Hebrews 3:16-19 (WEB) For who, when they heard, rebelled? Wasn’t it all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? 17 With whom was he displeased forty years? Wasn’t it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 To whom did he swear that they wouldn’t enter into his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 We see that they weren’t able to enter in because of unbelief.
V16 “For who, when they heard, rebelled? Wasn’t it all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses?” There is a difference of interpretation.
Replace “For some”, in place of all, as KJV, etc. Hebrews 3:16 (TCENT) For some did rebel when they heard God’s voice, but not all whom Moses led out of Egypt.
Others use “all” instead of some as most translations.
All those who rebelled and disbelieved were 20 yo and older except Caleb and Joshua (possibly Eleazar and to Ithamar) (Numbers 14:29-31).
V17 “With whom was he displeased forty years? Wasn’t it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?” All those who rebelled and refused to believed did not enter God’s blessings and rest. Some of those 20 and older probably believed during the 40 years of wandering, but they also could not enter the land. There are consequences of our sins. They may be forgiven, but the punishment remains. Not every sin Christians commit result in this. This type of rebellion occurs repeatedly despite God’s pleas and chastening.
V18 “To whom did he swear that they wouldn’t enter into his rest, but to those who were disobedient?” A better translation would be “And to whom did He swear that they should not enter into His rest, but to those who did not believe? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief (MKJV).” The Greek word for “disobedient” is (G544)ἀπειθέω apeithéō, which means (Strong’s) “to disbelieve (wilfully and perversely).” Thayer has “not to allow oneself to be persuaded; not to comply with; to refuse or withhold belief. It carries the idea of refusing to be persuaded resulting in actions of disbelief and disobedience. Compare the same word in John 3:36, Acts 14:2, Romans 2:8, and 14 other verses. When God swears, there are no conditions for reversal. One may still be saved, but since they crossed God’s Red Line, they will still suffer consequences. It is better to yield ourselves, believe, and obey. Christianity is not blind faith but a reasonable faith.
V19 “We see that they weren’t able to enter in because of unbelief.” Written to emphasize the teaching of the dangers of disbelief and disobedience.