Hebrews · Majority Standard Bible
Hebrews 10 Majority Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. The same sacrifices offered year after year can never make perfect those who draw near to worship.
1 Σκιὰν γὰρ ἔχων ὁ νόμος τῶν μελλόντων ἀγαθῶν, οὐκ αὐτὴν τὴν εἰκόνα τῶν πραγμάτων, κατ᾽ ἐνιαυτὸν ταῖς αὐταῖς θυσίαις ἃς προσφέρουσιν εἰς τὸ διηνεκές, οὐδέποτε δύναται τοὺς προσερχομένους τελειῶσαι·
2 If it could, would not the offerings have ceased? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt the guilt of their sins.
2 ἐπεὶ οὐκ ἂν ἐπαύσαντο προσφερόμεναι, διὰ τὸ μηδεμίαν ἔχειν ἔτι συνείδησιν ἁμαρτιῶν τοὺς λατρεύοντας, ἅπαξ κεκαθαρμένους;
3 Instead, those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins,
3 ἀλλ᾽ ἐν αὐταῖς ἀνάμνησις ἁμαρτιῶν κατ᾽ ἐνιαυτόν·
4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
4 ἀδύνατον γὰρ αἷμα ταύρων καὶ τράγων ἀφαιρεῖν ἁμαρτίας.
5◆ Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me.
5 Διὸ εἰσερχόμενος εἰς τὸν κόσμον λέγει· θυσίαν καὶ προσφορὰν οὐκ ἠθέλησας, σῶμα δὲ κατηρτίσω μοι·
6 ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας οὐκ εὐδόκησας·
7◆ Then I said, ‘Here I am, it is written about Me in the scroll: I have come to do Your will, O God.’”
7 τότε εἶπον· ἰδοὺ ἥκω, ἐν κεφαλίδι βιβλίου γέγραπται περὶ ἐμοῦ, τοῦ ποιῆσαι, ὁ Θεός, τὸ θέλημά σου.
8 In the passage above He says, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not desire, nor did You delight in them” (although they are offered according to the law).
8 ἀνώτερον λέγων ὅτι θυσίαν καὶ προσφορὰν καὶ ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας οὐκ ἠθέλησας οὐδὲ εὐδόκησας, αἵτινες κατὰ τὸν νόμον προσφέρονται,
9 Then He adds, “Here I am, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first to establish the second.
9 τότε εἴρηκεν· ἰδοὺ ἥκω τοῦ ποιῆσαι, ὁ Θεός, τὸ θέλημά σου. ἀναιρεῖ τὸ πρῶτον ἵνα τὸ δεύτερον στήσῃ.
10 And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
10 ἐν ᾧ θελήματι ἡγιασμένοι ἐσμὲν διὰ τῆς προσφορᾶς τοῦ σώματος τοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐφάπαξ.
11 Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
11 Καὶ πᾶς μὲν ἱερεὺς ἕστηκε καθ᾽ ἡμέραν λειτουργῶν καὶ τὰς αὐτὰς πολλάκις προσφέρων θυσίας, αἵτινες οὐδέποτε δύνανται περιελεῖν ἁμαρτίας·
12 But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.
12 αὐτὸς δὲ μίαν ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτιῶν προσενέγκας θυσίαν εἰς τὸ διηνεκὲς ἐκάθισεν ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ Θεοῦ,
13 Since that time, He waits for His enemies to be made a footstool for His feet,
13 τὸ λοιπὸν ἐκδεχόμενος ἕως τεθῶσιν οἱ ἐχθροὶ αὐτοῦ ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ.
14 because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.
14 μιᾷ γὰρ προσφορᾷ τετελείωκεν εἰς τὸ διηνεκὲς τοὺς ἁγιαζομένους.
15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First He says:
15 Μαρτυρεῖ δὲ ἡμῖν καὶ τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον· μετὰ γὰρ τὸ προειρηκέναι,
16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their hearts and inscribe them on their minds.”
