But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year.
Parallel translations
- WEB But in those sacrifices there is a yearly reminder of sins.
- KJV But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
- BSB Instead, those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins,
- NKJV But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.
- NASB But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Instead of removing sin, the yearly sacrifices actually reminded the people of their sins. The system kept guilt in view rather than abolishing it.
Overview
Far from cleansing the conscience, the annual Day of Atonement was a yearly 'reminder of sins'. The repeated ritual underscored that sin remained unresolved. This heightens the contrast with Christ, whose sacrifice God remembers sins 'no more' (10:17).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Heb 9:7but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offers for himself, and for the errors of the people.
- Exod 30:10Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once in the year; with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once in the year he shall make atonement for it throughout your generations. It is most holy to Yahweh.”
- Lev 16:34“This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.” It was done as Yahweh commanded Moses.
- Lev 23:27–28“However on the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh.
- Lev 16:6–11“Aaron shall offer the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house.
- Num 29:7–11“‘On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall afflict your souls. You shall do no kind of work;
- 1 Kgs 17:18She said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, you man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to memory, and to kill my son!”
- Lev 16:29–30“It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and shall do no kind of work, the native-born, or the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you:
- Matt 26:28for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins.
- Lev 16:21–22Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.
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Christ at the center
Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.
How Hebrews 10:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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