Hebrews 13 · Verse 10

Hebrews 13:10

We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
Hebrews 13:10, King James Version

Hebrews 13:10 in other translations

BSBWe have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat.
WEBWe have an altar from which those who serve the holy tabernacle have no right to eat.
ASVWe have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat that serve the tabernacle.
YLTwe have an altar, of which to eat they have no authority who the tabernacle are serving,
DARBYWe have an altar of which they have no right to eat who serve the tabernacle;
BBEWe have an altar from which those priests who are servants in the Tent may not take food.
WebsterWe have an altar, of which they have no right to eat who serve the tabernacle.

What does Hebrews 13:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. Christianity and Judaism are so totally distinct, that "they who serve the (Jewish) tabernacle," have no right to eat our spiritual Gospel meat, namely, the Jewish priests, and those who follow their guidance in serving the ceremonial ordinance. He says, "serve the tabernacle," not "serve IN the tabernacle." Contrast with this servile worship ours. an altar--the cross of Christ, whereon His body was offered. The Lord's table represents this altar, the cross; as the bread and wine represent the sacrifice offered on it. Our meat, which we by faith spiritually eat, is the flesh of Christ, in contrast to the typical ceremonial meats. The two cannot be combined (Ga 5:2). That not a literal eating of the sacrifice of Christ is meant in the Lord's Supper, but a spiritual is meant, appears from comparing He 13:9 with He 13:10, "with GRACE, NOT with MEATS."

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 10. We have an altar. We who are Christians. The Jews had an altar on which their sacrifices were offered which was regarded as sacred, and of the benefit of which no others might partake. The design of the apostle is to show that the same thing substantially, so far as privilege and sanctifying influence were concerned, was enjoyed by Christians. The "altar" to which he here refers is evidently the cross on which the great sacrifice was made.

Whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. A part of the meat offered in sacrifice among the Jews became the property of the priests and Levites, and they had, by the law, a right to this, as a part of their support. See Lev 6:25,26, Nu 18:9,10. But the apostle says that there is a higher and more valuable sacrifice of which they have no right to partake while they remain in the service of the "tabernacle" or temple; that is, while they remain Jews. The participation in the great Christian sacrifice appertained only to those who were the friends of the Redeemer; sad however much they might value themselves on the privilege of partaking of the sacrifices offered under the Jewish law, that of partaking of the great sacrifice made by the Son of God was much greater.

Which serve the tabernacle. Heb 9:2,3. The Jewish priests and Levites.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 We have an altar - The altar is here put for the sacrifice on the altar; the Christian altar is the Christian sacrifice, which is Christ Jesus, with all the benefits of his passion and death. To these privileges they had no right who continued to offer the Levitical sacrifices, and to trust in them for remission of sins.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 13:7-15

The instructions and examples of ministers, who honourably and comfortably closed their testimony, should be particularly remembered by survivors. And though their ministers were some dead, others dying, yet the great Head and High Priest of the church, the Bishop of their souls, ever lives, and is ever the same. Christ is the same in the Old Testament day. as in the gospel day, and will be so to his people for…

Read the full comment on Hebrews 13:7-15 →

Hebrews 13:10 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.

ἔχομενechomenWe haveG2192
θυσιαστήριονthusiastērionan altarG2379
ἐξexfromG1537
οὗhouwhichG3739
φαγεῖνphageinto eatG5315
οὐκouknotG3756
ἔχουσινechousinthey haveG2192
ἐξουσίανexousianauthorityG1849
οἱhoithoseG3588
τῇtēain theG3588
σκηνῇskēnēatabernacleG4633
λατρεύοντες.latreuontesserving.G3000

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

Cross references for Hebrews 13:10

  • 1 Corinthians 10:20

    But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

  • 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

    Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:13

    Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

  • 1 Corinthians 10:17-18

    For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

  • Numbers 7:5

    Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
an altar.
1Co 5:7,8; 9:13; 10:17,20
serve.
Nu 3:7,8; 7:5

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

Context

  • Hebrews 13:9

    Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

  • Hebrews 13:10

    We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

  • Hebrews 13:11

    For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

Read all of Hebrews 13

Hebrews 13:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Tenemos un altar, del cual no tienen facultad de comer los que sirven al tabernáculo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Nous avons un autel dont ceux qui servent le tabernacle n’ont pas le droit de manger;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wir haben einen Altar, von welchem kein Recht haben zu essen, die der Hütte dienen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Habemus altare, de quo edere non habent potestatem, qui tabernaculo deserviunt.