Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

HEBREWS 4:7KJV
Know the Bible

Hebrews 4:7 (KJV)

What does Hebrews 4:7 mean?

Hebrews 4:7 says that God’s call to listen remained present long after the Israelites’ earlier journey. By quoting a later psalm, the writer shows that “To day” still marked a time to hear God’s voice rather than resist him.

The verse introduces the quotation as God speaking “in David,” a way of identifying the psalm’s human speaker. “Harden not your hearts” pictures people becoming stubborn and unwilling to listen.

The Greek behind Hebrews 4:7

  • “limiteth” — ὁρίζει (horizei): The Greek carries the sense of setting or appointing. Here, “limiteth” means that God designates a day, rather than merely placing a restriction on it.
  • “harden” — σκληρύνητε (sklērynēte): This word means to make hard or stubborn. Applied to hearts, it describes resistance to what God says.

Why Hebrews 4:7 matters

  • The later date of the psalm is important to the writer’s argument. “After so long a time” places the renewed call well after the events involving the Israelites under Moses and Joshua.
  • The “day” is identified by a word of invitation and warning, not by a date on a calendar. The verse names that day “To day” and joins hearing God’s voice with the warning against a hardened heart.
  • The quotation continues an argument about God’s rest. Hebrews 4:8 uses the later mention of a day to explain why the earlier entry under Joshua did not settle the matter the writer is discussing.

Where else these words appear

“harden” Greek G4645 · used in 6 verses

  • Acts 19:9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
  • Romans 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
  • Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

“limiteth” Greek G3724 · used in 8 verses

  • Luke 22:22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
  • Acts 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
  • Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

“long” Greek G5118 · used in 19 verses

  • Matthew 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
  • John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
  • Hebrews 7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

“day” Greek G4594 · used in 40 verses

  • Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
  • Luke 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
  • Acts 26:2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: