Charles Ellicott Commentary Hebrews 3:7

"Wherefore, even as the Holy Spirit saith, To-day if ye shall hear his voice," — Hebrews 3:7 (ASV)

Therefore.—Since without steadfastness all will be lost. With the words introducing the quotation, compare Hebrews 9:8; Hebrews 10:15.

Whether the marks of parenthesis introduced here in our common Bibles (not inserted by the translators of 1611) express the true connection of the verses is a question very hard to decide, and one that does not admit of full discussion here. It is very possible that the writer (like Saint Paul in Romans 15:3; Romans 15:21; 1 Corinthians 1:31) may have merged his own exhortation into that which the quotation supplies (Hebrews 3:8). The objection that Hebrews 3:12 would naturally in that case have been introduced by some connective word is shown to be groundless by such passages as Hebrews 8:13; Hebrews 10:23; Hebrews 12:7; Hebrews 12:25.

On the other hand, if we connect “Wherefore,” in this verse, with “Take heed” in Hebrews 3:12, we have greater regularity of structure—a strong argument in this Epistle. It seems unlikely, moreover, that the writer (whose tenderness of tone and sympathy are so manifest in his words of warning) would at this stage adopt as his own the stringent and general exhortation, “harden not your hearts:” the spirit of Hebrews 3:12 (“lest haply there shall be in any one of you”) is altogether different. On the whole, therefore, it seems best to consider Hebrews 3:7 (“To day . . .”) to Hebrews 3:11 (“. . . my rest”) as a pure quotation, enforcing the warning that follows.

Psalms 95:0, the latter part of which (Hebrews 3:7–11) is here cited, is in the Septuagint ascribed to David, but is probably of later date. (As to Hebrews 4:7, see the Note.) In most important respects the words of the quotation agree with the Greek version, and with the Hebrew text. The chief exceptions will be noted as they occur.

To day if you will hear his voice.—Rather, To day if you shall hear (literally, shall have heard) His voice. The Greek will not allow the sense in which the words are naturally taken by the English reader, “if you are willing to hear.” The meaning of the Hebrew words is either:

1. “To day, oh that you would hearken to (that is, obey) His voice!”
2. “To day if you hearken to His voice.”

The “voice” is that which speaks in the following verses. As the words stand before us, the Psalmist does not formally complete the sentence here commenced (“if you shall hear . . .”). He introduces the divine words of warning, but adds none in his own person. The entreaty “Harden not your hearts” is at once the utterance of the divine voice and the expression of his own urgent prayer. Other passages in which the hardening of the heart is spoken of as the work of man himself are Exodus 9:34; 1 Samuel 6:6; Proverbs 28:14.