Devine Scripture

Hebrews 13:10

What does Hebrews 13:10 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 13:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 13:10 means

Christians have an altar—a sacrificial participation—in which those still serving the tabernacle have no right to share. The point is not a physical table but access to God through Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice. Clinging to the old priestly system bars one from the blessings of the new covenant because it denies the sufficiency of Christ. To “have an altar” means we draw near to God on the basis of his cross, feasting by faith on its benefits—pardon, cleansing, fellowship. Those who insist on the tabernacle’s rituals cannot partake of this grace, for the two systems are mutually exclusive: shadow and fulfillment cannot both be the foundation.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat that serve the tabernacle.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat that serve the tabernacle.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

We have an altar from which those priests who are servants in the Tent may not take food.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

we have an altar, of which to eat they have no authority who the tabernacle are serving,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

We have an altar whereof they have no power to eat who serve the tabernacle.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

We have an altar of which they have no right to eat who serve the tabernacle;

Context

Verse 9 warned against ritual-focused teaching; verse 10 declares the Christian’s better “altar,” contrasting it with tabernacle service. The author will ground this in the Day of Atonement pattern: certain sin offerings had their blood brought into the holy place while the carcasses were burned outside the camp (v.11). That pattern points to Jesus’ own suffering outside the gate (v.12), setting up a call to join him there (v.13).

v.9Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be established by grace; not by meats, wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited.

v.10This passage

v.11For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned without the camp.

Cross references

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

  • 1 Corinthians 5:7

    Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, even as ye are unleavened. For our passover also hath been sacrificed, even Christ:

  • 1 Corinthians 10:20

    But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with demons.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:13

    Know ye not that they that minister about sacred things eat of the things of the temple, and they that wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar?

  • 1 Corinthians 10:17

    seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we all partake of the one bread.

  • Numbers 7:5

    Take it of them, that they may be used in doing the service of the tent of meeting; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.

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