Rest

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

A — 1: Ἀνάπαυσις (Strong'S #372 — Noun Feminine — anapausis — an-ap'-ow-sis )

"cessation, refreshment, rest" (ana, "up," pauo, "to make to cease"), the constant word in the Sept. for the Sabbath "rest," is used in  Matthew 11:29; here the contrast seems to be to the burdens imposed by the Pharisees. Christ's "rest" is not a "rest" from work, but in work, "not the rest of inactivity but of the harmonious working of all the faculties and affections, of will, heart, imagination, conscience, because each has found in God the ideal sphere for its satisfaction and development" (J. Patrick, in Hastings' Bib. Dic.); it occurs also in  Matthew 12:43;  Luke 11:24;  Revelation 4:8 , RV, "(they have no) rest" [AV, "(they) rest (not)"], where the noun is the object of the verb echo, "to have;" so in 14:11.

A — 2: Κατάπαυσις (Strong'S #2663 — Noun Feminine — katapausis — kat-ap'-ow-sis )

in classical Greek, denotes "a causing to cease" or "putting to rest;" in the NT, "rest, repose;" it is used (a) of God's "rest;"  Acts 7:49;  Hebrews 3:11,18;  4:1,3 (twice), RV (1st part), "that rest" (the AV, "rest," is ambiguous),   Hebrews 4:5,11; (b) in a general statement, applicable to God and man,  Hebrews 4:10 .

A — 3: Ἄνεσις (Strong'S #425 — Noun Feminine — anesis — an'-es-is )

for the significance of which see Ease , B, is translated "rest" in  2—Corinthians 2:13 , AV (RV, "relief"); 7:5 (ditto); in  2—Thessalonians 1:7 , the subject is not the "rest" to be granted to the saints, but the Divine retribution on their persecutors; hence the phrase "and to you that are afflicted rest with us," is an incidental extension of the idea of recompense, and is to be read parenthetically. The time is not that at which the saints will be relieved of persecution, as in  1—Thessalonians 4:15-17 , when the Parousia of Christ begins, but that at which the persecutors will be punished, namely, at the epiphany (or out-shining) of His Parousia ( 2—Thessalonians 2:8 ). For similar parentheses characteristic of epistolary writings see  1—Thessalonians 4:10;  1:6;  2:15,16 .

A — 4: Σαββατισμός (Strong'S #4520 — Noun Masculine — sabbatismos — sab-bat-is-mos' )

"a Sabbath-keeping," is used in  Hebrews 4:9 , RV, "a sabbath rest," AV marg., "a keeping of a sabbath" (akin to sabbatizo, "to keep the Sabbath," used, e.g., in  Exodus 16:30 , not in the NT); here the sabbath-keeping is the perpetual sabbath "rest" to be enjoyed uninterruptedly by believers in their fellowship with the Father and the Son, in contrast to the weekly Sabbath under the Law. Because this sabbath "rest" is the "rest" of God Himself,  Hebrews 4:10 , its full fruition is yet future, though believers now enter into it. In whatever way they enter into Divine "rest," that which they enjoy is involved in an indissoluble relation with God.

A — 5: Κοίμησις (Strong'S #2838 — Noun Feminine — koimesis — koy'-may-sis )

"a resting, reclining" (akin to keimai, "to lie"), is used in  John 11:13 , of natural sleep, translated "taking rest," RV.

 Acts 9:31

B — 1: Ἀναπαύω (Strong'S #373 — Verb — anapauo — an-ap-ow'-o )

akin to A, No. 1, in the Active Voice, signifies "to give intermission from labor, to give rest, to refresh,"  Matthew 11:28;  1—Corinthians 16:18 , "have refreshed;"  Philemon 1:7 , "are refreshed;" in the Middle Voice, "to take or enjoy rest,"  Matthew 26:45;  Mark 6:31;  14:41;  Luke 12:19 , "take thine ease;"  1—Peter 4:14;  Revelation 6:11;  14:13 . See Refresh. In the papyri it is found as an agricultural term, e.g., of giving land "rest" by sowing light crops upon it. In inscriptions it is found on gravestones of Christians, followed by the date of death (Moulton and Milligan).

