Meaning
Rest (nuach, menuchah, "cessation from motion," "peace," "quiet," etc.; anapausis, [@katapausis): "Rest" in the above sense is of frequent occurrence, and is the translation of several words with various applications and shades of meaning, chiefly of the words given above. It is applied to God as ceasing from the work of creating on the 7th day (Ge 2:2 f); as having His place of rest in the midst of His people in the temple (1Chr 28:2, Ps 132:8, Ps 132:14); as resting in His love among His people (Ze 3:17, the Revised Version margin "Hebrew, `be silent' "). The 7th day was to be one of rest (Exod 16:23, Exod 31:15; see SABBATH); the land also was to have its rest in the 7th year (Le 25:4 f). Yahweh promised His people rest in the land He should give them; this they looked forward to and enjoyed (Deut 12:9, Josh 11:23). "To rest on" often means to come upon to abide, as of the Spirit of Yahweh (Num 11:25, Isa 11:2), of wisdom (Pr 14:33), of anger (Ec 7:9). There is again the "rest" of the grave (Job 3:13, Job 3:17, Job 3:18, Isa 57:2, Dan 12:13). Rest is sometimes equivalent to trust, reliance (2Ch 14:11, the Revised Version (British and American) "rely"). Hence, rest in Yahweh (Ps 37:7, etc.); "rest" in the spiritual sense is not, however, prominent in the Old Testament. In the New Testament Christ's great offer is rest to the soul (Mt 11:28). In Heb 4:1 ff, it is argued from God's having promised His people a "rest"-a promise not realized in Canaan (4:8)-that there remains for the people of God "a Sabbath rest" (sabbatismos, 4:9). For "rest" the Revised Version (British and American) has "solemn rest" (Exod 16:23, Exod 31:15, etc.), "resting-place" (Ps 132:8, Ps 132:14, Isa 11:10), "peace" (Ac 9:31), "relief" (2Cor 2:13, 2Cor 7:5), etc.
See also REMNANT.
W. L. Walker
