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Hebrews 10
New Testament for Everyone
Hebrews 10
New Testament for Everyone
The stopping of the sacrifices
10 The law, you see, possesses a shadow of the good things that are coming, not the actual form of the things themselves. Thus it is unable to make worshipers perfect through the annual round in which the same sacrifices are continually being offered. 2 If the worshipers really had been purified once and for all, they would no longer have sin on their consciences—so they would have stopped offering sacrifices, wouldn’t they? 3 But, as it is, the sacrifices serve as a regular annual reminder of sins, 4 since it’s impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take sins away.
5 That’s why, when the Messiah comes into the world, this is what he says:
You didn’t want sacrifices and offerings;
instead, you’ve given me a body.
6 You didn’t like burnt offerings and sin-offerings;
7 then I said, “Look! Here I am!
This is what it says about me in the scroll, the book:
I’ve come, O God, to do your will.”
8 When he says, earlier, “you didn’t want, and you didn’t like, sacrifices, offerings, burnt offerings and sin-offerings” (all of which are offered in accordance with the law), 9 then he says, “Look! I’ve come to do your will!” He takes away the first so that he can establish the second. 10 And it’s by that “will” that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus the Messiah, once for all.
The finished achievement of the Messiah
11 Thus it comes about that every priest stands daily at his duty, offering over and over the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But Jesus offered a single sacrifice on behalf of sins, for all time, and then “sat down at the right hand of God.” 13 From that moment on he is waiting “until his enemies are made a stool for his feet.” 14 By a single sacrifice, you see, he has made perfect forever those who are sanctified.
15 The holy spirit bears witness to this too. For, after it is said,
16 This is the covenant I will establish with them
after those days, says the Lord;
I will give them my laws in their hearts, and will write them
upon their minds,
then he adds:
17 And I shan’t ever remember
their sins and all their lawlessness.
18 Where these are put away, there is no longer a sacrifice for sin.
So—come to worship!
19 So then, my brothers and sisters, we have boldness to go into the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus. 20 He has inaugurated a brand new, living path through the curtain (that is, his earthly body). 21 We have a high priest who is over God’s house. 22 Let us therefore come to worship, with a true heart, in complete assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from a bad conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold on tightly to our confession of hope, without being diverted; the one who announced the message to us is trustworthy! 24 Let us, as well, stir up one another’s minds to energetic effort in love and good works. 25 We mustn’t neglect meeting together, as some are now doing. Instead, we must encourage one another, and all the more as you can see the great day coming closer.
Warning of judgment
26 For if we sin deliberately and knowingly after having received the knowledge of the truth, there is no further sacrifice for sin. 27 Instead, there is a fearful prospect of judgment, and a hungry fire which will consume the opponents. 28 If someone sets aside the law of Moses, they are to be “put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses,” with no pity. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be appropriate for people who trample the son of God underfoot, and profane the blood of the covenant by which they were sanctified, and scorn the spirit of grace? 30 We know the one who said, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will pay everyone back,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It’s a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Suffering in hope
32 But remember the earlier times! When you were first enlightened, you went through great struggles and suffering. 33 Sometimes you were exposed to public reproach and physical abuse. Sometimes you stood alongside people who were being treated in that way. 34 You even shared the sufferings of those who were imprisoned. When people looted your property, you actually welcomed it joyfully, because you knew that you had a better possession, a lasting one.
35 So don’t throw away your confidence. It carries a great reward. 36 What you need is patience, you see; then, when you’ve done what God wants, you will receive the promise.
37 For in just a little while from now,
the Coming One will come, and won’t delay;
38 but my righteous one will live by faith;
and if he hesitates, my soul will not delight in him.
39 We are not among the hesitators, who are destroyed! We are people of faith, and our lives will be kept safe.
Hebrews 10
New King James Version
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
New International Version
Hebrews 10
New International Version
Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All
10 The law is only a shadow(A) of the good things(B) that are coming—not the realities themselves.(C) For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect(D) those who draw near to worship.(E) 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.(F) 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins.(G) 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats(H) to take away sins.(I)
5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world,(J) he said:
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but a body you prepared for me;(K)
6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings
you were not pleased.
7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll(L)—
I have come to do your will, my God.’”[a](M)
8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”(N)—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.”(O) He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy(P) through the sacrifice of the body(Q) of Jesus Christ once for all.(R)
11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices,(S) which can never take away sins.(T) 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins,(U) he sat down at the right hand of God,(V) 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.(W) 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect(X) forever those who are being made holy.(Y)
15 The Holy Spirit also testifies(Z) to us about this. First he says:
16 “This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.”[b](AA)
17 Then he adds:
18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
A Call to Persevere in Faith
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence(AC) to enter the Most Holy Place(AD) by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way(AE) opened for us through the curtain,(AF) that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest(AG) over the house of God,(AH) 22 let us draw near to God(AI) with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings,(AJ) having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience(AK) and having our bodies washed with pure water.(AL) 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope(AM) we profess,(AN) for he who promised is faithful.(AO) 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,(AP) 25 not giving up meeting together,(AQ) as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another(AR)—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.(AS)
26 If we deliberately keep on sinning(AT) after we have received the knowledge of the truth,(AU) no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire(AV) that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.(AW) 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God(AX) underfoot,(AY) who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant(AZ) that sanctified them,(BA) and who has insulted the Spirit(BB) of grace?(BC) 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d](BD) and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”[e](BE) 31 It is a dreadful thing(BF) to fall into the hands(BG) of the living God.(BH)
32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light,(BI) when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering.(BJ) 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution;(BK) at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.(BL) 34 You suffered along with those in prison(BM) and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.(BN) 35 So do not throw away your confidence;(BO) it will be richly rewarded.
36 You need to persevere(BP) so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.(BQ) 37 For,
38 And,
“But my righteous[g] one will live by faith.(BT)
And I take no pleasure
in the one who shrinks back.”[h](BU)
39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 10:7 Psalm 40:6-8 (see Septuagint)
- Hebrews 10:16 Jer. 31:33
- Hebrews 10:17 Jer. 31:34
- Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:35
- Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:36; Psalm 135:14
- Hebrews 10:37 Isaiah 26:20; Hab. 2:3
- Hebrews 10:38 Some early manuscripts But the righteous
- Hebrews 10:38 Hab. 2:4 (see Septuagint)
Hebrews 10
English Standard Version
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
New Testament for Everyone (NTFE) 
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.