten times—
Jude 1:5
Although you are fully aware of this, I want to remind you that after Jesus had delivered His people out of the land of Egypt, He destroyed those who did not believe.
Numbers 14:32–33
As for you, however, your bodies will fall in this wilderness.
Numbers 26:64–65
Among all these, however, there was not one who had been numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Wilderness of Sinai.
Deuteronomy 2:15–16
Indeed, the LORD’s hand was against them, to eliminate them from the camp, until they had all perished.
1 Corinthians 10:1–13
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea.
Jeremiah 9:22
Declare that this is what the LORD says: “The corpses of men will fall like dung upon the open field, like newly cut grain behind the reaper, with no one to gather it.”

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Hebrews, Letter to the Kadesh, Kadesh-Barnea Land Numbers, Book of Perseverance

Topics

Anthropomorphisms: Miscellaneous Acts and States of Mind Attributed to Grieved Backsliders: Backsliding of Israel Grief: Attributed to the Holy Spirit Procrastination: General Scriptures Concerning Reprobacy: General Scriptures Concerning The Anger of God: Manifested in Judgments and Afflictions Unbelief: General Scriptures Concerning

Hebrews 3:17

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