B — 2: Καταπαύω (Strong'S #2664 — Verb — katapauo — kat-ap-ow'-o )

akin to A, No. 2, used transitively, signifies "to cause to cease, restrain,"  Acts 14:18; "to cause to rest,"  Hebrews 4:8; intransitively, "to rest,"  Hebrews 4:4,10 . See Cease , A, No. 6, Restrain

B — 3: Ἐπισκηνόω (Strong'S #1981 — Verb — episkenoo — ep-ee-skay-no'-o )

"to spread a tabernacle over" (epi, "upon," skene, "a tent"), is used metaphorically in  2—Corinthians 12:9 , "may rest upon (me)," RV, marg., "cover," "spread a tabernacle over."

B — 4: Κατασκηνόω (Strong'S #2681 — Verb — kataskenoo — kat-as-kay-no'-o )

"to pitch one's tent, lodge," is translated "shall rest," in  Acts 2:26 , AV (RV, "shall dwell"). See Lodge.

B — 5: Ἡσυχάζω (Strong'S #2270 — Verb — hesuchazo — hay-soo-khad'-zo )

"to be still, to rest from labor," is translated "they rested" in  Luke 23:56 . See Peace (hold one's), No. 3.

B — 6: Ἐπαναπαύω (Strong'S #1879 — Verb — epanapauo — ep-an-ah-pow'-om-ahee )

"to cause to rest," is used in the Middle Voice, metaphorically, signifying "to rest upon" (epi, "upon," and No. 1), in  Luke 10:6;  Romans 2:17 .

 Romans 15:32Refresh

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

So far as the apostolic writings are concerned, the teaching on rest in its relation to the believer’s life is confined to two great passages- Hebrews 4:1-11 and  Revelation 14:13. The basis of the idea is the Divine rest, the rest on which God entered at the completion of His work of creation. Participation in this rest is a Divine gift to man. The natural tendency is to conceive rest as mere cessation of work. So far as the Jews shared this misapprehension, it is corrected by our Lord in the discourse of  John 5:17 ff. beginning with the words, ὁ πατήρ μου ἕως ἄρτι ἐργάζεται, κἄγω ἐργάζομαι. This idea of rest as freedom for further work finds expression in  Revelation 14:13 : ‘Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours (κόπων); for their works (ἔργα) follow with them.’ The ‘labours’ of the Christian’s life are ended at death; its ‘works’-i.e. habits, methods, and results-abide and remain in the new life.

It is in  Hebrews 4:1-11 that we find the most exhaustive treatment of this theme. The whole passage may almost be called a homily or discourse having for its text the words of  Psalms 95:11, ὡς ὤμοσα ἐν τῇ ὀργῆ̣ μου, εἰ εἰσελεύσονται εἰς τὴν κατάπαυσίν μου. The rest to which God, as quoted by the Psalmist, refers is the Divine rest, after creation, of which  Genesis 2:2 speaks: καὶ κατἐπαυσε τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ἑβδόμῃ ἀπὸ πάντων τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ ὦν ἐπλίνσε, a passage which links the idea of Divine rest indissolubly with the Sabbath. The writer’s argument is briefly this. The inspired oracle in Psalms 95 speaks of a ‘rest’ of God. The Psalmist tells how in the days of Moses this rest lay open to God’s people, but they did not enter in through disobedience. Neither then nor at the entry into Canaan under Joshua was the Divine idea of rest realized. The Psalmist, in fact, implies that the Divine idea still remains unrealized, it still awaits fulfilment; and the author of Hebrews, taking the Psalmist’s word as the last utterance of the OT on the subject of rest, applies it with confidence to his hearers of the NT epoch. He draws the inference ἂρα ἀπολείπεται σαββατισμὸς τῷ τοῦ θεοῦ.

The word σαββατισμὁς (Revised Version‘Sabbath rest’) occurs here only in the Greek Bible. It is not a coinage of the author’s, because it is found in Plutarch, de Superstit. 3. Its occurrence therefore in Justin Martyr, Dial. 23 B, is not necessarily dependent, on Hebrews. The substitution of this word for κατάπαυσις, the word employed throughout the remainder of the passage, is not accidental. It not only denotes the Divine rest as a Sabbatic rest; it links together, in a most suggestive way, the end with the beginning, the consummation with the creation. It implies too that the rest which God gives is one which He also enjoys, and it strikes the note of universalism, for the Divine rest is prior to the very existence of a chosen people. Just as in the case of salvation, the Christian rest may be viewed both as a present possession and as a future blessing. On the one hand, ‘we which have believed do enter into that rest.’ On the other hand, the very conception of the rest as God’s rest involves fuller realization yet to come.

