Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. New Living Translation For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. English Standard Version For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Berean Standard Bible because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Berean Literal Bible For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and of goats to take away sins. King James Bible For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. New King James Version For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. New American Standard Bible For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. NASB 1995 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. NASB 1977 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Legacy Standard Bible For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Amplified Bible for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Christian Standard Bible For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Holman Christian Standard Bible For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. American Standard Version For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. English Revised Version For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. GOD'S WORD® Translation (The blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins.) Good News Translation For the blood of bulls and goats can never take away sins. International Standard Version for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. NET Bible For the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. New Heart English Bible For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. Webster's Bible Translation For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Weymouth New Testament For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Biblebecause it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. World English Bible For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionfor it is impossible for blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Berean Literal Bible For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and of goats to take away sins. Young's Literal Translation for it is impossible for blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Smith's Literal Translation For the blood of bulls and he-goats cannot take away sins. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor it is impossible that with the blood of oxen and goats sin should be taken away. Catholic Public Domain Version For it is impossible for sins to be taken away by the blood of oxen and goats. New American Bible for it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats take away sins. New Revised Standard Version For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats could take away sins. Aramaic Bible in Plain English For the blood of oxen and of yearling goats cannot purge sins. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentFor it is impossible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Godbey New Testament for it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. Haweis New Testament For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sin. Mace New Testament And indeed it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats, should take away the guilt of sin. Weymouth New Testament For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Worrell New Testament for it is impossible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Worsley New Testament For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Christ's Perfect Sacrifice…3Instead, those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me.… Cross References Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for your souls upon the altar; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. Hebrews 9:12-14 He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption. / For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, / how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God! Hebrews 9:22 According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Romans 3:20 Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin. Galatians 3:21 Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law. Colossians 2:17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ. John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 1 Peter 1:18-19 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, / but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot. Isaiah 1:11 “What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. Psalm 40:6-8 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but my ears You have opened. Burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not require. / Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—it is written about me in the scroll: / I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.” Micah 6:6-8 With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? / Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? / He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Jeremiah 31:31-34 Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. / It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. / “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. ... Romans 8:3-4 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful man, as an offering for sin. He thus condemned sin in the flesh, / so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Galatians 2:16 know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. Ephesians 2:13-16 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. / For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility / by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace ... Treasury of Scripture For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. not. 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; Hebrews 9:9,13 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; … Psalm 50:8-12 I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me… take. Hebrews 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: Hosea 14:2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. 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. Jump to Previous Blood Bulls Goats Impossible Incapable Oxen Possible SinsJump to Next Blood Bulls Goats Impossible Incapable Oxen Possible SinsHebrews 10 1. The weakness of the law sacrifices.10. The sacrifice of Christ's body once offered, 14. for ever has taken away sins. 19. An exhortation to hold fast the faith with patience and thanksgiving. because it is impossible This phrase emphasizes the absolute nature of the statement. The impossibility here is not due to a lack of effort or sincerity in the sacrificial system but is inherent in the nature of the sacrifices themselves. The Old Testament sacrificial system was designed by God as a temporary measure, pointing forward to a more perfect solution. The word "impossible" underscores the limitations of the old covenant and the need for a new and better covenant, as discussed throughout the book of Hebrews. for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Persons / Places / Events 1. The Author of HebrewsTraditionally attributed to Paul, though the exact authorship is uncertain. The author writes to Jewish Christians, emphasizing the superiority of Christ. 2. Jewish Sacrificial System The system established in the Old Testament where animals, such as bulls and goats, were sacrificed for the atonement of sins. 3. Jesus Christ Central to the book of Hebrews, He is presented as the ultimate and perfect sacrifice, fulfilling and surpassing the old covenant. 