Come Near

The law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the true form of those realities. So it can never, by the same sacrifices offered year after year without end, perfect those who draw near.

Σκιὰνa shadow, thick darkness, an outline γὰρfor ἔχωνI have, hold, possess ὁthe νόμοςa law, the Mosaic Law τῶνthe μελλόντωνI am about to ἀγαθῶν,good οὐκnot αὐτὴνhe, his, it τὴνthe εἰκόναan image, likeness, bust τῶνthe πραγμάτων,thing, matter κατ’down from, against, according to, throughout, during ἐνιαυτὸνa year ταῖςthe αὐταῖςhe, his, it θυσίαιςsacrifice ἃςwho, which προσφέρουσινto offer, bring εἰςinto, so that τὸthe διηνεκὲςcontinuous, continually οὐδέποτεnever δύναταιI am powerful, am able τοὺςthe προσερχομένουςto come to, approach τελειῶσαι·I complete, accomplish, make perfect

Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers, once cleansed, would no longer have had any consciousness of sins.

ἐπεὶafter, for, since, otherwise οὐκnot ἂνan untranslatable word that makes a statement contingent ἐπαύσαντοI cause to cease προσφερόμεναι,to offer, bring διὰthrough τὸthe μηδεμίανno one, nothing ἔχεινI have, hold, possess ἔτιstill, yet συνείδησινthe conscience ἁμαρτιῶνa sin τοὺςthe λατρεύονταςI serve, worship ἅπαξonce, once for all κεκαθαρισμένους;I make clean

But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins,

ἀλλ’but, except ἐνin, by αὐταῖςhe, his, it ἀνάμνησιςa recalling, remembrance, memory ἁμαρτιῶνa sin κατ’down from, against, according to, throughout, during ἐνιαυτόν,a year

because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

ἀδύνατονimpossible γὰρfor αἷμαblood ταύρωνa bull, an ox καὶand, also τράγωνa he-goat ἀφαιρεῖνI take away, smite off ἁμαρτίας.a sin

That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said: 'Sacrifice and offering you did not want, but you prepared a body for me;

διὸwherefore εἰσερχόμενοςI go in, come in, enter εἰςinto, so that τὸνthe κόσμονthe world, universe λέγει·I say, speak Θυσίανsacrifice καὶand, also προσφορὰνan offering, sacrifice οὐκnot ἠθέλησας,I will, wish, desire σῶμαbody, flesh δὲnow, but κατηρτίσωto form, put in order μοι·I

with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.

ὁλοκαυτώματαa whole burnt offering καὶand, also περὶabout, concerning, around ἁμαρτίαςa sin οὐκnot εὐδόκησας.I am resolved, well-pleased

Then I said, "Here I am. It is written about me in the scroll of the book. I have come to do your will, O God."'

τότεthen εἶπον·I say, speak ἸδοὺSee! Lo! Behold! Look! ἥκω,I have come, am present ἐνin, by κεφαλίδιa roll, volume βιβλίουa papyrus roll γέγραπταιI write περὶabout, concerning, around ἐμοῦ,I τοῦthe ποιῆσαι,I do, make ὁthe θεός,God τὸthe θέλημάwill, wish, desire σου.you

First he says, 'Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not want, nor were you pleased with them,' even though they are offered according to the law.

ἀνώτερον  λέγωνI say, speak ὅτιthat Θυσίαςsacrifice καὶand, also προσφορὰςan offering, sacrifice καὶand, also ὁλοκαυτώματαa whole burnt offering καὶand, also περὶabout, concerning, around ἁμαρτίαςa sin οὐκnot ἠθέλησαςI will, wish, desire οὐδὲneither, nor, not even εὐδόκησας,I am resolved, well-pleased αἵτινεςwhosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever κατὰdown from, against, according to, throughout, during νόμονa law, the Mosaic Law προσφέρονται,to offer, bring

Then he says, 'Here I am. I have come to do your will.' He takes away the first in order to establish the second.

