Hebrews 10 · Verse 28

Hebrews 10:28

He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Hebrews 10:28, King James Version

Hebrews 10:28 in other translations

BSBAnyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
WEBA man who disregards Moses’ law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses.
ASVA man that hath set at nought Moses’ law dieth without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses:
YLTany one who did set at nought a law of Moses, apart from mercies, by two or three witnesses, doth die,
DARBYAny one that has disregarded Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses:
BBEA man who has gone against the law of Moses is put to death without pity on the word of two or three witnesses:
WebsterHe that despised Moses' law, died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

What does Hebrews 10:28 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
28. Compare He 2:2, 3; 12:25. despised--"set at naught" [Alford]: utterly and heinously violated, not merely some minor detail, but the whole law and covenant; for example, by idolatry (De 17:2-7). So here apostasy answers to such an utter violation of the old covenant. died--Greek, "dies": the normal punishment of such transgression, then still in force. without mercy--literally, "mercies": removal out of the pale of mitigation, or a respite of his doom. under--on the evidence of.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 28. He that despised Moses' law. That is, the apostate from the religion of Moses. It does not mean that in all cases the offender against the law of Moses died without mercy, but only where offences were punishable with death, and probably the apostle had in his eye particularly the case of apostasy from the Jewish religion. The subject of apostasy from the Christian religion is particularly under discussion here and it was natural to illustrate this by a reference to a similar case under the law of Moses. The law in regard to apostates from the Jewish religion was positive. There was no reprieve, De 13:6-10.

Died without mercy. That is, there was no provision for pardon.

Under two or three witnesses. It was the settled law among the Hebrews, that in all cases involving capital punishment, two or three witnesses should be necessary. That is, no one was to be executed unless two persons certainly bore testimony, and it was regarded as important, if possible, that three witnesses should concur in the statement. The object was the security of the accused person if innocent. The principle in the law was, that it was to be presumed that two or three persons would be much less likely to conspire to render a false testimony than one would be, and that two or three would not be likely to be deceived in regard to a fact which they had observed.

(c) "that despised" De 17:2-13

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 28 He that despised Moses' law - Αθετησας· He that rejected it, threw it aside, and denied its Divine authority by presumptuous sinning, died without mercy - without any extenuation or mitigation of punishment; Num 15:30. Under two or three witnesses - That is, when convicted by the testimony of two or three respectable witnesses. See Deu 17:6.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 10:26-31

The exhortations against apostacy and to perseverance, are urged by many strong reasons. The sin here mentioned is a total and final falling away, when men, with a full and fixed will and resolution, despise and reject Christ, the only Saviour; despise and resist the Spirit, the only Sanctifier; and despise and renounce the gospel, the only way of salvation, and the words of eternal life. Of this destruction God…

Read the full comment on Hebrews 10:26-31 →

Hebrews 10:28 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.

ἀθετήσαςathetēsasHaving set asideG114
τιςtisanyoneG5100
νόμονnomon[the] lawG3551
ΜωϋσέωςMōuseōsof MosesG3475
χωρὶςchōriswithoutG5565
οἰκτιρμῶνoiktirmōnmerciesG3628
ἐπὶepion the basis ofG1909
δυσὶνdusintwoG1417
ἢēorG2228
τρισὶνtrisinthreeG5140
μάρτυσινmartusinwitnessesG3144
ἀποθνῄσκει·apothnēskeihe dies;G599

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

Cross references for Hebrews 10:28

  • Hebrews 2:2

    For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

  • Deuteronomy 19:15

    One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

  • Deuteronomy 17:2-13

    If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God, in transgressing his covenant, And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel: Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die. …

  • 2 Corinthians 13:1

    This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

  • Deuteronomy 19:13

    Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.

  • John 8:17

    It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.

  • Numbers 15:30-31

    But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.

  • Matthew 18:16

    But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

  • Numbers 15:36

    And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses.

  • Isaiah 27:11

    When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour.

  • 2 Samuel 12:13

    And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

  • 2 Samuel 12:9

    Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
despised.
2:2; Nu 15:30,31,36; De 13:6-10; 17:2-13; 2Sa 12:9,13
without.
De 19:13; Isa 27:11; Jer 13:14; Ro 9:15; Jas 2:13
under.
De 17:2,6,7; 19:15; Mt 18:16; Joh 8:17; 2Co 13:1

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

Context

  • Hebrews 10:27

    But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

  • Hebrews 10:28

    He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

  • Hebrews 10:29

    Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Read all of Hebrews 10

Hebrews 10:28 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El que menospreciare la ley de Moisés, por el testimonio de dos ó de tres testigos muere sin ninguna misericordia:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Si quelqu’un a méprisé la loi de Moïse, il meurt sans miséricorde sur la déposition de deux ou de trois témoins:
German
Elberfelder 1871		Jemand, der das Gesetz Moses verworfen hat, stirbt ohne Barmherzigkeit auf die Aussage von zwei oder drei Zeugen;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Irritam quis faciens legem Moysi, sine ulla miseratione duobus vel tribus testibus moritur: