Hebrews 10:1-4

Concluding Exposition: Old and New Sacrifices Contrasted

10:1 For the law possesses a shadow of the good things to come but not the reality itself, and is therefore completely unable, by the same sacrifices offered continually, year after year, to perfect those who come to worship. ¹  10:2 For otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers would have been purified once for all and so have ²  no further consciousness of sin? 10:3 But in those sacrifices ³  there is a reminder of sins year after year. 10:4 For the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. ⁴ 

Hebrews 10:11-13

10:11 And every priest stands day after day ⁵  serving and offering the same sacrifices again and again – sacrifices that can never take away sins. 10:12 But when this priest ⁶  had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at the right hand ⁷  of God, 10:13 where he is now waiting ⁸  until his enemies are made a footstool for his feet. ⁹ 

¹ tn Grk “those who approach.”

² tn Grk “the worshipers, having been purified once for all, would have.”

³ tn Grk “in them”; the referent (those sacrifices) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tn Grk “for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”

⁵ tn Or “daily,” “every day.”

⁶ tn Grk “this one.” This pronoun refers to Jesus, but “this priest” was used in the translation to make the contrast between the Jewish priests in v. 11 and Jesus as a priest clearer in English.

⁷ sn An allusion to Ps 110:1.

⁷ tn Grk “from then on waiting.”

⁸ sn An allusion to Ps 110:1.