Devine Scripture

Hebrews 10:5

What does Hebrews 10:5 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 10:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 10:5 means

The writer portrays Christ at his coming into the world, speaking the words of Scripture: God was not ultimately pleased by animal sacrifices and offerings; instead, a body was prepared for the Messiah. The focus shifts from external rituals to the incarnate obedience of the Son. In taking a body, Christ embraced the mission of doing God’s will through real human life and death. The quotation shows that God’s plan always aimed beyond sacrifices to a person—Christ—whose embodied obedience would fulfill what sacrifices could only anticipate. The incarnation is thus presented as the necessary prelude to the cross, where true atonement would be made.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body didst thou prepare for me;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body didst thou prepare for me;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

So that when he comes into the world, he says, You had no desire for offerings, but you made a body ready for me;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Wherefore, coming into the world, he saith, `Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not will, and a body Thou didst prepare for me,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Wherefore, when he cometh into the world he saith: Sacrifice and oblation thou wouldest not: but a body thou hast fitted to me.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Wherefore coming into the world he says, Sacrifice and offering thou willedst not; but thou hast prepared me a body.

Context

After declaring animal blood cannot remove sin (v. 4), the author introduces Christ’s voice through Scripture in verses 5–7. The quoted lines highlight God’s dissatisfaction with mere ritual and his preparation of a body for the Messiah. This moves the argument from the insufficiency of the old order to the sufficiency of Christ’s mission. Verse 6 continues the theme of God’s lack of pleasure in sacrifices; verse 7 brings Christ’s declaration of intent to do God’s will. Verses 8–10 will explain that this obedience establishes the new covenant order.

v.4For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.

v.5This passage

v.6In whole burnt offerings andsacrificesfor sin thou hadst no pleasure:

Cross references

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

  • Matthew 11:3

    and said unto him, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another?

  • Isaiah 7:14

    Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

  • Luke 1:35

    And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.

  • Isaiah 1:11

    What unto me is the multitude of your sacrifices? saith Jehovah: I have had enough of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats.

  • Jeremiah 6:20

    To what purpose cometh there to me frankincense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt-offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing unto me.

  • Luke 7:19

    And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to the Lord, saying, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another?

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