You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin.
Parallel translations
- WEB You had no pleasure in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin.
- KJV In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
- BSB In burnt offerings and sin offerings You took no delight.
- NKJV In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.
- NASB You have not taken pleasure in whole burnt offerings and offerings for sin.
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
God took no pleasure in burnt offerings and sin offerings in themselves. External sacrifices were never what he ultimately sought.
Overview
Continuing Psalm 40, the verse stresses that God did not delight in the sacrifices apart from the obedient heart they were meant to express. The ritual without true devotion fell short. This prepares for Christ, whose perfect obedience is the offering God truly desires.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Heb 10:4For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
- Mal 1:10“Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you,” says Yahweh of Armies, “neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
- Matt 3:17Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
- Eph 5:2Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.
- Ps 147:11Yahweh takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his loving kindness.
- Phil 4:18But I have all things, and abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God.
- Lev 1:1–6Yahweh called to Moses, and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 10:6 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.