Hebrews 10:1
What does Hebrews 10:1 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 10:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 10:1 means
This verse teaches that the Mosaic law, with its sacrificial system, was only a shadow—an outline—of the better realities God intended, not the full, substantial image. Because it was only a shadow, the repeated sacrifices it required could never bring worshipers to a complete, final standing of perfection before God. The offerings were continual and cyclical, signaling their inadequacy. Those who “draw nigh” under that system remained incomplete in conscience and access. The author begins by exposing the insufficiency built into the old order, preparing the way to announce the superior, once-for-all sufficiency of Christ’s offering that truly accomplishes what the law’s sacrifices only prefigured but could never achieve.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For the law having a shadow of the goodthingsto come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For the law having a shadow of the goodthingsto come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For the law, being only a poor copy of the future good things, and not the true image of those things, is never able to make the people who come to the altar every year with the same offerings completely clean.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862For the law having a shadow of the coming good things--not the very image of the matters, every year, by the same sacrifices that they offer continually, is never able to make perfect those coming near,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very image of the things, by the selfsame sacrifices which they offer continually every year, can never make the comers thereunto perfect.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For the law, having a shadow of the coming good things, not the image itself of the things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually yearly, perfect those who approach.
Context
Hebrews has argued that Jesus is the great high priest who brings a better covenant. Chapter 9 contrasted the earthly tabernacle with the true heavenly sanctuary. Now chapter 10 opens by summarizing the point: the law’s sacrificial system was a shadow that could not perfect worshipers. This sets up a logical progression: if the old sacrifices could perfect, they would have done so; since they did not, another sacrifice is needed. Verses 2–4 will develop this, leading to Christ’s personal obedience and offering in verses 5–10.
v.1This passage
v.2Else would they not have ceased to be offered? because the worshippers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hebrews 10:11
And every priest indeed standeth day by day ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, the which can never take away sins:
- Colossians 2:17
which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.
- Hebrews 9:25
nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place year by year with blood not his own;
- Hebrews 8:5
who servethat which isa copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses is warnedof Godwhen he is about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern that was showed thee in the mount.
- Hebrews 9:8
the Holy Spirit this signifying, that the way into the holy place hath not yet been made manifest, while the first tabernacle is yet standing;
- Hebrews 9:11
But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation,
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