Devine Scripture

Hebrews 10:6

What does Hebrews 10:6 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 10:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 10:6 means

Continuing the citation, the text underscores that God took no ultimate pleasure in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings as ends in themselves. These rituals, even when mandated by the law, could not satisfy God’s heart because they did not change the human will or cleanse the conscience permanently. God’s true delight is in obedience aligned with his will. The point is not to disparage the law but to place sacrifices in their proper, temporary role. They were pointers, not the goal. The coming of Christ would bring what God desired all along: obedient Sonship expressed in a once-for-all, effective sacrifice.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

In whole burnt offerings andsacrificesfor sin thou hadst no pleasure:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

In whole burnt offerings andsacrificesfor sin thou hadst no pleasure:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

You had no joy in burned offerings or in offerings for sin.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

in burnt-offerings, and concerning sin-offerings, Thou didst not delight,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Holocausts for sin did not please thee.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Thou tookest no pleasure in burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin.

Context

Verse 6 is part of the continuous quotation introduced in verse 5, emphasizing God’s displeasure with sacrifices as a final solution. This prepares for verse 7, where Christ announces his mission to do God’s will, fulfilling what sacrifices could not. The flow moves from critique of ritual to the person and obedience of Christ. Immediately after, verses 8–9 will comment on the quotation, drawing the conclusion that Christ’s coming removes the first (sacrificial system) to establish the second (God’s will accomplished in Christ), climaxing in verse 10’s declaration of believers’ sanctification.

v.5Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body didst thou prepare for me;

v.6This passage

v.7Then said I, Lo, I am come (In the roll of the book it is written of me) To do thy will, O God.

Cross references

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

  • Matthew 3:17

    and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

  • Philippians 4:18

    But I have all things, and abound: I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.

  • Malachi 1:10

    Oh that there were one among you that would shut the doors, that ye might not kindle fire on mine altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, saith Jehovah of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

  • Ephesians 5:2

    and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell.

  • Leviticus 1:1

    And Jehovah called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tent of meeting, saying,

  • Psalms 147:11

    Jehovah taketh pleasure in them that fear him, In those that hope in his lovingkindness.

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