τότεthen εἴρηκεν·I say, speak ἸδοὺSee! Lo! Behold! Look! ἥκωI have come, am present τοῦthe ποιῆσαιI do, make τὸthe θέλημάwill, wish, desire σου·you ἀναιρεῖI take up, abolish, murder τὸthe πρῶτονfirst, before ἵναin order that, so that τὸthe δεύτερονsecond, in the second place, for the second time στήσῃ.I cause to stand, stand

And by that will we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

ἐνin, by ᾧwho, which θελήματιwill, wish, desire ἡγιασμένοιI make holy, sanctify ἐσμὲνto be διὰthrough τῆςthe προσφορᾶςan offering, sacrifice τοῦthe σώματοςbody, flesh ἸησοῦJesus Χριστοῦanointed, the Messiah, the Christ ἐφάπαξ.once, once for all

Every priest stands day after day performing his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

Καὶand, also πᾶςall, the whole, every kind of μὲνtruly, indeed ἱερεὺςa priest ἕστηκενI cause to stand, stand καθ’down from, against, according to, throughout, during ἡμέρανa day λειτουργῶνI minister, serve publicly καὶand, also τὰςthe αὐτὰςhe, his, it πολλάκιςmany times, often προσφέρωνto offer, bring θυσίας,sacrifice αἵτινεςwhosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever οὐδέποτεnever δύνανταιI am powerful, am able περιελεῖνI strip off, cast off ἁμαρτίας.a sin

But this priest, after offering one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God,

οὗτοςthis δὲnow, but μίανinto, in, among, till, for ὑπὲρin behalf of, above ἁμαρτιῶνa sin προσενέγκαςto offer, bring θυσίανsacrifice εἰςinto, so that τὸthe διηνεκὲςcontinuous, continually ἐκάθισενI set, make to sit ἐνin, by δεξιᾷon the right hand, right hand, right τοῦthe θεοῦ,God

and since then he has been waiting until his enemies are made a footstool for his feet.

τὸthe λοιπὸνleft, left behind, the remainder ἐκδεχόμενοςI wait for, expect ἕωςuntil, as far as τεθῶσινI put, place οἱthe ἐχθροὶhated, hostile, an enemy αὐτοῦhe, his, it ὑποπόδιονa footstool τῶνthe ποδῶνthe foot αὐτοῦ,he, his, it

For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are being made holy.

μιᾷinto, in, among, till, for γὰρfor προσφορᾷan offering, sacrifice τετελείωκενI complete, accomplish, make perfect εἰςinto, so that τὸthe διηνεκὲςcontinuous, continually τοὺςthe ἁγιαζομένους.I make holy, sanctify

The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:

μαρτυρεῖto bear witness, attest δὲnow, but ἡμῖνI καὶand, also τὸthe πνεῦμαwind, breath, spirit τὸthe ἅγιον,set apart, holy, sacred μετὰwith, after γὰρfor τὸthe εἰρηκέναι·I say, speak

'This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts and write them on their minds,'

Αὕτηthis ἡthe διαθήκηa covenant, will, testament ἣνwho, which διαθήσομαιI appoint, make πρὸςto, towards, with αὐτοὺςhe, his, it μετὰwith, after τὰςthe ἡμέραςa day ἐκείνας,that, that one there, yonder λέγειI say, speak κύριος,lord, Lord, master, sir διδοὺςI offer, give νόμουςa law, the Mosaic Law μουI ἐπὶupon, concerning καρδίαςthe heart, inner life, intention αὐτῶν,he, his, it καὶand, also ἐπὶupon, concerning τὴνthe διάνοιανunderstanding, intellect, mind αὐτῶνhe, his, it ἐπιγράψωI write upon, inscribe αὐτούς,he, his, it

and then: 'Their sins and their lawless acts I will never remember again.'

καὶand, also τῶνthe ἁμαρτιῶνa sin αὐτῶνhe, his, it καὶand, also τῶνthe ἀνομιῶνlawlessness, iniquity αὐτῶνhe, his, it οὐnot μὴnot μνησθήσομαιI remember, recall ἔτι·still, yet

And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any offering for sin.

ὅπουwhere, whither δὲnow, but ἄφεσιςdeliverance, pardon, complete forgiveness τούτων,this οὐκέτιno longer, no more προσφορὰan offering, sacrifice περὶabout, concerning, around ἁμαρτίας.a sin

