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10 The law is only an ·unclear picture [L shadow] of the good things coming in the future; it is not the ·real thing [reality itself; true image of them]. The people under the law offer the same sacrifices every year, but these sacrifices can never make perfect those who come near to worship God. If the law could make them perfect, the sacrifices would have already ·stopped [ceased; been abolished]. The worshipers would ·be made clean [L have been cleansed/purified once for all; C forever], and they would no longer have a ·sense of [consciousness of; feeling of guilt about] sin. But these sacrifices remind them of their sins every year, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

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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]. 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. But [as it is] these [continual] sacrifices bring a fresh reminder of sins [to be atoned for] year after year, for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 10:1 I.e. achieve the goal of perfection.