4. The Temple The place where sacrifices were made, representing the old covenant and the presence of God among His people. 5. The New Covenant Instituted by Jesus, it is based on His sacrifice, which is sufficient for the forgiveness of sins. Teaching Points The Insufficiency of Animal SacrificesThe blood of bulls and goats was never meant to be a permanent solution for sin. It served as a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice to come. The Superiority of Christ's Sacrifice Jesus' sacrifice is once and for all, unlike the repeated animal sacrifices. His blood truly takes away sins, offering complete forgiveness and reconciliation with God. Understanding the New Covenant Believers are called to live under the new covenant, which is based on grace and faith in Christ's finished work, rather than adherence to the old sacrificial system. Living in the Light of Christ's Sacrifice Christians are encouraged to live lives of gratitude and obedience, reflecting the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice in their daily actions. The Role of Faith in Salvation Salvation is not achieved through works or rituals but through faith in Jesus Christ, who fulfilled the law and the prophets. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Hebrews 10:4?2. Why can't "the blood of bulls and goats" remove sins according to Hebrews 10:4? 3. How does Hebrews 10:4 emphasize the necessity of Christ's sacrifice for sin removal? 4. What Old Testament sacrifices relate to the message in Hebrews 10:4? 5. How can understanding Hebrews 10:4 deepen our appreciation for Jesus' atoning work? 6. How should Hebrews 10:4 influence our approach to seeking forgiveness today? 7. Why does Hebrews 10:4 state animal sacrifices cannot remove sins? 8. How does Hebrews 10:4 align with the Old Testament sacrificial system? 9. What implications does Hebrews 10:4 have for the concept of atonement? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Hebrews 10? 11. What does "Blood of Bulls and Goats" mean? 12. In Leviticus 9:7–8, how can the idea that priests make atonement for the people be squared with Hebrews 10:4, which says animal sacrifices can’t truly remove sin? 13. How do interpreters reconcile Leviticus 5’s focus on sacrifices with Hebrews 10:4 declaring it impossible for animal blood to remove sins? 14. Is Jesus superior to Levitical sacrifices? What Does Hebrews 10:4 Mean context in HebrewsHebrews 10 opens by showing how the old sacrificial system was “only a shadow of the good things to come” (Hebrews 10:1). Repeated offerings never made the worshipers perfect; rather, “those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins” (Hebrews 10:3). Verse 4 then states the core truth: “because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” The author is contrasting shadow with substance, preparing us to see Christ as the only effective sacrifice (Hebrews 10:5-10). the limits of animal sacrifices • Animals were offered because “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22), yet they could only cover sin temporarily. • Leviticus 16 describes the Day of Atonement, but even that most solemn rite had to be repeated every year, proving its incompleteness. • Hebrews 9:9 calls those offerings “symbolic,” indicating they pointed beyond themselves. • By design, God used their limitations to make Israel long for something better. God’s demand for a perfect sacrifice • God’s holiness requires a flawless payment: “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44). • Animal blood belonged to creatures without moral capacity; it could not satisfy justice for human guilt (Leviticus 17:11). • A truly human, utterly sinless life had to be offered—one who could “do Your will, O God” perfectly (Hebrews 10:7). Christ fulfills what animals could not • When Christ came, He said, “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me” (Hebrews 10:5). • His once-for-all offering achieved what endless animal blood never could: “By one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). • John the Baptist recognized this fulfillment: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). new covenant reality • God now says, “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more” (Hebrews 10:17), echoing Jeremiah 31:33-34. • Because the debt is fully paid, “where these have been forgiven, an offering for sin is no longer needed” (Hebrews 10:18). • The believer’s conscience, once plagued by guilt, is cleansed (Hebrews 9:14), granting bold access to God (Hebrews 10:19-22). application for believers • Rest in Christ’s finished work—“we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). • Reject any thought that more sacrifices or human efforts are needed; His blood is sufficient (1 John 1:7). • Draw near with confidence, worshiping the One who turned the shadow into reality (Hebrews 10:22-23). • Live in grateful obedience, knowing the price for sin has been paid in full. summary Hebrews 10:4 declares the utter inability of animal sacrifices to remove sin. God used that temporary system to point Israel—and us—to the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ. His shed blood accomplishes what bulls and goats never could: complete forgiveness, cleansed consciences, and secure access to God. Trusting in Him alone, believers stand forgiven and free. (4) This verse explains those which precede. No inconsistency really belonged to these sacrifices and this ceremonial, though so often repeated; for it was impossible that any such sacrifice should really remove sin. The offering was necessary, and it answered its purpose; but it could not remove the necessity for another and a better offering.Verse 4. - For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats (specified as being the offerings of the Day of Atonement) should take away sins. The principle of the insufficiency of animal sacrifices having been thus expressed, confirmation of it is now further adduced from the Old Testament itself, together with a prophetic anticipation of the great self-oblation which was to take their place.Parallel Commentaries ... Greek becauseγὰρ (gar) Conjunction Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason. [it is] impossible ἀδύνατον (adynaton) Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular Strong's 102: Of persons: incapable; of things: impossible; either the inability, or that which is impossible. Passively, impossible. [for the] blood αἷμα (haima) Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular Strong's 129: Blood, literally, figuratively or specially; by implication, bloodshed, also kindred. of bulls ταύρων (taurōn) Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 5022: A bull, an ox. Apparently a primary word; a bullock. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. of goats τράγων (tragōn) Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 5131: A he-goat. From the base of trogo; a he-goat. to take away ἀφαιρεῖν (aphairein) Verb - Present Infinitive Active Strong's 851: To take away, smite off. From apo and haireomai; to remove. sins. ἁμαρτίας (hamartias) Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural Strong's 266: From hamartano; a sin. Links Hebrews 10:4 NIVHebrews 10:4 NLT Hebrews 10:4 ESV Hebrews 10:4 NASB Hebrews 10:4 KJV Hebrews 10:4 BibleApps.com Hebrews 10:4 Biblia Paralela Hebrews 10:4 Chinese Bible Hebrews 10:4 French Bible Hebrews 10:4 Catholic Bible NT Letters: Hebrews 10:4 For it is impossible that the blood (Heb. He. Hb) |