The word ἀνάπαυσις occurs now and then in the sub-apostolic writings with reference to the heavenly rest. 2 Clem. v. 5 speaks of the ἀνάπαυσις τῆς μελλούσης βασιλείας καὶ ζωῆς αἰωνίου, and in vi. 7 we read, ποιοῦντες γὰρ τὸ θέλημα τοῦ Χριστοῦ εὑρήσομεν ἀνάπαυσιν. The verb καταπαύω occurs throughout an interesting passage (Ep. Bran. 15) in which the hallowing of the Sabbath is discussed as something which will find its fulfilment in Christianity (as opposed to Judaism) in the impending Messianic Age. It is quite possible that the treatment here may be influenced by the thought and language of  Hebrews 4:1-11.

In  2 Thessalonians 1:7 the Revised Versionagrees with Authorized Versionin using ‘rest’ to translate ἄνεσις. This word is used in the NT only by St. Paul, always with a contrast to θλίψις expressed (as here) or implied. That the idea of rest here has an eschatological reference is seen from the following words: ἐν τῇ ἀποκαλύψει τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ ἀπʼ οὐρανοῦ μετʼ ἀγγέλων δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ.

Literature.-Hasting's Dictionary of the Bible (5 vols), article‘Rest’; H. B. Swete, Apocalypse2, London, 1907, p. 187; A. B. Bruce, Hebrews, do., 1889, pp. 92-100; G. Milligan, Thessalonians, do., 1908, p. 89.

Dawson Walker.

Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology

Most uses of the noun and verb in the Bible are nontheological. However, the verb and noun take on theological and/or spiritual meaning in relation to God, to the people of both the old and new covenants, and to individual believers under both covenants. The most significant theological use in the Bible is found in  Hebrews 3:7-4:11 .

The Old Testament . Yahweh, the Creator of the universe, rested from the act of creating on the seventh day. "God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he rested from all the work of creation he had done" ( Genesis 2:2 ). God contemplated his own work, knowing that it was good.

The people of Yahweh were also given the blessing of rest—a whole day out of each week in which to rejoice in and contemplate God's works and words. The seventh day was the day of complete rest, the Sabbath, and sacred to the Lord ( Exodus 16;  23;  25 ). It was a day on which everyone, whatever his or her status, had to rest from daily labors; it was a festival for al to keep in honor of the Lord God, who himself rested ( Exodus 20:10;  23:12;  31:15 ).

The tribes of Israel also enjoyed God's gift of rest when they settled in the promised land, which flowed with milk and honey (see  Joshua 1:13-15;  23:1 ). Canaan is actually called "the resting place [Heb. menuha ] the Lord your God is giving you" ( Deuteronomy 12:9 ). They also knew such rest when they were delivered from their enemies ( Joshua 14:15;  21:44;  Judges 3:11,30 ). This rest of peaceful living was granted by God as the people looked to him alone and sought to keep his covenant.

With respect to the covenant relation of Yahweh to his people, we read that his fury rested on them in judgment ( Ezekiel 5:13;  16:42;  21:7 ) and that his hand and Spirit rested on them in blessing ( Isaiah 11:2;  25:10;  Jeremiah 6:16 ).

The New Testament . The primary Greek words are the nouns anapausis [Ἀνάπαυσις] and katapausis [Κατάπαυσις], and the verbs anapauo [Ἀναπαύω] and katapauo [Καταπαύω].

In the Gospels the theology of rest is most clearly articulated in the words of Jesus: "come to me and I will give you rest and you will find rest for your souls" ( Matthew 11:28-30 ). The rest he promises is certainly for the world to come, but it is also for this world. It is the sense of security and peace that flows from a right relation with God, the Father, through obedience to his Son, the Messiah, and membership in his kingdom.

In  Hebrews 3-4 the verb katapauo [Καταπαύω] occurs three times and the noun, katapausis, eight times. Also, the Greek text of  Psalm 95:11 ("they shall never enter my rest") is cited eight times. Joshua was given the task by Yahweh of leading the tribes of Israel into the promised land, into the rest promised them by their God. This task was fulfilled in an earthly sense by Joshua, as the Book of Joshua describes. However, the fuller meaning of the everlasting rest of God promised to his people and related to the gift of rest of the seventh day was not achieved by Joshua and the tribes under the old covenant. Jesus the Christ, the greater Joshua, was sent by the Father to bring into being the true nature and fullness of the gift of rest for the people of God.