16 αὕτη ἡ διαθήκη ἣν διαθήσομαι πρὸς αὐτοὺς μετὰ τὰς ἡμέρας ἐκείνας, λέγει Κύριος· διδοὺς νόμους μου ἐπὶ καρδίας αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν διανοιῶν αὐτῶν ἐπιγράψω αὐτούς,
17 Then He adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”
17 καὶ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν ἀνομιῶν αὐτῶν οὐ μὴ μνησθῶ ἔτι.
18 And where these have been forgiven, an offering for sin is no longer needed.
18 ὅπου δὲ ἄφεσις τούτων, οὐκέτι προσφορὰ περὶ ἁμαρτίας.
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,
19 Ἔχοντες οὖν, ἀδελφοί, παρρησίαν εἰς τὴν εἴσοδον τῶν Ἁγίων ἐν τῷ αἵματι τοῦ Ἰησοῦ,
20 by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body,
20 ἣν ἐνεκαίνισεν ἡμῖν ὁδὸν πρόσφατον καὶ ζῶσαν διὰ τοῦ καταπετάσματος, τοῦτ᾽ ἔστι τῆς σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ,
21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
21 καὶ ἱερέα μέγαν ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Θεοῦ,
22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
22 προσερχώμεθα μετὰ ἀληθινῆς καρδίας ἐν πληροφορίᾳ πίστεως ἐρραντισμένοι τὰς καρδίας ἀπὸ συνειδήσεως πονηρᾶς,
23 Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
23 καὶ λελουμένοι τὸ σῶμα ὕδατι καθαρῷ κατέχωμεν τὴν ὁμολογίαν τῆς ἐλπίδος ἀκλινῆ· πιστὸς γὰρ ὁ ἐπαγγειλάμενος·
24 And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.
24 καὶ κατανοῶμεν ἀλλήλους εἰς παροξυσμὸν ἀγάπης καὶ καλῶν ἔργων,
25 Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
25 μὴ ἐγκαταλείποντες τὴν ἐπισυναγωγὴν ἑαυτῶν, καθὼς ἔθος τισίν, ἀλλὰ παρακαλοῦντες, καὶ τοσούτῳ μᾶλλον, ὅσῳ βλέπετε ἐγγίζουσαν τὴν ἡμέραν.
26 If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,
26 Ἑκουσίως γὰρ ἁμαρτανόντων ἡμῶν μετὰ τὸ λαβεῖν τὴν ἐπίγνωσιν τῆς ἀληθείας, οὐκέτι περὶ ἁμαρτιῶν ἀπολείπεται θυσία,
27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries.
27 φοβερὰ δέ τις ἐκδοχὴ κρίσεως καὶ πυρὸς ζῆλος ἐσθίειν μέλλοντος τοὺς ὑπεναντίους.
28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
28 ἀθετήσας τις νόμον Μωϋσέως χωρὶς οἰκτιρμῶν ἐπὶ δυσὶν ἢ τρισὶ μάρτυσιν ἀποθνήσκει·
29 How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
29 πόσῳ δοκεῖτε χείρονος ἀξιωθήσεται τιμωρίας ὁ τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ καταπατήσας καὶ τὸ αἷμα τῆς διαθήκης κοινὸν ἡγησάμενος, ἐν ᾧ ἡγιάσθη, καὶ τὸ Πνεῦμα τῆς χάριτος ἐνυβρίσας;
30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.”
30 οἴδαμεν γὰρ τὸν εἰπόντα· ἐμοὶ ἐκδίκησις, ἐγὼ ἀνταποδώσω[, λέγει Κύριος]· καὶ πάλιν· Κύριος κρινεῖ τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
31 φοβερὸν τὸ ἐμπεσεῖν εἰς χεῖρας Θεοῦ ζῶντος.
32 Remember the early days that you were in the light. In those days, you endured a great conflict in the face of suffering.
