Hebrews 10 · Verse 15

Hebrews 10:15

Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
Hebrews 10:15, King James Version

Hebrews 10:15 in other translations

BSBThe Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First He says:
WEBThe Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,
ASVAnd the Holy Spirit also beareth witness to us; for after he hath said,
YLTand testify to us also doth the Holy Spirit, for after that He hath said before,
DARBYAnd the Holy Spirit also bears us witness of it; for after what was said:
BBEAnd the Holy Spirit is a witness for us: for after he had said,
WebsterOf this the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

What does Hebrews 10:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. The Greek, has "moreover," or "now." is a witness--of the truth which I am setting forth. The Father's witness is given He 5:10. The Son's, He 10:5. Now is added that of the Holy Spirit, called accordingly "the Spirit of grace," He 10:29. The testimony of all Three leads to the same conclusion (He 10:18). for after that he had said before--The conclusion to the sentence is in He 10:17, "After He had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them (with the house of Israel, He 8:10; here extended to the spiritual Israel) ... saith the Lord; I will put (literally, 'giving,' referring to the giving of the law; not now as then, giving into the hands, but giving) My laws into their hearts ('mind,' He 8:10) and in their minds ('hearts,' He 8:10); I will inscribe (so the Greek) them (here He omits the addition quoted in He 8:10, 11, I will be to them a God ... and they shall not teach every man his neighbor ...), and (that is, after He had said the foregoing, He then adds) their sins ... will I remember no more." The great object of the quotation here is to prove that, there being in the Gospel covenant, "REMISSION of sins" (He 10:17), there is no more need of a sacrifice for sins. The object of the same quotation in He 8:8-13 is to show that, there being a "NEW covenant," the old is antiquated.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verses 15-17. Whereof the Holy Ghost is a witness to us. That is, the Holy Ghost is a proof of the truth of the position here laid down --that the one atonement made by the Redeemer lays the foundation for the eternal perfection of all who are sanctified. The witness of the Holy Ghost here referred to is that which is furnished in the Scriptures, and not any witness in ourselves. Paul immediately makes his appeal to a passage of the Old Testament, and he thus shows his firm conviction that the Scriptures were inspired by the Holy Ghost.

For after that he had said before. The apostle here appeals to a passage which he had before quoted, Jer 31:33,34. See it explained in Heb 8:8; Heb 8:9-12.

The object of the quotation in both cases is, to show that the new covenant contemplated the formation of a holy character or a holy people. It was not to set apart a people who should be externally holy only, or be distinguished for conformity to external rites and ceremonies, but who should be holy in heart and in life. There has been some difficulty felt by expositors in ascertaining what corresponds to the expression "after that he had said before," and some have supposed that the phrase "then he saith" should be understood before Heb 10:17. But probably the apostle means to refer to two distinct parts of the quotation from Jeremiah, the former Of which expresses the fact that God meant to make a new covenant with his people, and the latter expresses the nature of that covenant, and it is particularly to the latter that he refers. This is seen more distinctly in the passage in Jeremiah than it is in our translation of the quotation in this epistle. The meaning is this, "The Holy Ghost first said, this is the covenant that I will make with them:" and having said this, he then added, "After those days, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." The first part of it expresses the purpose to form such a covenant; the latter states what that covenant would be. The quotation is not, indeed, literally made, but the sense is retained. Comp. Heb 8:8-12. Still, it may be asked how this quotation proves the point for which it is adduced--that the design of the atonement of Christ was "to perfect for ever them that are sanctified?" In regard to this, we may observe,

(1.) that it was declared that those who were interested in it would be holy, for the law would be in their hearts and written on their minds; and,

(2.) that this would be entire and perpetual. Their sins would be wholly forgiven; they would never be remembered again--and thus they would be "perfected for ever."

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 The Holy Ghost - is a witness to us - The words are quoted from Jer 31:33, Jer 31:34, and here we are assured that Jeremiah spoke by the inspiration of the Spirit of God. Had said before - See Heb 8:10, Heb 8:12, and the notes there.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · 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 10:15 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.

μαρτυρεῖmartureiBears witnessG3140
δὲdenowG1161
ἡμῖνhēminto usG3165
καὶkaialsoG2532
τὸtotheG3588
πνεῦμαpneumaSpiritG4151
τὸto<the>G3588
ἅγιον·hagionHoly;G40
μετὰmetaafterG3326
γὰρgarforG1063
τὸto<the>G3588
εἰρηκέναι·eirēkenaito have said:G2046

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

Cross references for Hebrews 10:15

  • Hebrews 3:7

    Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

  • Revelation 2:11

    He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

  • Revelation 3:6

    He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

  • 2 Peter 1:21

    For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

  • John 15:26

    But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

  • Acts 28:25

    And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,

  • 2 Samuel 23:2

    The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

  • Revelation 2:17

    He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

  • Nehemiah 9:30

    Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands.

  • Hebrews 9:8

    The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

  • Revelation 3:13

    He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

  • 1 Peter 1:11-12

    Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2:3,4; 3:7; 9:8; 2Sa 23:2; Ne 9:30; Joh 15:26; Ac 28:25; 1Pe 1:11,12
2Pe 1:21; Re 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22; 19:10

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

Context

  • Hebrews 10:14

    For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

  • Hebrews 10:15

    Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

  • Hebrews 10:16

    This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

Read all of Hebrews 10

Hebrews 10:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y atestíguanos lo mismo el Espíritu Santo; que después que dijo:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et l’Esprit Saint aussi nous en rend témoignage; car, après avoir dit:
German
Elberfelder 1871		Das bezeugt uns aber auch der Heilige Geist: denn nachdem er gesagt hat:
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Contestatur autem nos et Spiritus Sanctus. Postquam enim dixit: