Hebrews 10
English Standard Version
Christ's Sacrifice Once for All
10 For since the law has but (A)a shadow (B)of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, (C)it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But (D)in these sacrifices (E)there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For (F)it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Consequently, (G)when Christ[a] came into the world, he said,
(H)“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body have you prepared for me;
6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”
8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in (I)sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, (J)“Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will (K)we have been sanctified through the offering of (L)the body of Jesus Christ (M)once for all.
11 And every priest stands (N)daily at his service, (O)offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, (P)which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ[b] had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he (Q)sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time (R)until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering (S)he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,
16 (T)“This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws on their hearts,
and write them on their minds,”
17 then he adds,
(U)“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
The Full Assurance of Faith
19 (V)Therefore, brothers,[c] since we have confidence to enter (W)the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by (X)the new and living way that he opened for us through (Y)the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have (Z)a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts (AA)sprinkled clean (AB)from an evil conscience and our bodies (AC)washed with pure water. 23 (AD)Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for (AE)he who promised is faithful. 24 And (AF)let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 (AG)not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and (AH)all the more as you see (AI)the Day drawing near.
26 For (AJ)if we go on sinning deliberately (AK)after receiving the knowledge of the truth, (AL)there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 (AM)but a fearful expectation of judgment, and (AN)a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 (AO)Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy (AP)on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one (AQ)who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned (AR)the blood of the covenant (AS)by which he was sanctified, and has (AT)outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, (AU)“Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, (AV)“The Lord will judge his people.” 31 (AW)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 But recall the former days when, after (AX)you were enlightened, you endured (AY)a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being (AZ)publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For (BA)you had compassion on those in prison, and (BB)you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had (BC)a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has (BD)a great reward. 36 For (BE)you have need of endurance, so that (BF)when you have done the will of God you may (BG)receive what is promised. 37 For,
(BH)“Yet a little while,
and (BI)the coming one will come and will not delay;
38 (BJ)but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 10:5 Greek he
- Hebrews 10:12 Greek this one
- Hebrews 10:19 Or brothers and sisters
Hebrews 10
Amplified Bible
One Sacrifice of Christ Is Sufficient
10 For since the Law has only a shadow [just a pale representation] of the good things to come—not the very image of those things—it can never, by offering the same sacrifices continually year after year, make [a]perfect those who approach [its altars]. 2 For if it were otherwise, would not these sacrifices have stopped being offered? For the worshipers, having once [for all time] been cleansed, would no longer have a consciousness of sin. 3 But [as it is] these [continual] sacrifices bring a fresh reminder of sins [to be atoned for] year after year, 4 for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when Christ enters into the world, He says,
“Sacrifice and offering You have not desired,
But [instead] You have prepared a body for Me [to offer];
6
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no delight.
7
“Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come
To do Your will, O God—
[To fulfill] what is written of Me in the scroll of the book.’”(A)
8 After saying [in the citation] above, “You have neither desired, nor have You taken delight in sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin” (which are offered according to the Law) 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.” [And so] He does away with the first [covenant as a means of atoning for sin based on animal sacrifices] so that He may inaugurate and establish the second [covenant by means of obedience].(B) 10 And in accordance with this will [of God] we [who believe in the message of salvation] have been sanctified [that is, set apart as holy for God and His purposes] through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) once for all.
11 Every priest stands [at his altar of service] ministering daily, offering the same sacrifices over and over, which are never able [b]to strip away sins [that envelop and cover us]; 12 whereas Christ, having offered the one sacrifice [the all-sufficient sacrifice of Himself] for sins for all time, sat down [signifying the completion of atonement for sin] at the right hand of God [the position of honor], 13 waiting from that time onward until his enemies are made a footstool for His feet.(C) 14 For by the one offering He has perfected forever and completely cleansed those who are being sanctified [bringing each believer to spiritual completion and maturity]. 15 And the Holy Spirit also adds His testimony to us [in confirmation of this]; for after having said,
16
“This is the covenant that I will make with them
After those days, says the Lord:
I will imprint My laws upon their heart,
And on their mind I will inscribe them [producing an inward change],”
He then says,
17
“And their sins and their lawless acts
I will remember no more [no longer holding their sins against them].”(D)
18 Now where there is [absolute] forgiveness and complete cancellation of the penalty of these things, there is no longer any offering [to be made to atone] for sin.
A New and Living Way
19 Therefore, [c]believers, since we have confidence and full freedom to enter the Holy Place [the place where God dwells] by [means of] the blood of Jesus, 20 by this new and living way which He initiated and opened for us through the veil [as in the Holy of Holies], that is, through His flesh, 21 and since we have a great and wonderful Priest [Who rules] over the house of God, 22 let us approach [God] with a true and sincere heart in unqualified assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful [to His word]; 24 and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, 25 not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching.
Christ or Judgment
26 For if we go on willfully and deliberately sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice [to atone] for our sins [that is, no further offering to anticipate], 27 but a kind of awful and terrifying expectation of [divine] judgment and the fury of a fire and burning wrath which will consume the adversaries [those who put themselves in opposition to God].(E) 28 Anyone who has ignored and set aside the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.(F) 29 How much greater punishment do you think he will deserve who has rejected and trampled under foot the Son of God, and has considered unclean and common the blood of the covenant that [d]sanctified him, and has insulted the Spirit of grace [who imparts the unmerited favor and blessing of God]?(G) 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine [retribution and the deliverance of justice rest with Me], I will repay [the wrongdoer].” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”(H) 31 It is a fearful and terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God [incurring His judgment and wrath].
32 But remember the earlier days, when, after being [spiritually] enlightened, you [patiently] endured a great conflict of sufferings, 33 sometimes by being made a spectacle, publicly exposed to insults and distress, and sometimes by becoming companions with those who were so treated. 34 For you showed sympathy and deep concern for those who were imprisoned, and you joyfully accepted the [unjust] seizure of your belongings and the confiscation of your property, conscious of the fact that you have a better possession and a lasting one [prepared for you in heaven]. 35 Do not, therefore, fling away your [fearless] confidence, for it has a glorious and great reward. 36 For you have need of patient endurance [to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising], so that when you have carried out the will of God, you may receive and enjoy to the full what is promised.
37
For yet in a very little while,
He who is coming will come, and will not delay.
38
But My righteous one [the one justified by faith] shall live by faith [respecting man’s relationship to God and trusting Him];
And if he draws back [shrinking in fear], My soul has no delight in him.(I)
39 But [e]our way is not that of those who shrink back to destruction, but [we are] of those who believe [relying on God through faith in Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and by this confident faith preserve the soul.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 10:1 I.e. achieve the goal of perfection.
- Hebrews 10:11 Emphatic in Greek with the sense “to deliver completely.”
- Hebrews 10:19 Lit brethren.
- Hebrews 10:29 All believers are sanctified, that is, set apart as holy for God and His purposes.
- Hebrews 10:39 Emphatic in Greek.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
