Read Scripture ad-free with Bible Gateway Plus—trusted Study Bibles and commentaries beside every verse. Try it FREE for 7 days.
Log In/Sign Up

#
Hebrews 10
New King James Version

### Animal Sacrifices Insufficient

10 For the law, having a (A)shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, (B)can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once [a]purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For (C)it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

### Christ’s Death Fulfills God’s Will(D)

5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:

(E)“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
To do Your will, O God.’ ”

8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, [b]O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 (F)By that will we have been [c]sanctified (G)through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

### Christ’s Death Perfects the Sanctified

11 And every priest stands (H)ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 (I)But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down (J)at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting (K)till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being [d]sanctified.

15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,

16 (L)“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, (M)“Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is [e]remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

### Hold Fast Your Confession

19 Therefore, brethren, having (N)boldness[f] to enter (O)the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and (P)living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us (Q)draw near with a true heart (R)in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for (S)He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 (T)not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and (U)so much the more as you see (V)the Day approaching.

### The Just Live by Faith

26 For (W)if we sin willfully (X)after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there (Y)no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and (Z)fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three (AA)witnesses. 29 (AB)Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, (AC)counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, (AD)and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, (AE)“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” [g]says the Lord. And again, (AF)“The Lord will judge His people.” 31 (AG)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 But (AH)recall the former days in which, after you were [h]illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made (AI)a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while (AJ)you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on [i]me (AK)in my chains, and (AL)joyfully accepted the plundering of your [j]goods, knowing that (AM)you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves [k]in heaven. 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, (AN)which has great reward. 36 (AO)For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, (AP)you may receive the promise:

37 “For (AQ)yet a little while,
And (AR)He[l] who is coming will come and will not [m]tarry.
38 Now (AS)the[n] just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.”

39 But we are not of those (AT)who draw back to [o]perdition, but of those who (AU)believe to the saving of the soul.

#### Footnotes

1. Hebrews 10:2 cleansed
2. Hebrews 10:9 NU, M omit O God
3. Hebrews 10:10 set apart
4. Hebrews 10:14 set apart
5. Hebrews 10:18 forgiveness
6. Hebrews 10:19 confidence
7. Hebrews 10:30 NU omits says the Lord
8. Hebrews 10:32 enlightened
9. Hebrews 10:34 NU the prisoners instead of me in my chains
10. Hebrews 10:34 possessions
11. Hebrews 10:34 NU omits in heaven
12. Hebrews 10:37 Or that which
13. Hebrews 10:37 delay
14. Hebrews 10:38 NU My just one
15. Hebrews 10:39 destruction

#### Cross references

1. Hebrews 10:1 : Heb. 8:5
2. Hebrews 10:1 : Heb. 7:19; 9:9
3. Hebrews 10:4 : Mic. 6:6, 7
4. Hebrews 10:5 : cf. Ps. 40:6–8
5. Hebrews 10:5 : Ps. 40:6–8
6. Hebrews 10:10 : John 17:19; [Eph. 5:26; Heb. 2:11; 10:14, 29; 13:12]
7. Hebrews 10:10 : [Heb. 9:12]
8. Hebrews 10:11 : Num. 28:3
9. Hebrews 10:12 : Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3
10. Hebrews 10:12 : Ps. 110:1
11. Hebrews 10:13 : Ps. 110:1; Heb. 1:13
12. Hebrews 10:16 : Jer. 31:33, 34; Heb. 8:10
13. Hebrews 10:17 : Jer. 31:34
14. Hebrews 10:19 : [Eph. 2:18]; Heb. 4:16
15. Hebrews 10:19 : Heb. 9:8, 12
16. Hebrews 10:20 : John 14:6; [Heb. 7:24, 25]
17. Hebrews 10:22 : Heb. 7:19; 10:1
18. Hebrews 10:22 : Eph. 3:12
19. Hebrews 10:23 : 1 Cor. 1:9; 10:13; 1 Thess. 5:24; Heb. 11:11
20. Hebrews 10:25 : Acts 2:42
21. Hebrews 10:25 : Rom. 13:11
22. Hebrews 10:25 : Phil. 4:5
23. Hebrews 10:26 : Num. 15:30
24. Hebrews 10:26 : 2 Pet. 2:20
25. Hebrews 10:26 : Heb. 6:6
26. Hebrews 10:27 : Zeph. 1:18
27. Hebrews 10:28 : Deut. 17:2–6; 19:15; Matt. 18:16; Heb. 2:2
28. Hebrews 10:29 : [Heb. 2:3]
29. Hebrews 10:29 : 1 Cor. 11:29
30. Hebrews 10:29 : [Matt. 12:31]
31. Hebrews 10:30 : Deut. 32:35; Rom. 12:19
32. Hebrews 10:30 : Deut. 32:36
33. Hebrews 10:31 : [Luke 12:5]
34. Hebrews 10:32 : Gal. 3:4; Heb. 6:9, 10
35. Hebrews 10:33 : 1 Cor. 4:9; Heb. 12:4
36. Hebrews 10:33 : Phil. 1:7
37. Hebrews 10:34 : 2 Tim. 1:16
38. Hebrews 10:34 : Matt. 5:12
39. Hebrews 10:34 : Matt. 6:20
40. Hebrews 10:35 : Matt. 5:12
41. Hebrews 10:36 : Luke 21:19; Heb. 12:1
42. Hebrews 10:36 : [Col. 3:24]
43. Hebrews 10:37 : Luke 18:8
44. Hebrews 10:37 : Hab. 2:3, 4; Heb. 10:25; Rev. 22:20
45. Hebrews 10:38 : Hab. 2:3, 4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11
46. Hebrews 10:39 : 2 Pet. 2:20
47. Hebrews 10:39 : Acts 16:31

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

#### Bible Gateway Recommends

NKJV, The Everyday Bible, Red Letter, Comfort Print: 365 Daily Readings Through the Whole Bible
Retail: $29.99
Our Price: $20.99
Save: $9.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People
Retail: $19.98
Our Price: $13.99
Save: $5.99 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV Study Bible, Full-Color, Comfort Print: The Complete Resource for Studying God’s Word
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, Chronological Study Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, Gift and Award Bible, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version
Retail: $9.99
Our Price: $6.99
Save: $3.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, The Prayer Bible, Red Letter, Comfort Print
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $35.99
Save: $24.00 (40%)
Buy Now
View more titles