Hebrews 10 · Verse 4

Hebrews 10:4

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Hebrews 10:4, King James Version

Hebrews 10:4 in other translations

BSBbecause it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
WEBFor it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
ASVFor it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
YLTfor it is impossible for blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
DARBYFor blood of bulls and goats is incapable of taking away sins.
BBEBecause it is not possible for the blood of oxen and goats to take away sins.
WebsterFor it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

What does Hebrews 10:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. 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 of coming redemption, according to God's promise. take away--"take off." The Greek, He 10:11, is stronger, explaining the weaker word here, "take away utterly." The blood of beasts could not take away the sin of man. A MAN must do that (see on He 9:12-14).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 4. For 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. Heb 9:7. Paul here means to say, doubtless, that it was not possible that the blood of those animals should make a complete expiation so as to purify the conscience, and so as to save the sinner from deserved wrath. According to the Divine arrangement, expiation was made by those sacrifices for offences of various kinds against the ritual law of Moses, and pardon for such offences was thus obtained. But the meaning here is, that there was no efficacy in the blood of a mere animal to wash away a moral offence. It could not repair the law; it could not do anything to maintain the justice of God; it had no efficacy to make the heart pure. The mere shedding of the blood of an animal never could make the soul pure. This the apostle states as a truth which must be admitted at once as indisputable; and yet it is probable that many of the Jews had imbibed the opinion that there was such efficacy in blood shed according to the Divine direction, as to remove all stains of guilt from the soul. Heb 9:9,10.

(b) "sins" Mt 12:31,32

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 For 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 10:1-10

Chapter Outline The insufficiency of sacrifices for taking away sin, The necessity and power of the sacrifice of Christ for that purpose. (1-18) An argument for holy boldness in the believer's access to God through Jesus Christ, And for steadfastness in faith, and mutual love and duty. (19-25) The danger of apostacy. (26-31) The sufferings of believers, and encouragement to maintain their holy profession. (32-39)…

Read the full comment on Hebrews 10:1-10 →

Hebrews 10:4 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.

ἀδύνατονadunatonImpossible [it is]G102
γὰρgarindeedG1063
αἷμαhaima[for the] bloodG129
ταύρωνtaurōnof bullsG5022
καὶkaiandG2532
τράγωνtragōnof goatsG5131
ἀφαιρεῖνaphaireinto take awayG851
ἁμαρτίας.¶hamartiassins.G266

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

Cross references for Hebrews 10:4

  • Hebrews 10:11

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

  • Isaiah 1:11-15

    To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. …

  • Micah 6:6-8

    Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

  • Romans 11:27

    For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

  • 1 John 3:5

    And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

  • Mark 12:33

    And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

  • Hebrews 10:8

    Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

  • Psalms 51:16

    For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

  • Hebrews 9:9

    Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

  • Amos 5:21-22

    I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.

  • John 1:29

    The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

  • Hosea 6:6

    For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
not.
8; 9:9,13; Ps 50:8-12; 51:16; Isa 1:11-15; 66:3; Jer 6:20; 7:21,22
Ho 6:6; Am 5:21,22; Mic 6:6-8; Mr 12:33
take.There were essential defects in these sacrifices. 1st.--They were not of the same nature with those who sinned. 2nd.--They were not of sufficient value to make satisfaction for the affronts done to the justice and government of God. 3rd.--The beasts offered up under the law could not consent to put themselves in the sinner's room and place. The atoning sacrifice must be one capable of consenting, and must voluntarily substitute himself in the sinner's stead: Christ did so.
11; Ho 14:2; Joh 1:29; Ro 11:27; 1Jo 3:5

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

Context

  • Hebrews 10:3

    But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

  • Hebrews 10:4

    For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

  • Hebrews 10:5

    Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

Read all of Hebrews 10

Hebrews 10:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Porque la sangre de los toros y de los machos cabríos no puede quitar los pecados.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Car il est impossible que le sang de taureaux et de boucs ôte les péchés.
German
Elberfelder 1871
denn unmöglich kann Blut von Stieren und Böcken Sünden hinwegnehmen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Impossibile enim est sanguine taurorum et hircorum auferri peccata.