So then, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,

ἜχοντεςI have, hold, possess οὖν,therefore, then ἀδελφοί,a brother παρρησίανfreedom, confidence εἰςinto, so that τὴνthe εἴσοδονentering, entrance, entry τῶνthe ἁγίωνset apart, holy, sacred ἐνin, by τῷthe αἵματιblood Ἰησοῦ,Jesus

by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,

ἣνwho, which ἐνεκαίνισενI consecrate, dedicate ἡμῖνI ὁδὸνa way, road, journey πρόσφατονrecent, new καὶand, also ζῶσανI live διὰthrough τοῦthe καταπετάσματος,a veil, curtain τοῦτ’this ἔστινto be τῆςthe σαρκὸςflesh, body αὐτοῦ,he, his, it

and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

καὶand, also ἱερέαa priest μέγανlarge, great ἐπὶupon, concerning τὸνthe οἶκονa house, household τοῦthe θεοῦ,God

let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

προσερχώμεθαto come to, approach μετὰwith, after ἀληθινῆςtrue, real, genuine καρδίαςthe heart, inner life, intention ἐνin, by πληροφορίᾳfull assurance πίστεως,faith, trust ῥεραντισμένοιI sprinkle τὰςthe καρδίαςthe heart, inner life, intention ἀπὸfrom, away from συνειδήσεωςthe conscience πονηρᾶςevil, bad, wicked καὶand, also λελουσμένοιI wash, bathe τὸthe σῶμαbody, flesh ὕδατιwater καθαρῷ·clean, pure, unstained

Let us hold on firmly to the hope we confess, for the one who promised is faithful.

κατέχωμενI hold fast, bind, restrain τὴνthe ὁμολογίανa profession, confession τῆςthe ἐλπίδοςhope, expectation ἀκλινῆ,unbent, unyielding, resolute πιστὸςtrustworthy, faithful, believing γὰρfor ὁthe ἐπαγγειλάμενος·I promise, profess

And let us think about how to spur one another on to love and good works,

καὶand, also κατανοῶμενI understand, perceive, consider ἀλλήλουςone another εἰςinto, so that παροξυσμὸνincitement, irritation ἀγάπηςlove καὶand, also καλῶνbeautiful, good, worthy ἔργων,work, labor, action, deed

not giving up meeting together, as some have made a habit of doing, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

μὴnot ἐγκαταλείποντεςI abandon, desert τὴνthe ἐπισυναγωγὴνa gathering together ἑαυτῶν,himself, herself, itself καθὼςjust as, as ἔθοςa custom τισίν,any one, some one ἀλλὰbut, except παρακαλοῦντες,I summon, entreat, admonish, comfort καὶand, also τοσούτῳso great μᾶλλονmore, rather ὅσῳhow much, how great, how many βλέπετεto see ἐγγίζουσανI come near, approach τὴνthe ἡμέραν.a day

For if we go on sinning deliberately after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

Ἑκουσίωςwillingly γὰρfor ἁμαρτανόντωνI sin ἡμῶνI μετὰwith, after τὸthe λαβεῖνI receive, take τὴνthe ἐπίγνωσινknowledge, discernment, recognition τῆςthe ἀληθείας,truth οὐκέτιno longer, no more περὶabout, concerning, around ἁμαρτιῶνa sin ἀπολείπεταιI leave, leave behind, desert, am reserved θυσία,sacrifice

but only a terrifying expectation of judgment and a raging fire that will consume God's enemies.

φοβερὰfearful, dreadful δέnow, but τιςany one, some one ἐκδοχὴa waiting for, expectation κρίσεωςjudging, divine judgment καὶand, also πυρὸςfire, trials ζῆλοςeagerness, zeal, rivalry ἐσθίεινI eat μέλλοντοςI am about to τοὺςthe ὑπεναντίους.opposite to, adverse

Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

ἀθετήσαςI annul τιςany one, some one νόμονa law, the Mosaic Law Μωϋσέως  χωρὶςwithout, apart from οἰκτιρμῶνpity, compassion ἐπὶupon, concerning δυσὶνtwo ἢor, than τρισὶνthree μάρτυσινa witness ἀποθνῄσκει·to die

How much worse punishment do you think a person deserves who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, treated as common the blood of the covenant by which he was made holy, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

πόσῳhow much, how great, how many δοκεῖτεI think, seem, appear, it seems χείρονοςworse ἀξιωθήσεταιI account or treat as worthy τιμωρίαςpunishment, penalty ὁthe τὸνthe υἱὸνa son, descendent τοῦthe θεοῦGod καταπατήσας,I trample under foot καὶand, also τὸthe αἷμαblood τῆςthe διαθήκηςa covenant, will, testament κοινὸνcommon, shared, unclean ἡγησάμενοςI lead, think ἐνin, by ᾧwho, which ἡγιάσθη,I make holy, sanctify καὶand, also τὸthe πνεῦμαwind, breath, spirit τῆςthe χάριτοςgrace, favor, kindness ἐνυβρίσας.I insult, outrage, treat contemptuously

For we know the one who said, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay,' and again, 'The Lord will judge his people.'