The rest is rightly called a "sabbath rest" because it is a participation in God's own rest. When God completed his work of creation, he rested; likewise when his people complete their service to him on earth, they will enter into God's prepared rest. Now, in this age, the rest is before them as their heritage and by faith they live in the light of it in this world. How this is done is wonderfully illustrated with the wealth of biographical detail in  Hebrews 11 . Here the rest is also portrayed as a city prepared for God's faithful peoplea city whose builder is God himself. Whatever this rest consists of it is not a state of complete inactivity, such as the rest of the wicked ( Job 3:17-19 ).

In  Revelation 14:13-14 the heavenly voice speaks of the blessedness of those who die in the Lord and the Spirit replies: "They will rest from their labor for their deeds will follow them." Here a different dimension of the meaning of rest is being pointed toa rest that is not inactivity but is certainly free of the burdens of the flesh and of the present, evil age.

Finally, we note that as the Spirit of the Lord rests on the Messiah ( Isaiah 11:2 ), so in the new covenant, "If you [Christian believers] are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you" ( 1 Peter 4:14 ).Peter Toon

King James Dictionary

REST, n. L. resto, if the latter is a compound of re and sto but is an original word. See Verb.

1. Cessation of motion or action of any kind, and applicable to any body or being as rest from labor rest from mental exertion rest of body or mind. A body is at rest, when it ceases to move the mind is at rest, when it ceases to be disturbed or agitated the sea is never at rest. Hence, 2. Quiet repose a state free from motion or disturbance a state of reconciliation to God.

Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest to your souls.  Matthew 11 .

3. Sleep as, retire to rest. 4. Peace national quiet.

The land had rest eighty years.  Judges 3 .  Deuteronomy 12 .

5. The final sleep, death. 6. A place of quiet permanent habitation.

Ye are not as yet come to the rest, and to the inheritance which the Lord your God giveth you.  Deuteronomy 12 .

7. Any place of repose.

In dust, our final rest, and native home.

8. That on which any thing leans or lies for support.  1 Kings 6 .

Their vizors clos'd, their lances in the rest.

9. In poetry, a short pause of the voice in reading a cesura. 10. In philosophy, the continuance of a body in the same place. 11. Final hope.

Sea fights have been final to the war but this is, when princes set up their rest upon the battle. Obs.

12. Cessation from tillage.  Leviticus 25 . 13. The gospel church or new covenant state in which the people of God enjoy repose, and Christ shall be glorified.

 Isaiah 11 .

14. In music, a pause an interval during which the voice is intermitted also, the mark of such intermission.

REST, n. L. resto.

1. That which is left, or which remains after the separation of a part, either in fact or in contemplation remainder.

Religion gives part of its reward in hand, the present comfort of having done our duty, and for the rest, it offers us the best security that heaven can give.

2. Others those not included in a proposition or description. In this sense, rest is a noun, but with a singular termination expressing plurality.

Plato and the rest of the philosophers -

Arm'd like the rest, the Trojan prince appears.

The election hath obtained it and the rest were blinded.  Romans 11 .

REST,

1. To cease from action or motion of any kind to stop a word applicable to any body or being, and to any kind of motion. 2. To cease from labor, work or performance.

God rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.  Genesis 2 .

So the people rested on the seventh day.  Exodus 16 .

3. To be quiet or still to be undisturbed.

There rest, if any rest can harbor there.

4. To cease from war to be at peace.

And the land rested from war.  Joshua 11 .

5. To be quiet or tranquil, as the mind not to be agitated by fear, anxiety or other passion. 6. To lie to repose as, to rest on a bed. 7. To sleep to slumber.

Fancy then retires into her private cell, when nature rests.

8. to sleep the final sleep to die or be dead.

Glad I'd lay me down, as in my mother's lap ther I should rest, and sleep secure.

9. To lean to recline for support as, to rest the arm on a table. The truth of religion rests on divine testimony. 10. to stand on to be supported by as, a column rests on its pedestal. 11. To be satisfied to acquiesce as, to rest on heaven's determination. 12. To lean to trust to rely as, to rest on a man's promise. 13. To continue fixed.  Isaiah 51 . 14. To terminate to come to an end.  Ezekiel 16 . 15. To hang, lie or be fixed.

Over a tent a cloud shall rest by day.

16. To abide to remain with.

They said, the spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha.  2 Kings 2 .  Ecclesiastes 7 .

17. To be calm or composed in mind to enjoy peace of conscience.

REST, To be left to remain. Obs.

