"pr. the act of giving rest; a state of settled or final rest, Heb. 3:11, 18; 4:1, 3, 4, 5, 11; a place of rest, place of abode, dwelling, habitation, Acts 7:49*"
Definition and meaning
pr. the act of giving rest; a state of settled or final rest, Heb. 3:11, 18; 4:1, 3, 4, 5, 11; a place of rest, place of abode, dwelling, habitation, Acts 7:49*
In the original Greek the word is written: κατάπαυσις
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of katapausis (G2663) across the King James Bible.
Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?
So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
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Common questions
Strong's G2663 (katapausis) is a Greek word that means: pr. the act of giving rest; a state of settled or final rest, Heb. 3:11, 18; 4:1, 3, 4, 5, 11; a place of rest, place of abode, dwelling, habitation, Acts 7:49* It appears 8 times in the King James Bible.
The word katapausis (G2663) appears 8 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2663 is katapausis, a Greek word defined as: pr. the act of giving rest; a state of settled or final rest, Heb. 3:11, 18; 4:1, 3, 4, 5, 11; a place of rest, place of abode, dwelling, habitation, . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
katapausis is a Greek word found in the New Testament.