οἴδαμενI know, remember γὰρfor τὸνthe εἰπόντα·I say, speak ἘμοὶI ἐκδίκησις,a defense, vengeance, full punishment ἐγὼI ἀνταποδώσω·I give in return καὶand, also πάλιν·again, further, on the other hand ΚρινεῖI judge, decide, think good κύριοςlord, Lord, master, sir τὸνthe λαὸνa people, the crowd αὐτοῦ.he, his, it

It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

φοβερὸνfearful, dreadful τὸthe ἐμπεσεῖνI fall in, am cast in εἰςinto, so that χεῖραςa hand θεοῦGod ζῶντος.I live

But remember the earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with suffering.

ἈναμιμνῄσκεσθεI remind, admonish, remember δὲnow, but τὰςthe πρότερονformer, before ἡμέρας,a day ἐνin, by αἷςwho, which φωτισθέντεςI illuminate, bring to light πολλὴνmuch, great; here 'better, greater' ἄθλησινa contest ὑπεμείνατεI remain behind, endure παθημάτων,suffering, passion

Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insults and persecution; at other times you stood alongside those who were treated that way.

τοῦτοthis μὲνtruly, indeed ὀνειδισμοῖςreproach, reviling τεand, both καὶand, also θλίψεσινpersecution, affliction, distress θεατριζόμενοι,I make a public show of τοῦτοthis δὲnow, but κοινωνοὶa sharer, partner τῶνthe οὕτως  ἀναστρεφομένωνI overturn, turn upside down, return, mid. and pass: I conduct myself, live γενηθέντες·to come to be, be made

For you suffered along with those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the seizure of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had a better and lasting possession.

καὶand, also γὰρfor τοῖςthe δεσμίοιςone bound, a prisoner συνεπαθήσατε,I sympathize with, have compassion on καὶand, also τὴνthe ἁρπαγὴνthe act of plundering, plunder, spoil τῶνthe ὑπαρχόντωνI am, exist, am in possession ὑμῶνyou μετὰwith, after χαρᾶςjoy, gladness προσεδέξασθε,I expect, welcome, accept γινώσκοντεςI come to know, learn, realize ἔχεινI have, hold, possess ἑαυτοὺςhimself, herself, itself κρείττοναstronger, more excellent ὕπαρξινgoods, substance, property καὶand, also μένουσαν.I remain, abide

So do not throw away your confidence, which carries a great reward.

μὴnot ἀποβάλητεI throw away from, throw overboard οὖνtherefore, then τὴνthe παρρησίανfreedom, confidence ὑμῶν,you ἥτιςwhosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever ἔχειI have, hold, possess μεγάληνlarge, great μισθαποδοσίαν,reward, due punishment

You need endurance, so that after you have done the will of God you may receive what was promised.

ὑπομονῆςendurance, steadfastness γὰρfor ἔχετεI have, hold, possess χρείανneed, necessity, business ἵναin order that, so that τὸthe θέλημαwill, wish, desire τοῦthe θεοῦGod ποιήσαντεςI do, make κομίσησθεI bring, receive, recover τὴνthe ἐπαγγελίαν·a promise

For, 'In just a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay.

ἔτιstill, yet γὰρfor μικρὸνlittle, small ὅσονhow much, how great, how many ὅσον,how much, how great, how many ὁthe ἐρχόμενοςI come, go ἥξειI have come, am present καὶand, also οὐnot χρονίσει·I delay, tarry

But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, I take no pleasure in him.'

ὁthe δὲnow, but δίκαιόςrighteous μουI ἐκout of, from πίστεωςfaith, trust ζήσεται,I live καὶand, also ἐὰνif ὑποστείληται,I draw back, conceal οὐκnot εὐδοκεῖI am resolved, well-pleased ἡthe ψυχήthe soul, life, self μουI ἐνin, by αὐτῷ.he, his, it

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed; we are of those who have faith and are saved.

ἡμεῖςI δὲnow, but οὐκnot ἐσμὲνto be ὑποστολῆςa shrinking, drawing back εἰςinto, so that ἀπώλειαν,destruction, ruin, loss ἀλλὰbut, except πίστεωςfaith, trust εἰςinto, so that περιποίησινobtaining, possessing, possession ψυχῆς.the soul, life, self