Hebrews 10:4

Hebrews 10:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
• New International Version (NIV)It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

Context of Hebrews 10:4

2For otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers would have been purified once for all and so have no further consciousness of sin? 3But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year. For the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. 5So when he came into the world, he said, “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me. 6“Whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you took no delight in.

Hebrews 10:4 word by word

ἀδύνατον γὰρ αἷμα ταύρων καὶ τράγων ἀφαιρεῖν ἁμαρτίας.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• not possibleἀδύνατοςadunatos · unableG102
• thatἀφαιρέωaphaireō · to removeG851
• the bloodαἷμαaima · bloodG129
• of bullsταῦροςtauros · bullG5022
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• of goatsτράγοςtragos · he-goatG5131
• sinsἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266

Cross-references for Hebrews 10:4

• Hebrews 10:8When he says above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you did not desire nor did you take delight in them” (which are offered according to the law),
• Hebrews 9:9This was a symbol for the time then present, when gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper.
• Psalms 50:8I am not condemning you because of your sacrifices, or because of your burnt sacrifices that you continually offer me.
• Psalms 51:16Certainly you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it; you do not desire a burnt sacrifice.
• Isaiah 1:11“Of what importance to me are your many sacrifices?” says the Lord. “I am stuffed with burnt sacrifices of rams and the fat from steers. The blood of bulls, lambs, and goats I do not want.
• Isaiah 66:3The one who slaughters a bull also strikes down a man; the one who sacrifices a lamb also breaks a dog’s neck; the one who presents an offering includes pig’s blood with it; the one who offers incense also praises an idol. They have decided to behave this way; they enjoy these disgusting practices.
• Jeremiah 6:20I take no delight when they offer up to me frankincense that comes from Sheba or sweet-smelling cane imported from a faraway land. I cannot accept the burnt offerings they bring me. I get no pleasure from the sacrifices they offer to me.’
• Jeremiah 7:21The Lord said to the people of Judah, “The Lord God of Israel who rules over all says: ‘You might as well go ahead and add the meat of your burnt offerings to that of the other sacrifices and eat it, too!
• Hosea 6:6For I delight in faithfulness, not simply in sacrifice; I delight in acknowledging God, not simply in whole burnt offerings.
• Amos 5:21“I absolutely despise your festivals! I get no pleasure from your religious assemblies!
• Micah 6:6With what should I enter the Lord’s presence? With what should I bow before the sovereign God? Should I enter his presence with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?
• Mark 12:33And to love him with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
• Hebrews 10:11And every priest stands day after day serving and offering the same sacrifices again and again – sacrifices that can never take away sins.
• Hosea 14:2Return to the Lord and repent! Say to him: “Completely forgive our iniquity; accept our penitential prayer, that we may offer the praise of our lips as sacrificial bulls.
• John 1:29On the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
• Romans 11:27And this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”

Commentaries on Hebrews 10:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4For it is not possible - Common sense must have taught them that shedding the blood of bulls and goats could never satisfy Divine justice, nor take away guilt from the conscience; and God intended that they should understand the matter so: and this the following quotation from the Psalmist sufficiently proves.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins - The reference here is to the sacrifices which were made on the great day of the atonement, for on that day the blood of bulls and of goats alone was offered; see the notes on Hebrews 9:7. Paul here means to say, doubtless, that it was not possible that the blood of these animals should make a complete expiation so as to purify the conscience, and so as to save the sinner…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4The sacrifices of bulls and goats in the old covenant provided some cleansing (Hebrews 9:13, 23), but it was limited. They could not remove sins completely. These sacrifices could not permanently cleanse or bring lasting peace with God (see Acts 10:36; Romans 5:1; 11:26–27).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. For, &c.--reason why, necessarily, there is a continually recurring "remembrance of sins" in the legal sacrifices (He 10:3). Typically, "the blood of bulls," &c., sacrificed, had power; but it was only in virtue of the power of the one real antitypical sacrifice of Christ; they had no power in themselves; they were not the instrument of perfect vicarious atonement, but an exhibition of the need of it, suggesting to the faithful Israelite the sure hope…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 10:4

• Atonement
• Bull
• Law
• Offerings
• Types

In the dictionaries

• Approach
• Assembling
• Assurance
• Consider
• Draw
• Fearful
• Goat
• High priest
• Judge
• Provoke

Commentaries on Hebrews 10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings