In the Bible, rest is intricately woven into the tapestry of God’s relationship with mankind. From the inception of the world, Genesis 2:2-3 highlights that after six days of creation, God Himself rested on the seventh day, setting a precedent for all of creation. This divine pause was not due to weariness but to establish a pattern for humanity, emphasizing the importance of taking time to rejuvenate and refocus.
But beyond the physical, the New Testament reveals a deeper, spiritual dimension of rest. Matthew 11:28-30 invites those who are weary and burdened to come to Jesus, where they will find rest for their souls, pointing to a divine solace that transcends mere physical reprieve.
Scriptures about Rest
Exodus 33:14
“And he said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’”
Psalm 4:8
“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”
Hebrews 4:9-11
“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.”
Psalm 23:2
“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.”
Psalm 127:2
“It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.”
Genesis 2:2-3
“And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”
Exodus 20:8-11
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
Psalm 62:1
“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.”
Isaiah 30:15
“For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, ‘In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.’”
Exodus 34:21
“‘Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.’”
Mark 6:31
“And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.”
Jeremiah 6:16
“Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’’”
Isaiah 14:3-4
“When the LORD has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon…”
Job 3:13
“For now I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept; then I would have been at rest,”
Psalm 37:7
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!”
Psalm 55:6
“And I say, ‘Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest;’”
Psalm 116:7
“Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.”
Jeremiah 31:25
“For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.”
Revelation 14:13
“And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Blessed indeed,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!’”
Isaiah 28:12
“To whom he has said, ‘This is rest; give rest to the weary; and this is repose’; yet they would not hear.”
Job 11:18-19
“And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security. You will lie down, and none will make you afraid; many will court your favor.”
2 Samuel 7:1
“Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,”
Psalm 91:1
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Psalm 131:2
“But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.”
Proverbs 3:24
“If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.”
Isaiah 32:18
“My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.”
Micah 2:10
“Arise and depart, for this is not your rest, because it is defiled, it is ruined, beyond all remedy.”
Matthew 12:43
“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.”
Hebrews 4:4
“For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: ‘And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.’”
Psalm 16:9
“Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.”
Exodus 23:12
“‘Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your servant woman, and the alien, may be refreshed.’”
Joshua 1:13
“‘Remember the word that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’’
Final Thoughts about Rest in the Bible
In essence, the Biblical concept of rest is not merely about cessation from work, but also about finding peace, restoration, and fulfillment in the presence and promises of God.
From the passage in Psalm 23, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters,” we see images of green pastures and still waters that evoke a sense of peace, rest, and abundance.
Green pastures represent a place of nourishment and safety, while still waters signify tranquility and refreshment. Together, they illustrate the care and rest that God provides for those who trust in Him. The shepherd leads his flock to these places, ensuring their well-being. This is the rest God offers to his people.
