A pause for rest

The English word "pause" comes from the middle French word "pause" ≈ "" which comes from the Latin word "pausa" ≈ "pause, halt, stop" which comes from the ancient Greek word "παυσις" ≈ "stopping, ceasing" which is from the ancient Greek word "παύω" ≈ "stop" whose origin is uncertain.

This word in various ways is used in the LXX (Septuagint) and GNT (Greek New Testament) for meanings related to "rest".

Matthew 11:28

All

KJV: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Greek: δευτε προς με παντες οι κοπιωντες και πεφορτισμενοι καγω αναπαυσω υμας

Latin: venite ad me omnes qui laboratis et onerati estis et ego reficiam vos

Wessex: Cumeð to me ealle þa þe swinkeð & ge-seamede synd. & ich eow ge-blissige.

Wycliffe: Alle ye that traueilen, and ben chargid, come to me, and Y schal fulfille you.

Tyndale: Come vnto me all ye that laboure and are laden and I wyll ease you.

Luther: Kommet her zu mir, alle, die ihr mühselig und beladen seid, ich will euch erquicken!

Spanish: Venid a mí todos los que estáis trabajados y cargados, y yo os haré descansar.

The modern Greek word "παύση" (PAV-see) ≈ "pause, stop" (noun).

The modern Greek word "παύω" (PAV-o) ≈ "cease, step" (verb).

*G373 *12 ἀναπαύω (an-ap-ow'-o) : from G303 and G3973; (reflexively) to repose (literally or figuratively (be exempt), remain); by implication, to refresh:--take ease, refresh, (give, take) rest.

Usage

All

αναπαυεσθε *2

Matthew 26:45 ... now, and take your rest: behold, the hour ...
Mark 14:41 ... now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour ...

αναπεπαυται *2

2 Corinthians 7:13 ... because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
Philemon 1:7 ... because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

αναπαυσω

Matthew 11:28 ... are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

αναπαυσασθε

Mark 6:31 ... a desert place, and rest a while: for there were ...

αναπαυου

Luke 12:19 ... for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

ανεπαυσαν

1 Corinthians 16:18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: ...

αναπαυσον

Philemon 1:20 ... of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

αναπαυεται

1 Peter 4:14 ... of glory and of God resteth upon you: on ...

αναπαυσωνται

Revelation 6:11 ... it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, ...

αναπαησονται

Revelation 14:13 ... saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; ...

Matthew 11:29

All

KJV: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Greek: αρατε τον ζυγον μου εφ υμας και μαθετε απ εμου οτι πραος πραυς ειμι και ταπεινος τη καρδια και ευρησετε αναπαυσιν ταις ψυχαις υμων

Matthew 11:30

All

KJV: For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Greek: ο γαρ ζυγος μου χρηστος και το φορτιον μου ελαφρον εστιν

Latin: iugum enim meum suave est et onus meum leve est

Wessex: Soðlice min goc is winsum & min berðene is leoht.

Wycliffe: `For my yok is softe, and my charge liyt.

Luther: Denn mein Joch ist sanft, und meine Last ist leicht.

Slavonic: иго бо Мое благо, и бремя Мое легко есть.

Russian: ибо иго Мое благо, и бремя Мое легко.

Spanish: Porque mi yugo es fácil, y ligera mi carga.

The word the KJV (King James Version) translates as "easy" is the Greek word for "useful".

The Latin word "suave" ≈ "sweet, pleasant". It is unclear how the Latin came to use this word in the translation of "useful".

Details are left as a future topic.

The Old English word "goc" ≈ "yoke" showing the change of hard "g" to softer "y" over time.

More: Germanic g to English y

The Greek word for "yoke" comes from the word for "two". What might be the pair to which this verse refers?

Details are left as a future topic.

We see the word for "rest" in Genesis at the end of the creation week.

Genesis 2:2

All

KJV: And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

Hebrew: ויכל אלהים ביום השביעי מלאכתו אשר עשה וישבת ביום השביעי מכל מלאכתו אשר עשה׃

Greek: και συνετελεσεν ο θεος εν τη ημερα τη εκτη τα εργα αυτου α εποιησεν και κατεπαυσεν τη ημερα τη εβδομη απο παντων των εργων αυτου ων εποιησεν

Latin: conplevitque Deus die septimo opus suum quod fecerat et requievit die septimo ab universo opere quod patrarat

Wycliffe: And God fillide in the seuenthe dai his werk which he made; and he restide in the seuenthe dai fro al his werk which he hadde maad;

Luther: Und also vollendete Gott am siebenten Tage seine Werke, die er machte, und ruhete am siebenten Tage von allen seinen Werken, die er machte;

Spanish: Y acabó Dios en el día séptimo su obra que hizo, y reposó el día séptimo de toda su obra que había hecho.

*H7673 שָׁבַת (shaw-bath') : a primitive root; to repose, i.e. desist from exertion; used in many implied relations (causative, figurative or specific):--(cause to, let, make to) cease, celebrate, cause (make) to fail, keep (sabbath), suffer to be lacking, leave, put away (down), (make to) rest, rid, still, take away.

The Hebrew word "וישבת" (way-yis-bot) ≈ "and he rested" appears to be related to "Sabbath" and "seven".

More: Seven days without God makes one weak

There appear to be some puns made by Paul in reference to rest and his name.

The modern Greek word "Παύλος" (PAV-los) ≈ "Paul".

1 Corinthians 16:18

All

KJV: For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.

Greek: ανεπαυσαν γαρ το εμον πνευμα και το υμων επιγινωσκετε ουν τους τοιουτους

Latin: refecerunt enim et meum spiritum et vestrum cognoscite ergo qui eiusmodi sunt

Wycliffe: for thei filliden that thing that failide to you; for thei han refreischid bothe my spirit and youre. Therfor knowe ye hem, that ben suche maner men.

Tyndale: They have comforted my sprete and youres. Loke therfore that ye knowe them that are soche.

Gothic: gathrafstidedun auk jah meinana ahman jah izwarana; ufkunnaith nu thans swaleikans.

Luther: Sie haben erquicket meinen und euren Geist. Erkennet, die solche sind!

Philemon 1:20

All

KJV: Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

Greek: ναι αδελφε εγω σου οναιμην εν κυριω αναπαυσον μου τα σπλαγχνα εν κυριω χριστω

Latin: ita frater ego te fruar in Domino refice viscera mea in Domino

Gothic: jai, brothar, ik theina niutau in fraujin; anathrafstei meinos brusts in xristau.

Romans 15:32

All

KJV: That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

Greek: ινα εν χαρα ελθω ελθων προς υμας δια θεληματος θεου και συναναπαυσωμαι υμιν

*G4875 *1 συναναπαύομαι (soon-an-ap-ow'-om-ahee) : middle from G4862 and G373; to recruit oneself in company with:--refresh with.

Usage

All

συναναπαυσωμαι

Romans 15:32 ... of God, and may with you be refreshed.

One hint that this may be a deliberate pun is that this word only appears once in the GNT which means it may have been created by Paul to fit the situation (and also as a pun).

And, as Paul Harvey (1918-2009) used to say in his radio broadcasts, this has been the "rest" of the story. You can "rest assured" of that.