32 Ἀναμιμνήσκεσθε δὲ τὰς πρότερον ἡμέρας, ἐν αἷς φωτισθέντες πολλὴν ἄθλησιν ὑπεμείνατε παθημάτων,
33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to ridicule and persecution; at other times you were partners with those who were so treated.
33 τοῦτο μὲν ὀνειδισμοῖς τε καὶ θλίψεσι θεατριζόμενοι, τοῦτο δὲ κοινωνοὶ τῶν οὕτως ἀναστρεφομένων γενηθέντες.
34 You sympathized with me in my chains and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession in heaven.
34 καὶ γὰρ τοῖς δεσμοῖς μου συνεπαθήσατε καὶ τὴν ἁρπαγὴν τῶν ὑπαρχόντων ὑμῶν μετὰ χαρᾶς προσεδέξασθε, γινώσκοντες ἔχειν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς κρείττονα ὕπαρξιν ἐν οὐρανοῖς καὶ μένουσαν.
35 So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward.
35 Μὴ ἀποβάλητε οὖν τὴν παρρησίαν ὑμῶν, ἥτις ἔχει μισθαποδοσίαν μεγάλην.
36 You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
36 ὑπομονῆς γὰρ ἔχετε χρείαν, ἵνα τὸ θέλημα τοῦ Θεοῦ ποιήσαντες κομίσησθε τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν.
37 For, “In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.
37 ἔτι γὰρ μικρὸν ὅσον ὅσον, ὁ ἐρχόμενος ἥξει καὶ οὐ χρονιεῖ.
38 But the righteous will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him.”
38 ὁ δὲ δίκαιος ἐκ πίστεως ζήσεται· καὶ ἐὰν ὑποστείληται, οὐκ εὐδοκεῖ ἡ ψυχή μου ἐν αὐτῷ.
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
39 ἡμεῖς δὲ οὐκ ἐσμὲν ὑποστολῆς εἰς ἀπώλειαν, ἀλλὰ πίστεως εἰς περιποίησιν ψυχῆς.
Cross references (39)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Hebrews 8:5; Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 9:11; Hebrews 9:23; Hebrews 7:18–19
- 2 Isaiah 43:25; Micah 7:19; Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 44:22; Hebrews 9:13–14
- 3 Hebrews 9:7; Exodus 30:10; Leviticus 23:27–28; Leviticus 16:34; Leviticus 16:6–11
- 4 Hebrews 10:11; Isaiah 1:11–15; Micah 6:6–8; Romans 11:27; 1 John 3:5
- 5 Psalm 40:6–8; Isaiah 1:11; Isaiah 7:14; 1 Peter 2:24; Matthew 1:20–23
- 6 Hebrews 10:4; Matthew 3:17; Malachi 1:10; Leviticus 1:1–6; Psalm 147:11
- 7 Psalm 40:7–8; John 4:34; John 6:38; John 5:30; Hebrews 10:9–10
- 8 Hebrews 10:5; Mark 12:33
- 9 Hebrews 7:18–19; Hebrews 12:27–28; Hebrews 10:7; Hebrews 9:11–14; Hebrews 8:7–13
- 10 Hebrews 10:14; Hebrews 10:12; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 7:27; John 17:19
- 11 Hebrews 10:4; Hebrews 5:1; Numbers 28:3; Psalm 50:8–13; Hebrews 7:27
- 12 Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 3:1; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 8:1; Acts 2:33–34
- 13 Hebrews 1:13; Psalm 110:1; Luke 20:43; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Mark 12:36
- 14 Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 10:1; Hebrews 2:11; Romans 15:16
- 15 Hebrews 3:7; Revelation 2:11; Revelation 3:6; 2 Peter 1:21; John 15:26
- 16 Jeremiah 31:33–34; Hebrews 8:8–12; Romans 11:27
- 17 Hebrews 8:12; Jeremiah 31:34
- 18 Hebrews 10:2; Hebrews 10:14
- 19 Ephesians 2:18; Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 4:16; Ephesians 3:12; Romans 5:2
- 20 John 14:6; John 10:9; Hebrews 9:3; Hebrews 9:8; Hebrews 6:19
- 21 Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 4:14–16; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 8:1; Hebrews 3:1
- 22 Ezekiel 36:25; John 3:5; Ephesians 5:26; 1 Peter 3:21; 1 Corinthians 6:11
- 23 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; Hebrews 6:18; Titus 1:2
- 24 1 Thessalonians 5:11; 1 John 3:18; Hebrews 13:1; Galatians 5:13; Colossians 3:16