REST,

1. To lay at rest to quiet.

Your piety has paid all needful rites, to rest my wandering shade.

2. To place, as on a support. We rest our cause on the truth of the Scripture.

Her weary head upon your bosom rest.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) A projection from the right side of the cuirass, serving to support the lance.

(2): ( n.) To be free from whanever wearies or disturbs; to be quiet or still.

(3): ( n.) Silence in music or in one of its parts; the name of the character that stands for such silence. They are named as notes are, whole, half, quarter,etc.

(4): ( n.) A surplus held as a reserved fund by a bank to equalize its dividends, etc.; in the Bank of England, the balance of assets above liabilities.

(5): ( v. t.) To arrest.

(6): ( n.) A state of quiet or repose; a cessation from motion or labor; tranquillity; as, rest from mental exertion; rest of body or mind.

(7): ( n.) Hence, freedom from everything which wearies or disturbs; peace; security.

(8): ( n.) Sleep; slumber; hence, poetically, death.

(9): ( n.) That on which anything rests or leans for support; as, a rest in a lathe, for supporting the cutting tool or steadying the work.

(10): ( n.) Those not included in a proposition or description; the remainder; others.

(11): ( n.) A place where one may rest, either temporarily, as in an inn, or permanently, as, in an abode.

(12): ( n.) A short pause in reading verse; a c/sura.

(13): ( n.) The striking of a balance at regular intervals in a running account.

(14): ( n.) A set or game at tennis.

(15): ( n.) That which is left, or which remains after the separation of a part, either in fact or in contemplation; remainder; residue.

(16): ( v. i.) To be left; to remain; to continue to be.

(17): ( n.) To sleep; to slumber; hence, poetically, to be dead.

(18): ( n.) To cease from action or motion, especially from action which has caused weariness; to desist from labor or exertion.

(19): ( n.) To lie; to repose; to recline; to lan; as, to rest on a couch.

(20): ( n.) To stand firm; to be fixed; to be supported; as, a column rests on its pedestal.

(21): ( v. t.) To place, as on a support; to cause to lean.

(22): ( n.) To lean in confidence; to trust; to rely; to repose without anxiety; as, to rest on a man's promise.

(23): ( n.) To be satisfied; to acquiesce.

(24): ( v. t.) To lay or place at rest; to quiet.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

REST . The conception of rest as a gift of God runs through the Bible, the underlying idea being not idleness, but the freedom from anxiety which is the condition of effective work. It is promised to Israel in Canaan (  Exodus 33:14 ,   Deuteronomy 3:20 ), and Zion is the resting-place of J″ [Note: Jahweh.] (  Psalms 132:8;   Psalms 132:14 ), the Temple being built by ‘a man of rest’ (  1 Chronicles 22:9; a contrast is implied with the desert wanderings in   Numbers 10:33-36 ). At the same time no earthly temple can be the real resting-place of J″ [Note: Jahweh.] (  Isaiah 66:1 ,   Acts 7:49 ). The rest of the Sabbath and the Sabbatical year are connected with the rest of God after creation (  Genesis 2:2 ,   Exodus 20:11 ,   Leviticus 25:4; see art. Sabbath). The individual desires rest, as did the nation (  Psalms 55:8 ); it is not to be found in ignoble ease (  Genesis 49:15 Issachar), but in the ways of God (  Psalms 37:7 ,   Jeremiah 6:10 ); it is the gift of Christ (  Matthew 11:28 ). Sinners fail to find it (  Isaiah 28:12;   Isaiah 57:20 ), as Israel failed (  Psalms 95:11 ).   Hebrews 4:1-16 develops the meaning of this failure, and points to the ‘sabbath rest’ still to come. This heavenly rest includes not only freedom from labour, as in OT (  Job 3:13;   Job 3:17 [in   Psalms 16:9 , see RV [Note: Revised Version.] ]), but also the opportunity of continued work (  Revelation 14:13 ).

C. W. Emmet.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

The first allusion to rest in scripture is on the part of God after His works of creation.  Genesis 2 . It may be assumed, therefore, that while the term means cessation from labour, it also covers the idea of complacency in the result of the labour; and this thought probably underlies the institution of the sabbath; for it is clear from  Psalm 95 and   Hebrews 4 that it was in the thought of God that man should enter into His rest. But sin entered into the world by man, with all its baneful consequences; and unless God were to acquiesce in a world of sin and moral woe He must needs work in grace. Hence the word of Christ, "My Father worketh hitherto [until now], and I work."   John 5:17 . This untiring activity of God is intimated by various expressions in the O.T. God is again and again described as 'rising up early,' sending His prophets, etc. Eventually Christ came to do the will of His Father, and to finish His work . When the full results of the death of Christ are displayed, and all enemies subdued, then God will again enjoy His sabbath of rest, and His people too will enter into His rest.

