Hebrews 10 · Verse 12

Hebrews 10:12

But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Hebrews 10:12, King James Version

Hebrews 10:12 in other translations

BSBBut when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.
WEBbut he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God,
ASVbut he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
YLTAnd He, for sin one sacrifice having offered--to the end, did sit down on the right hand of God, --
DARBYBut he, having offered one sacrifice for sins, sat down in perpetuity at the right hand of God,
BBEBut when Jesus had made one offering for sins for ever, he took his place at the right hand of God;
WebsterBut this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of God;

What does Hebrews 10:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. this man--emphatic (He 3:3). for ever--joined in English Version with "offered one sacrifice"; offered one sacrifice, the efficacy of which endures for ever; literally. "continuously," (compare He 10:14). "The offering of Christ, once for all made, will continue the one and only oblation for ever; no other will supersede it" [Bengel]. The mass, which professes to be the frequent repetition of one and the same sacrifice of Christ's body, is hence disproved. For not only is Christ's body one, but also His offering is one, and that inseparable from His suffering (He 9:26). The mass would be much the same as the Jewish sacrifices which Paul sets aside as abrogated, for they were anticipations of the one sacrifice, just as Rome makes masses continuations of it, in opposition to Paul's argument. A repetition would imply that the former once-for-all offering of the one sacrifice was imperfect, and so would be dishonoring to it (He 10:2, 18). He 10:14, on the contrary, says, "He hath PERFECTED FOR EVER them that are sanctified." If Christ offered Himself at the last supper, then He offered Himself again on the cross, and there would be two offerings; but Paul says there was only one, once for all. Compare Note, see on He 9:26. English Version is favored by the usage in this Epistle, of putting the Greek "for ever" after that which it qualifies. Also, "one sacrifice for ever," stands in contrast to "the same sacrifices oftentimes" (He 10:11). Also, 1Co 15:25, 28, agrees with He 10:12, 13, taken as English Version, not joining, as Alford does, "for ever" with "sat down," for Jesus is to give up the mediatorial throne "when all things shall be subdued unto Him," and not to sit on it for ever.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. But this Man. The Lord Jesus. The word man is not in the original here. The Greek is literally "but this;" to wit, this priest. The apostle does not state here whether he was a man, or a being of a higher order, he merely mentions him as a priest, in contradistinction from the Jewish priests.

After he had offered one sacrifice for sins. By dying on the cross. This he did but once; this could not be repeated; and need not be repeated, for it was sufficient for the sins of the world.

For ever sat down. That is, he sat down then to return no more for the purpose of offering sacrifice for sin. He will no more submit himself to scenes of suffering and death to expiate human guilt.

On the right hand of God. Mk 16:19. Comp. Eph 1:20, and following.

(e) "sat down" Col 3:1

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 10:11-18

Under the new covenant, or gospel dispensation, full and final pardon is to be had. This makes a vast difference between the new covenant and the old one. Under the old, sacrifices must be often repeated, and after all, only pardon as to this world was to be obtained by them. Under the new, one Sacrifice is enough to procure for all nations and ages, spiritual pardon, or being freed from punishment in the world to…

Read the full comment on Hebrews 10:11-18 →

Hebrews 10:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οὗτοςhoutosThis [One]G3778
δὲdehoweverG1161
μίανmianoneG1520
ὑπὲρhuperforG5228
ἁμαρτιῶνhamartiōnsinsG266
προσενέγκαςprosenegkashaving offeredG4374
θυσίανthusiansacrificeG2378
εἰςeisinG1519
τὸto<the>G3588
διηνεκὲςdiēnekesperpetuityG1336
ἐκάθισενekathisensat downG2523
ἐνenatG1722
δεξιᾷdexia[the] right handG1188
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦ,theouof God,G2316

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Hebrews 10:12

  • Hebrews 1:3

    Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

  • Colossians 3:1

    If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

  • Romans 8:34

    Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

  • Hebrews 8:1

    Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

  • Acts 2:33-34

    Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

  • Hebrews 9:12

    Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1:3; 8:1; 9:12; Ac 2:33,34; Ro 8:34; Col 3:1

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Hebrews 10:11

    And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

  • Hebrews 10:12

    But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

  • Hebrews 10:13

    From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

Read all of Hebrews 10

Hebrews 10:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Pero éste, habiendo ofrecido por los pecados un solo sacrificio para siempre, está sentado á la diestra de Dios,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		mais celui-ci, ayant offert un seul sacrifice pour les péchés, s’est assis à perpétuité à la droite de Dieu,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Er aber, nachdem er ein Schlachtopfer für Sünden dargebracht, hat sich auf immerdar gesetzt zur Rechten Gottes,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		hic autem unam pro peccatis offerens hostiam, in sempiternum sedet in dextera Dei,