- 25 Acts 2:42; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Matthew 18:20; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:24
- 26 2 Peter 2:20–22; Hebrews 6:4–6; John 9:41; Luke 12:47; Matthew 12:43–45
- 27 Isaiah 26:11; Zephaniah 1:18; Hebrews 2:3; Hebrews 9:27; Hebrews 12:25
- 28 Hebrews 2:2; Deuteronomy 19:15; Deuteronomy 17:2–13; 2 Corinthians 13:1; Deuteronomy 19:13
- 29 Ephesians 4:30; Hebrews 6:6; Isaiah 63:10; 1 Corinthians 11:27; Luke 12:10
- 30 Deuteronomy 32:35–36; Romans 12:19; Nahum 1:2; Psalm 50:4; 2 Corinthians 5:10
- 31 Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:5; Hebrews 12:29; Isaiah 33:14; Psalm 76:7
- 32 Hebrews 6:4; Galatians 3:3–4; 2 Timothy 4:7–8; 2 Timothy 2:3–13; Hebrews 12:4
- 33 1 Corinthians 4:9; Philippians 4:14; Isaiah 51:7; 2 Corinthians 12:10; Philippians 1:7
- 34 1 Peter 1:4; 2 Timothy 1:16; Matthew 6:19–20; James 1:2; Colossians 1:5
- 35 1 Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 6:8–10; Hebrews 3:6; Luke 14:14; Hebrews 11:26
- 36 Hebrews 12:1; Psalm 37:7; James 5:7–11; 1 Corinthians 13:7; Luke 21:19
- 37 James 5:7–9; Habakkuk 2:3–4; Luke 18:8; Isaiah 26:20; Isaiah 60:22
- 38 Galatians 3:11; Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Psalm 85:8; Hebrews 6:4–6
- 39 1 John 5:5; 1 Peter 1:5; Mark 16:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:12–14; 1 Samuel 15:11
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
Why does my Bible say something different?
- Psalm 40:6 and Hebrews 10:5: “ears” or “a body”?
In the Hebrew text of Psalm 40 God has “dug” or “opened” the psalmist’s ears. In the Greek Septuagint (Psalm 39:7) God has “prepared a body” for him, and the Epistle to the Hebrews quotes that Greek wording of Christ coming into the world. The Orthodox Church reads the Greek. Scholars still debate how the Greek reading arose.
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
In what has gone before he had shown that the sacrifices were unavailing for perfect purification, and were a type, and greatly defective. Since then there was this objection to his argument, If they are types, how is it that, after the truth is come, they have not ceased, nor given place, but are still performed?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 14 (1889)
… incur danger, or are deprived of their goods, but of these also, thus saying, "Call to remembrance the former days, in which after ye were illuminated ye endured a great fight of afflictions; partly whilst ye were made a gazing stock by reproaches, and afflictions." On this account then Christ hath appointed the reward also to be great.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
… one incorporeal for the incorporeal part, and the other bodily for the body: the water cleanses the body, and the Spirit seals the soul; that we may draw near unto God, having our heart sprinkled by the Spirit, and our body washed with pure water.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
You hope to "reign with" Christ; but you "do despite unto the Spirit of grace" by assigning Him the rank of a slave and a subordinate.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)
Hear him saying, "Yet a little while, and He that cometh will come, and will not tarry. The Lord is at hand, be careful for nothing;" and again, "The fashion of this world passeth away." For neither doth he command only, but also soothes, as a physician should.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)