The Lord Jesus in His ministry on earth, when recognising the absence of moral effect from His mighty works, and retiring consequently into the service of revealing the Father to the babes, invited those who laboured and were heavy laden to come to Him for rest.  Matthew 11:28 . Those who felt the rejection of Christ here were invited to take His yoke upon them, and learn of Him, who was meek and lowly of heart, and they should find rest unto their souls.  Matthew 11:29 . The soul thus has, outside of circumstances here, a portion unaffected by circumstances, and that satisfies all its longings. On the other hand there is no rest to the wicked, who are like the troubled waves of the sea; and those who bow to the future imperial beast and his image will have no rest from their torments day nor night for ever and ever.  Isaiah 57:20,21;  Revelation 14:11 .

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

 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.

Αnesis ( 2 Thessalonians 1:7), "relaxation from afflictions". Αnapausis , "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."

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

Every one knows what it is to rest from labour, from weariness of body and mind. And every one who is acquainted with the Bible cannot but know that there is a rest promised to the people of God. ( Hebrews 4:9) But the sweetest of all thoughts to a poor, distressed, weather-beaten sinner, is to behold Christ himself this rest for him to lie down upon for ever. The Holy Ghost, by Isaiah, gave account of this rest in Jesus when he said, "This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest, and this is the refreshing." ( Isaiah 28:12. See also  Psalms 116:7;  Matthew 11:28-29)

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Gr. sabbatismos, a Sabbath rest, a rest from all work ( Hebrews 4:9; RSV, "sabbath"), a rest like that of God when he had finished the work of creation.

Copyright Statement These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., DD Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography Information Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Rest'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/r/rest.html. 1897.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

In  Acts 9:31 , refers to the respite from persecution enjoyed by the Christians in Palestine, after the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, during the last two years of Caligula's short reign, A. D. 39,40, when the Jews were so harassed by the attempts of the emperor to force them to worship him as a god, that they forbore to afflict the followers of Christ.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

( נוּח , nūaḥ , מנוּחה , menūḥāh , "cessation from motion," "peace," "quiet," etc.; ἀνάπαυσις , anápausis , κατάπαυσις , katápausis ): "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 (  Genesis 2:2 f); as having His place of rest in the midst of His people in the temple (  1 Chronicles 28:2;  Psalm 132:8 ,  Psalm 132:14 ); as resting in His love among His people ( Zephaniah 3:17 , the Revised Version margin "Hebrew, 'be silent' "). The 7th day was to be one of rest ( Exodus 16:23;  Exodus 31:15; see Sabbath ); the land also was to have its rest in the 7th year ( Leviticus 25:4 f). Yahweh promised His people rest in the land He should give them; this they looked forward to and enjoyed (  Deuteronomy 12:9;  Joshua 11:23 ). "To rest on" often means to come upon to abide, as of the Spirit of Yahweh ( Numbers 11:25 f;   Isaiah 11:2 ), of wisdom ( Proverbs 14:33 ), of anger ( Ecclesiastes 7:9 ). There is again the "rest" of the grave ( Job 3:13 ,  Job 3:17 ,  Job 3:18;  Isaiah 57:2;  Daniel 12:13 ). Rest is sometimes equivalent to trust, reliance ( 2 Chronicles 14:11 , the Revised Version (British and American) "rely"). Hence, rest in Yahweh ( Psalm 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 ( Matthew 11:28 ). In  Hebrews 4:1 ff, it is argued from God's having promised His people a "rest" - a promise not realized in Canaan (  Hebrews 4:8 ) - that there remains for the people of God "a Sabbath rest" ( sabbatismós ,  Hebrews 4:9 ). For "rest" the Revised Version (British and American) has "solemn rest" ( Exodus 16:23;  Exodus 31:15 , etc.), "resting-place" ( Psalm 132:8 ,  Psalm 132:14;  Isaiah 11:10 ), "peace" ( Acts 9:31 ), "relief" ( 2 Corinthians 2:13;  2 Corinthians 7:5 ), etc. See also Remnant .