Keraia
Hebrews 10

Hebrews 10:1

Christ’s Perfect Sacrifice · Hebrews 10:1–18
Read Hebrews 10

Translations

Modern
For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. It can never, by the same sacrifices offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.
Traditional
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
Literal
For the law, having a shadow of the good things about to be, not the image of the things themselves, every year with the same sacrifices that they offer unto perpetuity, never is able to perfect those coming near.
Latin
Umbram enim habens lex futurorum bonorum, non ipsam imaginem rerum: per singulos annos, eisdem ipsis hostiis quas offerunt indesinenter, numquam potest accedentes perfectos facere:

Original

Greek
English
For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. It can never, by the same sacrifices offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.

Notes

Hebrews 10:1

The old system under the law of Moses (literally the law), like the tabernacle itself (Hebrews 8:5), was just a shadow, a dim preview of a greater reality—the good things that Christ started in the new covenant. Under the old covenant, sacrifices had to be repeated many times because they could not permanently cleanse worshipers or allow them to be in God's presence forever.

Hebrews 9:11–10:18

The author compares the old system (Hebrews 9:1–10) with Christ's superior sacrifice as high priest. Christ offered his own blood, not animal blood (9:13–22; see also 9:7). His offering took place in the heavenly tabernacle, not the earthly one (9:23–24; see also 9:1–5). Unlike repeated offerings, Christ's sacrifice happened only once (9:25–10:18; see also 7:27; 9:6–7).

Hebrews 9:1–10:18

This section explains that Christ's death, as the sacrifice in the new covenant, is better than the sacrifices in the old covenant. In Hebrews 9:1–10, the author describes worship practices under the old covenant rules (see Exodus 28–29; Leviticus 1–10; 16:1–17:16). In Hebrews 9:11–10:18, these rules are compared to Christ's superior offering.

Hebrews 8:1–10:18

This passage explains that the role of Jesus as the heavenly high priest is better than the role of earthly priests.

Parallels

Psalm 40:1–17

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Day of Atonement Dietary Laws Grace Hebrews, Letter to the Mediate, Mediator New Covenant

Topics

Atonement: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Church of Israel: Worship of, Consisted in Sacrifice Law: Temporary Offerings: Animal Sacrifices: A Type of Christ Offerings: Insufficiency of Offerings: Sin: Temporary Sacrifices were offered: Under the Mosaic Age Sacrifices were Typical of Christ's Sacrifice Sacrifices: Could not Take Away Sin The Jews: Religion of, Typical The Law of Moses: A Shadow of Good Things to Come The Law of Moses: Christ: Fulfilled all Types and Shadows of The Law of Moses: Could not Give Righteous and Life Types of the Saviour Types of the Saviour: The Institutions Ordained by Moses Types of the Saviour: The Sacrifices