Hebrews 10
Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus Christ—the Only Sacrifice We Need
10 The law gave us only an unclear picture of the good things coming in the future. The law is not a perfect picture of the real things. The law tells people to offer the same sacrifices every year. Those who come to worship God continue to offer those sacrifices. But the law can never make them perfect. 2 If the law could make people perfect, those sacrifices would have already stopped. They would already be clean from their sins, and they would not still feel guilty. 3 But that’s not what happens. Their sacrifices make them remember their sins every year, 4 because it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 So when Christ came into the world he said,
“You don’t want sacrifices and offerings,
but you have prepared a body for me.
6 You are not pleased with the sacrifices of animals killed and burned
or with offerings to take away sins.
7 Then I said, ‘Here I am, God.
It is written about me in the book of the law.
I have come to do what you want.’” (A)
8 Christ first said, “You don’t want sacrifices and offerings. You are not pleased with animals killed and burned or with sacrifices to take away sin.” (These are all sacrifices that the law commands.) 9 Then he said, “Here I am, God. I have come to do what you want.” So God ends that first system of sacrifices and starts his new way. 10 Jesus Christ did the things God wanted him to do. And because of that, we are made holy through the sacrifice of Christ’s body. Christ made that sacrifice one time—enough for all time.
11 Every day the priests stand and do their religious service. Again and again they offer the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But Christ offered only one sacrifice for sins, and that sacrifice is good for all time. Then he sat down at the right side of God. 13 And now Christ waits there for his enemies to be put under his power.[a] 14 With one sacrifice Christ made his people perfect forever. They are the ones who are being made holy.
15 The Holy Spirit also tells us about this. First he says,
16 “This is the agreement[b] I will make
with my people in the future, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts.
I will write my laws in their minds.” (B)
17 Then he says,
“I will forget their sins
and never again remember the evil they have done.” (C)
18 And after everything is forgiven, there is no more need for a sacrifice to pay for sins.
Come Near to God
19 And so, brothers and sisters, we are completely free to enter the Most Holy Place.[c] We can do this without fear because of the blood sacrifice of Jesus. 20 We enter through a new way that Jesus opened for us. It is a living way that leads through the curtain—Christ’s body. 21 And we have a great priest who rules the house of God. 22 Sprinkled with the blood of Christ, our hearts have been made free from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. So come near to God with a sincere heart, full of confidence because of our faith in Christ. 23 We must hold on to the hope we have, never hesitating to tell people about it. We can trust God to do what he promised.
Help Each Other Be Strong
24 We should think about each other to see how we can encourage each other to show love and do good works. 25 We must not quit meeting together, as some are doing. No, we need to keep on encouraging each other. This becomes more and more important as you see the Day getting closer.
Don’t Turn Away From God’s Son
26 If we decide to continue sinning after we have learned the truth, then there is no other sacrifice that will take away sins. 27 If we continue sinning, all that is left for us is a fearful time of waiting for the judgment and the angry fire that will destroy those who live against God. 28 Whoever refused to obey the Law of Moses was found guilty from the testimony given by two or three witnesses. Such people were not forgiven. They were killed. 29 So think how much more punishment people deserve who show their hate for the Son of God—people who show they have no respect for the blood sacrifice that began the new agreement and once made them holy or who insult the Spirit of God’s grace. 30 We know that God said, “I will punish people for the wrongs they do; I will repay them.”[d] And he also said, “The Lord will judge his people.”[e] 31 It is a terrible thing to face punishment from the living God.
Keep the Courage and Patience You Had
32 Remember the days when you first learned the truth. You had a hard struggle with much suffering, but you continued strong. 33 Sometimes people said hateful things to you and mistreated you in public. And sometimes you helped others who were being treated that same way. 34 Yes, you helped them in prison and shared in their suffering. And you were still happy when everything you owned was taken away from you. You continued to be happy, because you knew that you had something much better—something that would continue forever.
35 So don’t lose the courage that you had in the past. Your courage will be rewarded richly. 36 You must be patient. After you have done what God wants, you will get what he promised you. 37 He says,
“Very soon now, the one who is coming
will come and will not be late.
38 The person who is right with me
will live by trusting in me.
But I will not be pleased with the one
who turns back in fear.” (D)
39 But we are not those who turn back and are lost. No, we are the people who have faith and are saved.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 10:13 to be put under his power Literally, “to be made a footstool for his feet.”
- Hebrews 10:16 agreement The new and better agreement that God has given to his people through Jesus. See “agreement” in the Word List.
- Hebrews 10:19 Most Holy Place Literally, “holies” for “holy of holies,” the spiritual place where God lives and is worshiped.
- Hebrews 10:30
Quote from Deut. 32:35. - Hebrews 10:30
Quote from Deut. 32:36.
Hebrews 10
New King James Version
Animal Sacrifices Insufficient
10 For the law, having a (A)shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, (B)can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once [a]purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For (C)it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
Christ’s Death Fulfills God’s Will(D)
5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:
(E)“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
To do Your will, O God.’ ”
8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, [b]O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 (F)By that will we have been [c]sanctified (G)through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Christ’s Death Perfects the Sanctified
11 And every priest stands (H)ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 (I)But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down (J)at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting (K)till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being [d]sanctified.
15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,
16 (L)“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, (M)“Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is [e]remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
Hold Fast Your Confession
19 Therefore, brethren, having (N)boldness[f] to enter (O)the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and (P)living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us (Q)draw near with a true heart (R)in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for (S)He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 (T)not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and (U)so much the more as you see (V)the Day approaching.
The Just Live by Faith
26 For (W)if we sin willfully (X)after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there (Y)no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and (Z)fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three (AA)witnesses. 29 (AB)Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, (AC)counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, (AD)and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, (AE)“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” [g]says the Lord. And again, (AF)“The Lord will judge His people.” 31 (AG)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 But (AH)recall the former days in which, after you were [h]illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made (AI)a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while (AJ)you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on [i]me (AK)in my chains, and (AL)joyfully accepted the plundering of your [j]goods, knowing that (AM)you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves [k]in heaven. 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, (AN)which has great reward. 36 (AO)For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, (AP)you may receive the promise:
37 “For (AQ)yet a little while,
And (AR)He[l] who is coming will come and will not [m]tarry.
38 Now (AS)the[n] just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.”
39 But we are not of those (AT)who draw back to [o]perdition, but of those who (AU)believe to the saving of the soul.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 10:2 cleansed
- Hebrews 10:9 NU, M omit O God
- Hebrews 10:10 set apart
- Hebrews 10:14 set apart
- Hebrews 10:18 forgiveness
- Hebrews 10:19 confidence
- Hebrews 10:30 NU omits says the Lord
- Hebrews 10:32 enlightened
- Hebrews 10:34 NU the prisoners instead of me in my chains
- Hebrews 10:34 possessions
- Hebrews 10:34 NU omits in heaven
- Hebrews 10:37 Or that which
- Hebrews 10:37 delay
- Hebrews 10:38 NU My just one
- Hebrews 10:39 destruction
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
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
