Devine Scripture

Hebrews 10:28

What does Hebrews 10:28 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 10:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 10:28 means

Under Moses’ law, a person who rejected the covenant could be put to death on the basis of two or three witnesses, without compassion. This legal standard shows the seriousness with which God regarded covenant unfaithfulness even in the old order. The author invokes it to set up an argument from lesser to greater: if such penalties applied under the preliminary covenant, then rejecting the fulfillment in Christ carries even more severe consequences. The point is not to revive old penalties but to highlight the weight of responsibility that comes with clearer revelation and greater privilege.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

A man that hath set at nought Moses’ law dieth without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

A man that hath set at nought Moses’ law dieth without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

A man who has gone against the law of Moses is put to death without pity on the word of two or three witnesses:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

any one who did set at nought a law of Moses, apart from mercies, by two or three witnesses, doth die,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

A man making void the law of Moses dieth without any mercy under two or three witnesses:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Any one that has disregarded Moses' law dies without mercy on [the testimony of] two or three witnesses:

Context

Verse 28 recalls the severity of penalties under Moses’ law for defiantly setting it aside, requiring only two or three witnesses. This prepares for verse 29’s rhetorical question: how much worse punishment is deserved by those who trample the Son of God and insult the Spirit of grace? The flow strengthens the warning by showing that greater light brings greater accountability. Verses 30–31 will then cite God’s rights to vengeance and judgment, reinforcing the call to fear God and resist apostasy.

v.27but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries.

v.28This passage

v.29of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 2 Samuel 12:13

    And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against Jehovah. And Nathan said unto David, Jehovah also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

  • Numbers 15:36

    And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him to death with stones; as Jehovah commanded Moses.

  • James 2:13

    For judgment is without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment.

  • Deuteronomy 19:13

    Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.

  • Deuteronomy 17:2

    If there be found in the midst of thee, within any of thy gates which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that doeth that which is evil in the sight of Jehovah thy God, in transgressing his covenant,

  • Hebrews 2:2

    For if the word spoken through angels proved stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;

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